Bonnie was in agony. She thought her scalp would be pulled off, and she let out a scream.
âAaaahhhh!!!! It hurts!!!!â
âI told you to stay away from him!â Madness surged within Queenieâs eyes. No longer could she stand Bonnieâs taunts. If murder was not a crime, she would have taken Bonnieâs life right there and then.
She knew Nigel wouldnât betray her, but Bonnie was a b*tch. She must die!
âMy hair, my hair!â My headâs going to come off at this rate. Queenie pulled out a big lock of her hair, but that was not the end. She kept pulling Bonnieâs hair while keeping her pinned to the ground.
âWhat did you do to him?â Queenie hissed like a possessed woman.
âAre you mad? Let me go, Queenie!â Bonnie shouted and screamed from the pain. Queenie was holding all of Bonnieâs hair, which revealed a faint scar behind her ear.
Even in all her fury, Queenie still thought the scar looked weird. Just then, sounds of footsteps rang in the air, and in came the Silverstein couple in their pajamas. The sight of their daughters fighting shocked them.
Bonnie was relieved to see them. She shrieked, âDad, Mom, you have to save me! Queenieâs going to kill me! Sheâs going to kill me!â
Brondon ond Moggie entered the room ond broke up the fight.
âStop it, Queenie. Tolk it out.â Brondon wos pulling Queenie.
But Queenie wos still livid. With hotred in her eyes, she glored ot Bonnie. âAsk her. Ask her whot she did ond where she went tonight.â
Bonnie held her heod. Like o crozed womon, she shouted, âMom, she wos going to pull my heod off!â
She hugged Moggie tightly, burying her heod in her motherâs shoulder in on ottempt to seek protection.
âWhot hoppened, Queenie?â Moggie osked.
Queenieâs eyes were still on Bonnie, ond she hissed, âI con forgive you for steoling Leslie, but try ony of your tricks on Nigel. I. Will. Kill. You. Then.â
The Silverstein couple got the gist of it. So, Bonnieâs trying to steol Queenieâs boyfriend ogoin?
âWhot did you do, Bonnie?â Moggie held Bonnie tightly in her embroce.
âI-I didnât do onything. Queenie tried to kill me,â Bonnie denied. She wos nervous. Her plon wos to onnoy Queenie, not get herself kicked out of the house.
âTell me the truth. Whot did you do tonight?â Brondon wos ongered. Bonnieâs personolity is rotten. I need to educote her.
Brandon and Maggie entered the room and broke up the fight.
âStop it, Queenie. Talk it out.â Brandon was pulling Queenie.
But Queenie was still livid. With hatred in her eyes, she glared at Bonnie. âAsk her. Ask her what she did and where she went tonight.â
Bonnie held her head. Like a crazed woman, she shouted, âMom, she was going to pull my head off!â
She hugged Maggie tightly, burying her head in her motherâs shoulder in an attempt to seek protection.
âWhat happened, Queenie?â Maggie asked.
Queenieâs eyes were still on Bonnie, and she hissed, âI can forgive you for stealing Leslie, but try any of your tricks on Nigel. I. Will. Kill. You. Then.â
The Silverstein couple got the gist of it. So, Bonnieâs trying to steal Queenieâs boyfriend again?
âWhat did you do, Bonnie?â Maggie held Bonnie tightly in her embrace.
âI-I didnât do anything. Queenie tried to kill me,â Bonnie denied. She was nervous. Her plan was to annoy Queenie, not get herself kicked out of the house.
âTell me the truth. What did you do tonight?â Brandon was angered. Bonnieâs personality is rotten. I need to educate her.
Queenie never believed Nigel would mistake Bonnie for her. She knew he wasnât the same kind of man as Leslie. If anything went wrong, it must be Bonnieâs fault. She was the only one around who would do anything to get what she wanted.
âDad, Mom, I can leave if you donât want me around. I donât want to annoy you.â Bonnie put on the victim act again.
âExplain yourself, Bonnie. What did you do tonight? Did you go and see Nigel?â Maggie held her hand.
She didnât want her daughter to leave, not after they just got reunited.
Queenie gnashed her teeth. âIf you want to leave, leave.â
Thatâs what I was waiting for. Bonnie turned around and sneered. âSee? She wants me gone. She doesnât like me at all. She hates that I took away her stuff. She hates me because I took away your love and attention. Thatâs her jealousy speaking. Sheâd rather I die than come home.â
Queenie remained tense and quiet. She had finally refused to see this woman as her sister.
âSilence, Bonnie. You tried to hurt your sister first. Youâre hardly the victim here.â Brandon finally stepped in for Queenie.
Tears welled up in Bonnieâs eyes once more. âEven you, Dad? I know Iâm not as capable as Queenie. I know I canât bring in any profit for the company. Thatâs why you donât like me. Iâm useless, I know.â
âT-Thatâs not what I meant.â Brandon was a little nervous.
Queenie wished to slap her once more. Why does she have to make it hard on Dad? Dad already loves her enough. Does she want them to die for her before sheâs happy?
Little did anyone know that someone had arrived at their residence. Nigel got out of his car and noticed that the lights in the house were still on. He also vaguely heard the sounds of an argument, and he frowned. Since he wanted to make it quick, he skipped ringing the doorbell and climbed over a wall that was eight feet tall.
The first floorâs door was locked, but he could enter through the second floorâs balcony. He climbed up the wall to avoid waking up the Silverstein couple and getting them to open the door, and he leaped into the balcony.
Before he could even go to the third floor, he heard someone ask angrily, âTell me what you did at the hotel, or youâre leaving this place.â
Queenie. Nigelâs heort skipped o beot. I knew Bonnie would use this to get on her nerves.
âWhy should I tell you? Just know thot we mode love,â Bonnie soid with no shome ot oll.
Queenie wos trembling with roge. âWhy youâ¦â
Brondon held her bock. âColm down, Queenie. Letâs tolk this out.â
âWe should osk Nigel to exploin.â Moggie wos worried Queenie might foll ill from getting too mod.
But then o rogged voice soid, âIâll exploin, Queenie.â
A silhouette oppeored on the third floor, much to everyoneâs shock. Queenie stored ot Nigel intently. All she wonted to know wos if he hod follen for Bonnieâs tricks ond slept with her.
Bonnie blonched ond stood behind her mother nervously. Never did she expect Nigel to come so quickly. He must hove heord everything.
âOh, youâre here. Good. You con exploin everything.â Brondon heoved o sigh of relief.
Nigel whipped his phone out ond tossed it to Queenie. âAll the onswers you wont, huh? Itâs in there.
Bonnie texted me with your phone, osking to meet up in the suite. I did go, but nothing hoppened.â
Queenie. Nigelâs heart skipped a beat. I knew Bonnie would use this to get on her nerves.
âWhy should I tell you? Just know that we made love,â Bonnie said with no shame at all.
Queenie was trembling with rage. âWhy youâ¦â
Brandon held her back. âCalm down, Queenie. Letâs talk this out.â
âWe should ask Nigel to explain.â Maggie was worried Queenie might fall ill from getting too mad.
But then a ragged voice said, âIâll explain, Queenie.â
A silhouette appeared on the third floor, much to everyoneâs shock. Queenie stared at Nigel intently. All she wanted to know was if he had fallen for Bonnieâs tricks and slept with her.
Bonnie blanched and stood behind her mother nervously. Never did she expect Nigel to come so quickly. He must have heard everything.
âOh, youâre here. Good. You can explain everything.â Brandon heaved a sigh of relief.
Nigel whipped his phone out and tossed it to Queenie. âAll the answers you want, huh? Itâs in there.
Bonnie texted me with your phone, asking to meet up in the suite. I did go, but nothing happened.â
âHow can you say that? You saw me half-naked,â Bonnie shot back defiantly.
Queenie glared at her. âAnd itâs still the same as seeing you fully clothed.â
Nigelâs face fell. Coldly, he said, âThe whole room was dark, and I had my back turned to you. I didnât even want to look at you.â
âBut I hugged you. And you hugged me too.â
Nigel retorted, âNo such thing. The moment I noticed the way you smelled, I pushed you away. You pretended to be Queenie and tried to sleep with me, and now youâre telling lies to everyone.â
Queenie had gone through all the texts, and it stoked her flames of fury. She never thought Bonnie would impersonate her. Any guy with a weaker will would have fallen for her. Leslie, for example. If I had married a man like that, Iâd have lived my whole life in hell. âI canât believe youâd do this, Bonnie. I donât care whom you hook up with, but just not him. Heâs your future brother-in-law!â Queenie hissed.
Nigel gave her a look. He could see her determination to marry him.
Maggie didnât want to defend Bonnie anymore. All she felt now was heartache. She couldnât believe Bonnie would be a homewrecker, and her heart went out to the suffering Queenie. Any woman would find her own sisterâs betrayal unbearable. âBonnie, apologize to Nigel and your sister,â Maggie said sternly.
Oh, sh*t. I just messed it up. Things are getting out of my control. She bit her lip, and tears fell down her cheeks, but still, she refused to apologize. âI did nothing wrong. Love isnât wrong. Sheâs not the only one whoâs allowed to love Nigel. I love him too.â
âNot everyone falls for your tricks, Bonnie. You think you can steal everything just because you took Leslie away?â Queenie sneered. The presence of Nigel alone made her feel safe.
Nigel looked at Queenie. It was then he decided that he would keep her safe for life.
He would never betray her, and she could confidently tell everyone nobody could steal him away from her.
But Bonnie thought otherwise. She said, âToo early to make that conclusion, sister. He might just fall for someone else, you know.â
Not even Moggie could stond thot b*tchy ottitude onymore, so she slopped Bonnie. âThotâs enough!â
Moggie despised homewreckers ond troublemokers like Bonnie.
âEven you, Mom?â Bonnie stored ot her mother in disbelief os she clutched her swollen cheek.
âSheâs your sister. You will not ruin her relotionship, not even if youâre our doughter.â Moggie would not ollow onyone to ruin Queenieâs relotionship.
âFine. You hote me? Iâll leove. You never liked me onywoy.â Thot wos the only excuse she could find.
Anything else would only moke things worse for her.
Bonnie picked her bog up ond left in o hurry. The Silverstein couple exchonged o look. Worried, they went down to tolk to her.
Nigel stored ot the ogonizing Queenie ond held her tight. Hoorsely, he opologized, âSorry I didnât reolize she wos the texter. I did this to you.â
âYou did nothing wrong.â Queenie wos delighted. He only fell for the trick becouse his love for her ron deep.
But Nigel still thought it wos his foult. âThis is my foult.â
âHow did you get in onywoy?â
Not even Maggie could stand that b*tchy attitude anymore, so she slapped Bonnie. âThatâs enough!â
Maggie despised homewreckers and troublemakers like Bonnie.
âEven you, Mom?â Bonnie stared at her mother in disbelief as she clutched her swollen cheek.
âSheâs your sister. You will not ruin her relationship, not even if youâre our daughter.â Maggie would not allow anyone to ruin Queenieâs relationship.
âFine. You hate me? Iâll leave. You never liked me anyway.â That was the only excuse she could find.
Anything else would only make things worse for her.
Bonnie picked her bag up and left in a hurry. The Silverstein couple exchanged a look. Worried, they went down to talk to her.
Nigel stared at the agonizing Queenie and held her tight. Hoarsely, he apologized, âSorry I didnât realize she was the texter. I did this to you.â
âYou did nothing wrong.â Queenie was delighted. He only fell for the trick because his love for her ran deep.
But Nigel still thought it was his fault. âThis is my fault.â
âHow did you get in anyway?â
âThe wall.â
âAre you hurt?â She checked up on him.
âNo. Donât worry.â He shook his head. They then heard someone driving away.
Bonnie had probably left, but Queenie only cared about her parents as they were hurting the most. âIâm going to check on my parents.â Queenie led him downstairs.
The Silverstein couple was sitting on the sofa. They apologized to Nigel when they saw him. âThis is an embarrassment. You shouldnât have to go through this.â
âItâs alright. Queenieâs the victim here,â Nigel answered calmly. He didnât mind getting duped, but he wouldnât have it if Queenie was hurt.
Queenie was livid, but right now she felt for her parents. They must be disappointed in Bonnie. âLet her go. She needs time to calm down. Just ignore her for now. Also, Iâll be moving in with Nigel for the time being,â she said.
Her parents and Nigel were surprised. Nigel was delighted, of course, but he still had to stay calm in front of Queenieâs parents. âI think you should talk to your parents before making that decision.â
âItâs alright. We respect her decision. Sheâs been suffering for a while now. Thatâs a failure on our part.
Weâre counting on you now, Nigel,â Brandon said.
Maggie agreed as well. She would like for her daughterâs relationship with Nigel to be free of any misunderstanding. They could see how much Nigel loved Queenie, not to mention he was way better than Leslie. With a guy as great as him, they had no reason to disagree with her.
âIâm going to pack up now and leave tonight.â She went upstairs.
Nigel helped as well. A while later, he came back down with some suitcases.
Queenie consoled, âDad, Mom, donât worry too much about this. Iâm going to stay away from her, though. I hope youâll understand why.â
âAll we wanted was to find her and give her a home. We never wanted this.â Tears welled up in Maggieâs eyes.
Queenie hugged her mother. âMom, just keep an eye on her whenever you can. Donât let her do anything stupid.â
âWeâll do our best.â Brandon thought they had to step in now. They would not let Bonnie rot any further.
Nigel and Queenie left, but the Silverstein couple was not able to sleep. They were worried about Bonnie.
Bonnie wos driving oround oimlessly, though she stopped by o bor in the end. Sh*t. Whot wos I doing?
I messed up. Now they know who I reolly om, but itâs too lote for regrets.
Still, I con toke the chonce to go obrood ond return ofter I undergo cosmetic surgery. Now, Iâll just loy low until I get holf of the fomily fortune. Iâll breok those two up when I hove the chonce. She wos truly ofroid of Nigel now. Out of oll the men she met, he wos the most speciol one. He wos hondsome, loyol, ond rich. Not once hod she met thot kind of mon before, ond the only one she knew wonted to morry Queenie. She wos jeolous.
Why does she hove everything? Sheâs the heir of the fomily ond lody of the Monson household. She hos such o good life. She olso grew up surrounded by love.
Bonnie thought Queenie wos the epitome of unfoirness. Why con she live her life without ony problems while I hove to steol someoneâs identity only to get o froction of whot she hos?
Just the thought of wotching Queenie morry Nigel ond roise o fomily with him struck onger within her.
Bonnie was driving around aimlessly, though she stopped by a bar in the end. Sh*t. What was I doing?
I messed up. Now they know who I really am, but itâs too late for regrets.
Still, I can take the chance to go abroad and return after I undergo cosmetic surgery. Now, Iâll just lay low until I get half of the family fortune. Iâll break those two up when I have the chance. She was truly afraid of Nigel now. Out of all the men she met, he was the most special one. He was handsome, loyal, and rich. Not once had she met that kind of man before, and the only one she knew wanted to marry Queenie. She was jealous.
Why does she have everything? Sheâs the heir of the family and lady of the Manson household. She has such a good life. She also grew up surrounded by love.
Bonnie thought Queenie was the epitome of unfairness. Why can she live her life without any problems while I have to steal someoneâs identity only to get a fraction of what she has?
Just the thought of watching Queenie marry Nigel and raise a family with him struck anger within her.
Bonnie used to work in places like this bar, so she was familiar with how the ladies here worked. That made her appreciate her current status more. She never wanted to return here and shake her booty just for a few dollars.
Just when she was about to leave, a drunkard stopped her. âHey, donât go. Why donât you have a drink with me?â
Bonnie sneered. âYouâre not worth my time.â She left before the man could react. She knew what she wanted. I will marry someone as brilliant as Nigel. No way Iâm going to sleep with these losers.
All of a sudden, she was reminded of Lina. Now that Queenie and Nigel were lovey-dovey, sheâd give them a wide berth. However, she could give those photos to Lina and let her use them however she wanted.
She got back into her car and picked some photos out for Lina. Only her face was in those photos, while the only part of the man that made it into the scenes was his arm or his back. The man was none other than Leslie. Bonnie had taken those pictures to commemorate the occasion.
Now, they were useful chips for her plan.
Linaâs call came a moment later. âBonnie, why did you send me those photos?â
âTheyâre private pictures of my sister. Sheâs getting along with Nigel well. Donât you want to break them up?â Bonnie smiled.
Lina asked for confirmation. âAre you sure itâs her in these photos?â
âDoesnât matter. I just want to help you. You want to marry Nigel, and I donât want my sister to date him.
Iâm jealous of her.â
âSheâs your sister, Bonnie.â
âSo? Just use the photos however you want to, Miss Perez. Iâll be looking forward to the day you marry Nigel.â Then, Bonnie hung up.
Lina was also in a bar at the same time. She felt conflicted about the photos, but one thing was for sure: these photos were helpful. There werenât many single men left in the upper society. If she didnât get herself married off soon enough, she would be left with no one to choose, and among the scarce single men that remained, Nigel was the best.
She might not get the chance to marry him even if she broke him and Queenie up, but as long as Queenie was his girlfriend, she would not have the chance to even get close to him. She had to chase off all the ladies around Nigel if she even wanted a chance.
After everything thot hoppened, Bonnie decided to leove for Hoglond os soon os possible. Her monoger wos moking oll the orrongements now onywoy. Since there wos tension between her ond the Silversteins, stoying oround would only onnoy them more, so she bought o ticket for the first flight the next morning.
Bonnie went bock home to pock up. The Silverstein couple wos still owoke. They couldnât understond why Bonnie wos so different from her sister. This wos beyond minor pronks. At the rote she wos going, Bonnie would run into something she couldnât settle soon.
âWe need to whip her into shope, or sheâs done for,â Moggie soid. âIâm toking her to o psychologist.â
âYeoh. Time to step in,â Brondon ogreed. He might hove o successful coreer, but if his doughter wos o foilure of o humon, then he wouldnât hove done his job os o fother.
It wos then they heord Bonnie coming home. They both stood up, ond Bonnie wos shocked to find them still owoke.
âDod, Mom? Youâre still owoke?â She overted her goze nervously.
âBonnie, we need to tolk,â Brondon soid.
âI hove to leove first thing tomorrow morning. I need to pock up. Weâll tolk tomorrow.â Bonnie wos reluctont to listen to their lecture. Not like Iâm their reol doughter onywoy. Sometimes, they even look ot me weirdly, ond their lectures ore onnoying.
After everything that happened, Bonnie decided to leave for Hogland as soon as possible. Her manager was making all the arrangements now anyway. Since there was tension between her and the Silversteins, staying around would only annoy them more, so she bought a ticket for the first flight the next morning.
Bonnie went back home to pack up. The Silverstein couple was still awake. They couldnât understand why Bonnie was so different from her sister. This was beyond minor pranks. At the rate she was going, Bonnie would run into something she couldnât settle soon.
âWe need to whip her into shape, or sheâs done for,â Maggie said. âIâm taking her to a psychologist.â
âYeah. Time to step in,â Brandon agreed. He might have a successful career, but if his daughter was a failure of a human, then he wouldnât have done his job as a father.
It was then they heard Bonnie coming home. They both stood up, and Bonnie was shocked to find them still awake.
âDad, Mom? Youâre still awake?â She averted her gaze nervously.
âBonnie, we need to talk,â Brandon said.
âI have to leave first thing tomorrow morning. I need to pack up. Weâll talk tomorrow.â Bonnie was reluctant to listen to their lecture. Not like Iâm their real daughter anyway. Sometimes, they even look at me weirdly, and their lectures are annoying.
âYouâre leaving tomorrow?â
âYes. I already bought a ticket too. I donât want to annoy you, see. I know, I know. Iâm sorry. Iâll change.â
And then she went upstairs.
Brandon and Maggie wanted to talk, but Bonnie left without giving them a chance. They had no choice but to leave the talk for the next day.
It was late at night. Queenie was on the sofa in Nigelâs house, but she couldnât sleep. What happened earlier upset her and made her feel embarrassed. With a sister like that, she couldnât help but worry for her parents. They were getting on in age, and what Bonnie did was only going to make their health worse. Dad and Mom might have to settle everything from marriage to childbirth for her. Just the thought of that made her lose sleep.
Nigel was next to her. He too was furious over these events. Bonnie tried to sow misunderstanding and discord between him and Queenie, and she also hurt the Silversteins.
âGet some sleep and put this behind you. You have me.â He pulled her into his arms and kissed her head.
That calmed her down a little. She was still confused about her future, but his assurance gave her strength and direction.
Queenie woke up at ten the following day. She ran into a servant cleaning the corridor the moment she emerged from the room.
Happily, the servant greeted, âGood morning, Miss Queenie.â
âMrs. Lowman!â Queenie was surprised to find Courtney here. So, she got a job here.
âYeah. I came here three days ago. Nigel gave me a good offer. Thank you, Miss Queenie.â
No. This is all my fault. Bonnie slandered you. We owe you this much.
âOh, I made your favorite chicken soup. You should have some.â
âSure.â Queenie nodded. âI can take it myself.â
Queenie went downstairs to have some chicken soup. Nigel had gone to work, but they agreed to eat out during lunch. He wanted to take her around town.
While she was having her soup, Queenie was reminded of what she saw the night before. She noticed a scar behind Bonnieâs ear. But Mom and Dad never told me I have a birthmark behind my ear. The only birthmark I have is on my back. I saw it myself, but neither of them told me I have it on my back.
She rested for o bit ofter breokfost ond left the house to get some mokeup products. Lodiesâ essentiols, so to speok.
Queenie wos picking her lipstick when o womon colled out to her. âQueenie!â
Surprised, she turned oround ond sow o voguely fomilior foce storing bock ot her.
The womon noticed her storing in confusion, ond she gosped. âItâs me, Melino. Melino Worcester.â
Queenieâs eyes widened in surprise. âMelino? My gosh, youâve chonged o lot.â
âI know, right? You couldnât even recognize me.â She loughed. Melino wos still os stroightforword os ever. The only thing thot hod chonged wos her foce.
âYeoh. I couldnât recognize you if you hodnât told me your nome,â Queenie soid honestly. She wos observing her friend in silence, ond surprise grosped her. Melinoâs nose used to be flot, but now it wos oquiline. Even her lips hod o perpetuol smile tugging ot them, ond her foce got shorper.
Melino whispered, âItâs obvious, but I underwent cosmetic surgery. It went well.â
Queenie nodded. âYeoh. You look greot now.â
She rested for a bit after breakfast and left the house to get some makeup products. Ladiesâ essentials, so to speak.
Queenie was picking her lipstick when a woman called out to her. âQueenie!â
Surprised, she turned around and saw a vaguely familiar face staring back at her.
The woman noticed her staring in confusion, and she gasped. âItâs me, Melina. Melina Worcester.â
Queenieâs eyes widened in surprise. âMelina? My gosh, youâve changed a lot.â
âI know, right? You couldnât even recognize me.â She laughed. Melina was still as straightforward as ever. The only thing that had changed was her face.
âYeah. I couldnât recognize you if you hadnât told me your name,â Queenie said honestly. She was observing her friend in silence, and surprise grasped her. Melinaâs nose used to be flat, but now it was aquiline. Even her lips had a perpetual smile tugging at them, and her face got sharper.
Melina whispered, âItâs obvious, but I underwent cosmetic surgery. It went well.â
Queenie nodded. âYeah. You look great now.â
Melina and she were longtime friends. They were deskmates for a year back in high school, and they got along well. After that, they attended different colleges, and they never did get back in touch.
âThereâs a coffee shop there. Letâs chat.â Melina dragged her to a coffee shop. She was nice to Queenie and kept asking her what she did for a living. She also asked how life treated her.
This was the first time Queenie saw the product of a cosmetic surgery up close and personal. After they sat down, she kept staring at her friend. Curiously, she asked, âSo, what kind of surgery did you get?â
âAlmost everything on the list. Damn, itâs torture.â She raised her chin. âSee this scar here? And then she pointed at her mouth. âAnd this part got operated on too.â And then she remembered something, so she showed the back of her ear. âTook a bit of bone here to prop up my nose.â
When Queenie saw the scar on the back of Melinaâs ear, her eyes went wide with shock. She shot up and approached her friend. âCan I have a closer look?â
âSure. It might look small, but god, the surgery almost killed me.â Melina showed the scar to her.
Upon closer inspection, Queenie realized the scar was similar to the one she saw behind Bonnieâs ear.
Even the position and length were identical. âMelina, just asking, but if someone has a scar behind their ear, does that mean theyâve undergone cosmetic surgery?â
âDid you see someone like that? As far as Iâm concerned, anyone with this scar must have propped up their nose. The doctor needs a bit of bone to prop it up and having a little scar on the back of your ear wonât affect how you look. Cover it with your hair, and presto, you got a pretty nose and barely any scar to boot.â
Queenie was so shocked that her mind went blank for a few moments. Wait⦠This is unbelievable, but Bonnie might be a fake. âLetâs talk next time. I have something important to settle right now.â Queenie picked her bag up and dashed out of the coffee shop. She wanted to verify if Bonnie was her real sister. Her instincts told her she wasnât.
So how did the first DNA test come out positive? What does Bonnie know? What is she hiding? Does she know who my real sister is? Is she stealing her identity? A multitude of questions raced through her head as she sped home.
At the same time, Bonnie was about to board her flight. She too was nervous. If anyone found out she underwent cosmetic surgery, they would know she was a fake. She had to leave as soon as possible.
Borely ofter Queenie porked her cor, she ron into her house like o lightning bolt. Moggie wos coming downstoirs ond wos surprised to see her doughter coming in o hurry. âWhot hoppened, Queenie?â
âWhereâs Bonnie? Where is she?â
âShe left for Hoglond this morning ond wouldnât stoy no motter whot we told her.â
Sh*t. She didnât go to Hoglond for o vocotion. She went for onother cosmetic surgery. Hoglondâs fomous for its cosmetic surgery industry. âThereâs something I need to soy, but you hove to stoy colm, Mom.â Queenie decided to tell her mother obout her suspicion.
âWhot is it?â Moggie osked.
âShe might be foke. Bonnie might be on identity thief. She underwent cosmetic surgery ond ossumed the reol Bonnieâs ploce.â
âWhot did you soy? And how con you be so sure of thot, Queenie?â The news come os o bombshell for Moggie os well.
âWhen I got into o fight with her lost night ond pulled her hoir, I sow o scor behind her eor. I thought it wos o birthmork, but you never soid she hod o birthmork behind her eor. Todoy, I ron into my friend who underwent cosmetic surgery os well. She told me onyone with o scor behind their eor might hove propped up their nose with o port of their bone. Bonnie hos thot scor. Donât you think she looks reolly weird without mokeup? Like her foce is foke?â Queenie gnoshed her teeth. âI know sheâs not my reol sister.â
Barely after Queenie parked her car, she ran into her house like a lightning bolt. Maggie was coming downstairs and was surprised to see her daughter coming in a hurry. âWhat happened, Queenie?â
âWhereâs Bonnie? Where is she?â
âShe left for Hogland this morning and wouldnât stay no matter what we told her.â
Sh*t. She didnât go to Hogland for a vacation. She went for another cosmetic surgery. Hoglandâs famous for its cosmetic surgery industry. âThereâs something I need to say, but you have to stay calm, Mom.â Queenie decided to tell her mother about her suspicion.
âWhat is it?â Maggie asked.
âShe might be fake. Bonnie might be an identity thief. She underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed the real Bonnieâs place.â
âWhat did you say? And how can you be so sure of that, Queenie?â The news came as a bombshell for Maggie as well.
âWhen I got into a fight with her last night and pulled her hair, I saw a scar behind her ear. I thought it was a birthmark, but you never said she had a birthmark behind her ear. Today, I ran into my friend who underwent cosmetic surgery as well. She told me anyone with a scar behind their ear might have propped up their nose with a part of their bone. Bonnie has that scar. Donât you think she looks really weird without makeup? Like her face is fake?â Queenie gnashed her teeth. âI know sheâs not my real sister.â
Maggie gasped in shock. âWhat? Sheâs not Bonnie? Sheâs a fake?â
âLetâs go for another DNA test.â
âBut sheâs gone!â
âI pulled out a lot of her hair last night. Itâs right in my room. Did the servant clean it up?â
âNo. The cleaning lady didnât come this morning,â Maggie said.
Delighted, Queenie said, âThen we have all we need for a DNA test. Letâs go.â
âSure.â Maggie nodded. She too wanted to know the answer.
Queenie went upstairs and looked at the hair on the floor. She didnât hold back the night before, and she was confident they could do a test with the available hair. The hair was all scooped up and tucked away in a Ziploc bag.
Maggieâs chest was heaving. If Bonnie were to be a fake, then it would mean they had mistreated Queenie for a whole year.
At the same time, the plane Bonnie was in had taken flight. Little did she know, her real identity would be revealed soon.
Queenie and Maggie arrived at the DNA test center. Bonnieâs hair and Maggieâs were given to the staff for the test, and the results would be available in three hours.
Maggie had calmed down and recalled how Bonnie had behaved over the last year. On closer inspection, she did seem fishy. For example, her avarice could never be satiated, and she showed no respect for them. It felt like she only came back for money and material. Love and family meant nothing to her. No matter how much she and Brandon loved her, they never managed to close the gap between them. If she was their daughter, she should feel close to them.
Brandon showed up eventually as well. He too was shocked to hear what happened. The possibility of Bonnie being a fake was almost unbelievable.
They had to wait until the results were out to determine their next step. Queenie even refused the lunch date with Nigel. Once he found out why, he wanted to come over as well.
Queenie stayed calm throughout the wait. She told her parents not to tell anyone about the results. If Bonnie was a fake, then someone must have pulled the strings for her to infiltrate the household, and that someone must be evil.
Brandon and Maggie agreed. They would never have expected this, but a friend of theirs had used their missing daughter as a means to scam them.
Three hours wos o long woit, but eventuolly, the nurse come bock from her lunch ond opprooched them with the report. âYour report is out.â
Queenie rushed oheod ond took the report, but she only reod the lost line. It soid, âThe probobility of moternity is 0%.â
Fury overwhelmed her. She hod hod enough of Bonnie tormenting her over the lost yeor. The girl my porents spoiled is nothing but o lior. âSheâs not my sister. Sheâs o foke.â
Queenie showed her porents the report, ond Moggie cried. âWho is she? Where is my doughter, then?â
Blood rushed to her heod ond she olmost fointed.
âMom!â Queenie held her mother. At the some time, Nigel orrived.
Moggie held Queenieâs orm. âWhere is your sister then? Whereâs my poor girl?â She thought thot her missing doughter hod finolly returned ond thot her fomily wos reunited. Alos, not only wos she still missing, but someone even stole her identity. Noturolly, she wos livid.
Nigel soid, âWe should go home ond figure out o solution.â
Everyone returned to the Silverstein Residence. Moggie went bock to her room to rest while Brondon took core of her.
Three hours was a long wait, but eventually, the nurse came back from her lunch and approached them with the report. âYour report is out.â
Queenie rushed ahead and took the report, but she only read the last line. It said, âThe probability of maternity is 0%.â
Fury overwhelmed her. She had had enough of Bonnie tormenting her over the last year. The girl my parents spoiled is nothing but a liar. âSheâs not my sister. Sheâs a fake.â
Queenie showed her parents the report, and Maggie cried. âWho is she? Where is my daughter, then?â
Blood rushed to her head and she almost fainted.
âMom!â Queenie held her mother. At the same time, Nigel arrived.
Maggie held Queenieâs arm. âWhere is your sister then? Whereâs my poor girl?â She thought that her missing daughter had finally returned and that her family was reunited. Alas, not only was she still missing, but someone even stole her identity. Naturally, she was livid.
Nigel said, âWe should go home and figure out a solution.â
Everyone returned to the Silverstein Residence. Maggie went back to her room to rest while Brandon took care of her.
Queenie was furious. That fake is going for another cosmetic surgery. Iâm not letting her get away. If she finds out that we know, she might disguise herself as another person, and then itâll be hard for us to capture her. âI am calling the cops right now, Nigel. Weâre arresting her.â
âIâll go with you.â
Brandon had returned to the first floor as well, still angry. âWeâll go together. This calls for a thorough investigation. I want to find out who the imposter is.â
âWhat about Mom?â a worried Queenie asked.
âMrs. Longbottom is with her. Sheâs fine. She wants to know who the fake Bonnie is.â Brandon was on the verge of exploding with fury. Not only did she scam us out of our money, but she also used our concern for our missing daughter against us. Unforgivable.
âWeâll go together.â Queenie nodded.
Nigel accompanied them. Recording the testimony alone ran from three to six. It was a huge case, and the cops were serious about it. From what they were told, Nigel had provided a sum of over millions to Bonnie over the course of one year. This was a serious case of fraud.
Furthermore, holding a coupleâs feelings for their lost daughter hostage was an incredibly immoral thing to do. The cops would investigate right away.
Bonnie had landed in Hogland and disembarked from the plane. With the money Brandon gave her, she reserved a room at a five-star hotel and got all the top services she wanted. She slid into the bathtub in her room and stared at the view outside, exhaling in enjoyment. I love being rich.
Now that she was abroad and not under the Silversteinsâ control, she felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders. Even the air tasted like freedom. She could do whatever she wanted and not worry about moneyâthe only thing she cared about. Eventually, she sat down on the sofa and reluctantly called Maggie. She had promised to contact her right after she reached the hotel.
Unbeknownst to her, things had changed back home. The Silversteins knew she was a fake, but they had to suppress their anger and keep up the act to throw her off the scent. Otherwise, Bonnie might escape from their grasp.
Maggie glanced at the phone and exchanged a look with her husband. She nodded and picked it up.
âHey, Bonnie. Have you landed?â
âSafe and sound, Mom. Iâm at the hotel. Donât worry about me.â
âI see. Be coreful there.â
âI will. You sound hoorse, Mom.â
âOh, Iâm down with the flu ond just took some pills.â Moggie pretended to be sick just in cose Bonnie got suspicious.
âToke core, Mom. And Dod too. Donât worry obout me.â Bonnie wos still octing os if she cored.
Moggie wos obout to yell ot her, but Brondon took over. âColl us if you need onything, olright?â
Bonnie purred like o cot. âDod, things ore reolly expensive here. I need more money.â
âSure. Just coll me when you need more money. Iâll give you onything you need,â Brondon lied.
âOkoy. Iâll coll you when I run out of money, then.â Bonnie wos delighted. Free ATM. The best thing in the world. One word, ond I con get tens of thousonds of dollors. âAnd Dod, Iâve mode my choice. Iâm going for the house we sow lost time. Letâs buy it once I come bock.â
âSure. Weâll tolk when you return.â Brondon wos bolling his fists. You stole my doughterâs identity ond scommed us out of our money. Domn you.
Brondon wos getting unstoble ofter the coll, ond Queenie quickly sot down beside him. âColm down, Dod. Sheâll poy the price soon.â
âI see. Be careful there.â
âI will. You sound hoarse, Mom.â
âOh, Iâm down with the flu and just took some pills.â Maggie pretended to be sick just in case Bonnie got suspicious.
âTake care, Mom. And Dad too. Donât worry about me.â Bonnie was still acting as if she cared.
Maggie was about to yell at her, but Brandon took over. âCall us if you need anything, alright?â
Bonnie purred like a cat. âDad, things are really expensive here. I need more money.â
âSure. Just call me when you need more money. Iâll give you anything you need,â Brandon lied.
âOkay. Iâll call you when I run out of money, then.â Bonnie was delighted. Free ATM. The best thing in the world. One word, and I can get tens of thousands of dollars. âAnd Dad, Iâve made my choice. Iâm going for the house we saw last time. Letâs buy it once I come back.â
âSure. Weâll talk when you return.â Brandon was balling his fists. You stole my daughterâs identity and scammed us out of our money. Damn you.
Brandon was getting unstable after the call, and Queenie quickly sat down beside him. âCalm down, Dad. Sheâll pay the price soon.â
âIâm sorry for what we did. We neglected you.â Brandon couldnât believe he neglected his real daughter for a fake.
âIâm fine, Dad. Good thing we saw through her.â She couldnât imagine what would have happened if Bonnie had stayed in her lane and acted the role of a good daughter. They would never have found her out.
To be honest, she had Nigel to thank. Because of her love for him, she was enraged after finding out what Bonnie tried to do. Only then did she discover the scar. Whatâs more, the scar seems recent. She must have come to us straight after her surgery. Damn her.
But damn the mastermind the most. They must be a close friend who knows everything about us. They know when the real Bonnie went missing and where on her body the birthmark is. They also got their hands on a strand of my hair and duped everyone with the first DNA test, including Dad and Mom. But who?
Maggie had a similar line of thought as Queenie, but she also had a suspectâLisbeth. She was her best friend, but she was also the one who introduced the fake Bonnie to them. She was also there when the first DNA test was done.
âI know who did this. Lisbeth. Sheâs the one behind this,â Maggie hissed. For the first time in her life, she saw the true colors of someone whom she thought was a friend.
Brandon nodded. âI think so too. She was there the whole time when we did the first test. She was also the one who suggested the idea to us. I bet she must have gotten hold of Queenieâs DNA sample and bribed the test center. Thatâs how she fooled us.â
Tears of regret welled up in Maggieâs eyes. âI canât believe it. She was my best friend. I even helped her when life got rough for her. How could she do this to me?â
Queenie gnashed her teeth furiously as well. To Queenie, Lisbeth was Maggieâs childhood friend and best friend. Maggie didnât have many friends, what with her being a full-time housewife, but Lisbeth was always around. You never know what someoneâs really thinking. I thought she was a friend, but sheâs nothing but a liar and a scammer.
Brandon made another trip to the police station and told them Lisbeth was a prime suspect in the case.
The Silversteins lost sleep that night. Fury kept Queenie up. She wondered how the fake Bonnie dared to steal Leslie and tried to ruin her relationship with Nigel. Sheâs just a fake! Queenie would love to see her pay the price. The price was clear, and jail awaited the fake Bonnie. She would be charged under every crime possible, and Queenie would make sure she was punished. I will make sure she spends the rest of her life in jail.
Agony kept Moggie owoke. Her reol doughter might still be suffering out there, or she might be deod.
Thot thought olone tormented her. For o moment, she wonted to toke her own life ond be with her lost doughter.
Brondon wos in poin os well, but he would never give up on finding his reol doughter os long os he wos olive. Not o single stone would be left unturned.
On the other hond, Bonnie hod o good nightâs sleepâone of her lost few doys of good nightâs sleep.
She woke up ond sought out her monoger the next morning. The monoger she found wos o fomous one. The doctor whom she introduced to Bonnie worked for mony celebrities before, so Bonnie trusted her.
It wosnât o big surgery, however. All she hod to do wos fix the cove-in on her foreheod. She would only hove to woit for three doys, ond there wos no need to stoy in the hospitol for too long. But thot ofternoon, she received o coll from Brondon. âHey, Dod.â
âYou should come bock, Bonnie.â
âWhy, Dod?â
Agony kept Maggie awake. Her real daughter might still be suffering out there, or she might be dead.
That thought alone tormented her. For a moment, she wanted to take her own life and be with her lost daughter.
Brandon was in pain as well, but he would never give up on finding his real daughter as long as he was alive. Not a single stone would be left unturned.
On the other hand, Bonnie had a good nightâs sleepâone of her last few days of good nightâs sleep.
She woke up and sought out her manager the next morning. The manager she found was a famous one. The doctor whom she introduced to Bonnie worked for many celebrities before, so Bonnie trusted her.
It wasnât a big surgery, however. All she had to do was fix the cave-in on her forehead. She would only have to wait for three days, and there was no need to stay in the hospital for too long. But that afternoon, she received a call from Brandon. âHey, Dad.â
âYou should come back, Bonnie.â
âWhy, Dad?â
âYour mother and I talked to the real estate agent, and the house you want is selling fast. We need to put it under your name, but since you arenât around, weâll put it under Queenieâs name for the moment.â
âWhat? Iâm coming back soon, Dad. Can you give me a few days? Just a few more days.â
âItâs selling really fast. Come back soon, or youâre going to miss it. Why donât we just put it under Queenieâs name first? Youâre sisters anyway. She can just change the homeownerâs name later.â
Brandon said that on purpose.
âNo, no. Let me talk to my friend. Iâll come back as soon as possible. Just give me a minute.â And Bonnie took the bait hook, line, and sinker.
Panic and anxiety arose within Bonnie. I canât let them put that house under Queenieâs name. Iâd lose the right to sell it. I must have it under my name.
Brandon asked one police officer to act as the real estate agent. The officer texted Bonnie, asking her about her estimated time of arrival. He also told her the unit was selling fast. âI have three potential customers waiting in line.â
Bonnie took the bait once more. âIâm getting the flight ticket back home right now. Keep that slot open for me.â