Came Back as an Heiress After My Ex-Fiancé Made Me Blind novel Chapter 10

I motioned for my security to turn away, my silver shoes clicking softly as I approached her. Bending down, I offered her the kind of smile.

"Without my intervention, you would have frozen to death outside your uncle's door that winter night. Tell me why, Claire?"

She wiped her tears with a trembling hand, a bitter smile twisting her lips.

"Because it wasn't fair. Why were you born into luxury while I fought rats for scraps? Life isn't fair!"

She paused, looking up at me with eyes suddenly clear of malice - reminiscent of the innocent girl I'd met five years ago.

Her voice softened, heavy with sorrow.

"Victoria, I concede defeat. But I never loved Eugene."

"He was just a walking wallet. My true love..." Her voice cracked.

"He died under loan sharks' knives when I was eighteen, when love still meant something pure."

"Someone like you could never understand that kind of pain."

I draped my coat over her shoulders, pausing at the doorway. "Claire, I never harmed you. Do you believe in karma?"

Dempsey waited outside with an umbrella, guilt shadowing his aristocratic features.

"Vic, it's my fault. I raised you to be kind and righteous, only to watch others take advantage of that goodness."

I squeezed his cold hand. "This isn't your fault, Dempsey. These were my choices."

Words failed him as I hugged him tight, just as I had since childhood. "I'm blessed to be a Montgomery, to have such an extraordinary brother."

"What about us?" My other brothers approached, feigning wounded pride.

I grinned. "All my brothers are the best in the world."

Back at the estate, my five brothers - men who could collapse markets with a phone call -- fumbled adorably in the kitchen.

The news droned in the background:

"Two bodies discovered by the river, identified as Eugene Thorne and Claire Bennett. Preliminary cause: drowning."

I silenced the TV, slipping into the kitchen to tease Dempsey about his massacre of innocent potatoes.

"At this rate, we'll be dining on peels alone."

He looked up with a sheepish smile.

Later, eight elaborate dishes crowded our table as we raised crystal glasses in perfect unison.

"To Victoria's new beginning!"

"Dempsey, could you help me with this charity gala?" she would ask with those wide, innocent eyes. Each time, my normally stern brother would melt, dropping everything to rush to her aid.

Meanwhile, my accomplishments - graduating summa cum laude from business school, successfully managing multiple Montgomery holdings - were met with polite nods.

In their eyes, Amelia's basic understanding of social etiquette somehow outweighed my years of business expertise.

"Your sister has such natural grace," they would whisper, referring to Amelia. The irony that I was their actual sister seemed lost on everyone.

That's partly why I kept my marriage to Eugene quiet.

I thought I could build something genuine, untainted by family politics and social climbing. How naive I'd been.

While I was trying to protect my chance at real love, Eugene was plotting with Claire, and Amelia was slowly eroding my place in the family.

They whispered when they thought I couldn't hear: "If only Victoria had died outside, then our family would be complete."

The words cut deeper than any knife, spoken by the very people who should have protected me.

But now, looking at my brothers - my real brothers - I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.

Eugene's betrayal had been a blessing in disguise.

It had shown me where I truly belonged, and more importantly, who I really was.