A Losing Game of Love novel Chapter 40

On Valentine's Day, my parents' adopted daughter, Natalia, posted a picture in the family group chat flaunting a massive diamond ring, captioned: "Wedding scheduled for Thanksgiving. You all must attend!"

The family group erupted instantly.

"Wow, what a huge diamond! I saw it in a magazine—costs as much as a house!"

Even my usually silent uncle, Alex, chimed in, "Our girl Natalia sure has a knack for success!"

"I heard from your parents that your fiancé is New York's richest man. Don't forget about us once you're married!"

My mother eagerly added, "Our beautiful and dutiful daughter marrying a billionaire is only to be expected."

"Unlike some people, who are already thirty and still haven't figured things out—keep waiting, and even a poor man won't want you."

Natalia took the chance to tag me, sneering, "That's right, little sis, you'd better put more thought into your future; after all, you're only the one getting picked, not the one doing the picking."

Reading their messages, I was fuming. But when I opened the photo, I realized the ring Natalia was showing off was unmistakably my engagement ring, the one Edward Lewis used to propose to me. This ring was too valuable to wear casually, so I usually kept it safely at home. It was custom-made; how could Natalia have it?

I cautiously asked, "Natalia, is that really your ring?"

Natalia couldn't hold back, quickly posting multiple photos of herself in a sports car, wearing the ring to prove her point.

"It's shameful to have a relative like you. Your parents shouldn't have brought you back."

Ignoring their scorn, I just wanted to ask Natalia where she got that ring. But before I could, I was kicked out of the group chat.

The way my parents defended Natalia almost made me believe she was their real daughter. But in reality, Natalia and I had been accidentally switched at birth in the hospital. I'd only been brought back from the countryside when I was ten, yet they couldn't bear to send Natalia away, so she stayed.

Ever since I reunited with my parents, they'd constantly looked down on me, saying I was nothing compared to Natalia and even reeked of poverty. I thought I was used to their harshness, but seeing how they protected Natalia without sparing a thought for me, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

For now, though, I couldn't dwell on it. I just needed to find out how Natalia got a ring identical to mine and why she was sitting in Edward's car. Could it be that during our recent fight, Edward found himself a new lover?