On the wedding day, I knew full well that the drink my half-sister Marcella Hodge handed me was drugged, yet I drank it anyway.

I let her take my military dress uniform, take my place in the wedding car, and marry Samuel Dunlap, an army major general, instead of me.

In my past life, after I woke up, I exposed her without a second thought. My report ruined her reputation and got her shipped off to some remote post overnight.

I got what I wanted. I married into the Dunlap family. But a year later, I lay dying in the military hospital after a difficult birth.

The husband who'd always cherished me cleared the room of doctors and nurses. Then he walked in with Marcella and her baby.

"If it weren't for your father's rank, I'd have made you pay for humiliating Celly before everyone. Now that he's under investigation, it's your turn."

Marcella pressed her foot down on my stomach and smiled. "You ruined me, Ophelia. When you go to hell, be sure to beg for forgiveness. I'll be Samuel's wife. The Dunlap family's fortune will belong to me and my baby now."

I closed my eyes, consumed by pain and betrayal.

When I opened them again, it was my wedding morning.

***

The march was still blaring outside.

I got up and waited in my room for over half an hour before stepping out, holding my head.

My mother, supported by a maid, was returning down the hall, her eyes still damp.

She froze when she saw me at the doorway.

My father frowned. "Ophelia? What are you doing here?"

He stared toward the driveway. "Then who just left in the Dunlap family's car?"

I pressed a hand to my chest, feigning shock. "What? Someone took my place? Last night, Celly gave me some calming incense, said she couldn't bear to see me go. I fell asleep right after and just woke up."

The hallway suddenly went dead silent. Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

My mother nearly collapsed, wheezing as she ordered the guard to seize Miranda Lynch, who was trying to slip away in the crowd.

"So that's why you clung to the bride's hand, crying harder than me! I thought you actually cared. Turns out it's your daughter!"

Miranda dropped to her knees, avoiding everyone's eyes, stammering, "Mrs. Hodge, I don't know what you mean! Ms. Ophelia overslept! Don't blame my Celly!"

A servant rushed in. "Mr. Hodge, Mrs. Hodge, the Mosley family are here for the bride."

My mother's face hardened. "Where is Marcella? Find her. Now!"

I looked down, hiding a cold smile, thinking, "Where else would she be? In Samuel's bed, of course."

By now, they were probably in the bridal suite.

My suspicion was confirmed as I caught the poorly concealed triumph in Miranda's smile.

What a perfectly calculated move by this mother-daughter duo.

Miranda had schemed her way into the Hodge family by seducing my father while my mother was pregnant, bringing Marcella to this world.

Now, Marcella had drugged me and stolen my identity. Even if I woke up now, the deed was done.

That left me with two choices: swallow the injustice silently, or take her place and marry into the Mosley family.

The Mosley family wasn't an established military family, but owns a rising financial group. Still, many of my brother's overseas ventures relied heavily on their support in recent years.

My father, who valued loyalty above all, had agreed to the marriage between Marcella and the Mosley family heir for this reason.

She had pulled this switch, palming off the match that she secretly looked down upon onto me.

If I accepted, by tomorrow, news that the eldest daughter of the Hodge family had married into the Mosley family would spread all over New York, making my family the laughingstock of our social circle.

In my past life, this was her plan to crush me forever.

But back then, with my parents backing me, I stormed the wedding.

The Dunlap family, pressured by my father's and brother's influence in both legitimate and underground circles, had Marcella physically dragged out mid-ceremony.

I became Samuel's wife as I wished, and he cherished me like a treasure.

Back then, I didn't know the man I loved wholeheartedly had already been involved with Marcella, and she was carrying his child.

They were just waiting for the right moment to bring down the Hodge family completely.

A guard's urgent voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Mrs. Hodge, Ms. Marcella isn't in her room. Her custom gown and veil are still there, but all her jewelry, valuables, and documents are gone.

"And, I saw these on her phone."

My father checked it, his face darkening as he saw the intimate messages and photos between Marcella and Samuel.

Livid, he hurled the phone at Miranda's face.

"Look what your daughter has done! Carrying on with her sister's fiancé! She's a disgrace to our family!"

The messages bore Samuel's unique encryption watermark, a detail I'd secretly backed up and added to her phone last night while she was distracted.

I wanted all of New York to know that Marcella had been involved with her sister's fiancé before the wedding.

Zola Dunlap valued reputation above all. Even if Marcella married into the family now, she'd never know a moment's peace.

Sure enough, someone in the crowd sneered, "A bastard daughter, allowed to stay with the Hodge family, and she doesn't know her place? Drugging her sister, stealing her wedding, and attempting to marry into the Dunlap family? She has no shame."

"Exactly! Typical of someone who doesn't belong in polite society. What misfortune for Mr. Hodge."

Miranda, counting the minutes and sure the deed was done, straightened her spine defiantly.

"Mr. Hodge, Celly is your daughter, too. What's done is done. Please, just let her have this."

Infuriated, my mother slapped her across the face. "You scheming witch! You think you can steal my daughter's future with your dirty tricks and get away with it? You think you're worthy?

"Guards! Take Miranda away and lock her in the basement. Let her reflect on her sins!"

Miranda's eyes widened in disbelief. "How dare you touch me! I'm Samuel's mother-in-law now! If I'm harmed a little, I'll have my son-in-law destroy your entire family!"

My father kicked her to the ground. "Ophelia is my only recognized daughter for this marriage! You and your daughter dared to scheme against her? You will pay for this! Take her away!"

Miranda's wails were cut short as bodyguards dragged her off.

A servant approached anxiously. "Mr. Hodge, the Mosley family is still waiting outside. What should we do?"

My father's expression was stern. "Gather some men. We're going to the Dunlap's residence, drag that disgraceful girl back, and send her to the Mosley's residence! This marriage is not for a bastard daughter to decide!"

I caught his sleeve, tears welling in my eyes. "Dad, let it go. Celly and Samuel have been in love for a while. They set up this entire scheme to humiliate our family. I don't want to marry a man like that. Let her have him."

I wiped my eyes. "The Mosley family helped our family. I won't let you be branded ungrateful. I will marry into the Mosley family."

My father looked at me, stunned and moved. "Ophelia, but you are my precious daughter. Marrying into the Mosley family? It's a step down for you."

"Dad," I said firmly, "the Mosley family acted with honor, helping us when they had their own troubles. That kind of character is rare in New York. And Roderick is a rising star, a true talent. In time, he'll bring his family great prestige. Marrying him is no disgrace."

The difference between a bastard daughter who was consumed by greed and stole her sister's fiancé and an honorable eldest daughter who sacrificed for her family's debt of gratitude was huge.

Many in the room were visibly moved, their pity for me matched only by their contempt for Marcella.

My mother held me tightly, her heart breaking.

My father ground his teeth. "How dare the Dunlap family insult my daughter this way! Ophelia, don't worry. Even if it means war with the Dunlap family, the whole district will know they're at fault! You're right to refuse that scum, but I will get justice for this!"

When we reached the Dunlap's residence, the ceremony was over, and the reception was in full swing.

The crowd fell into stunned silence as we appeared.

"Isn't that Ophelia Hodge? Shouldn't she be the bride? Why is she here?"

"But the bride just exchanged rings and was taken to the suite. If it wasn't her, then who was it?"

My mother's voice cut coldly through the murmurs. "I'm afraid you've witnessed a fraud. It was the other daughter of the Hodge family, the bastard who stole my daughter's wedding."

The hall erupted in gasps and whispers.

Samuel strode in, his face livid. "Ophelia, stop this madness! This isn't Celly's fault! I drank too much, mistook her for you... I've already taken her virtue.

"I know you're hurt, but Celly is blameless. I've been with her, so I must do right by her. She's the one who stood beside me at the altar. She is my wife now. But I won't cast you aside. Celly is gentle and understanding. She'll learn to tolerate your willful behavior."