I Was The Fake Heiress—Then Found Real Heir Was My Ex Chapter 03
The Ashford Homecoming
By Friday night, half of New York knew I was a fake Ashford.
The other half had probably heard I was sleeping with a mysterious unemployed man.
I wore silver anyway.
If people wanted to stare, I might as well give them something worth staring at.
The Ashford homecoming gala was held at our Greenwich estate.
Three hundred guests.
Old families.
Politicians.
Bankers.
People who had known me since I was a child.
For twenty-two years, I had entered rooms like this as the future head of the Ashford family.
Tonight, people looked away when I approached.
Some were embarrassed for me.
Others were enjoying it.
I took a piece of cake from a passing tray.
“Stop eating that.”
Simon appeared beside me.
I frowned.
“Why?”
“You skipped dinner.”
“So?”
“That’s your third piece of cake.”
“You’ve been counting?”
“Yes.”
He took the plate from my hand and replaced it with something involving actual food.
I stared at him.
“Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere?”
“No.”
“This is your homecoming gala.”
He paused.
“You know?”
I looked at him.
“Simon, you are literally the missing Ashford son.”
“Right.”
He clearly did not care.
For the next hour, Simon followed me everywhere.
He brought me food.
He took away my champagne after the second glass.
He fixed the clasp on my bracelet.
Every time someone whispered, he looked at them until they stopped.
Eventually, Preston appeared.
Of course he did.
He wore a tuxedo and the expression of a man who had spent the week convincing himself he was still important.
His eyes landed on Simon.
Then on me.
He laughed.
“You actually brought him?”
I didn’t answer.
Simon handed me another plate.
Preston raised his voice.
“This is the Ashford heir’s homecoming. You really brought your lover here?”
Several people nearby went quiet.
Here we go.
Simon slowly wiped a bit of frosting from the corner of my mouth.
“Not lover.”
Preston sneered.
“What, boyfriend?”
Simon looked at him.
“Try fiancé.”
I choked.
Preston stared at me.
“Fiancé?”
I elbowed Simon.
“We are not engaged.”
“Not currently.”
“Simon.”
“I still have the ring.”
A woman nearby gasped.
Preston’s face turned red.
“You’re unbelievable, Daphne.”
I put down my plate.
“I’m starting to feel like you came here just to discuss my love life.”
“You were supposed to marry me.”
“You ended the engagement.”
“That was before I knew your parents were keeping you.”
There it was.
Simon’s face went cold.
Preston realized too late that everyone had heard him.
He tried to recover.
“I mean, obviously the situation has changed.”
I smiled.
“For you.”
His jaw tightened.
“At least I belong in this room.”
Simon lifted an eyebrow.
Preston turned to him.
“And you? Do you even know whose party this is?”
Simon said nothing.
Preston laughed again.
“Wait until the real Ashford heir gets here. Let’s see how long he lets you hang around his sister.”
That finally made Simon look amused.
“My sister?”
Preston misunderstood the expression.
“Exactly. You think the Ashfords will let their fake daughter embarrass them after finally getting their real son back?”
I saw my father approaching from across the ballroom.
Simon saw him too.
He leaned toward me.
“This should be fun.”
I whispered, “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Enjoy this too much.”
He almost smiled.
My father reached the center of the room and took the microphone.
The orchestra stopped.
Conversations faded.
My mother joined him.
She looked emotional.
My father looked proud.
“Thank you all for coming tonight.”
Preston straightened beside us.
He gave Simon a smug look.
My father continued.
“As many of you know, our family recently discovered that a mistake was made twenty-two years ago.”
The room went completely silent.
“Our son was raised away from us.”
My mother wiped at her eyes.
“But after twenty-two years, he has finally come home.”
Preston leaned toward Simon.
“Last chance to leave quietly.”
Simon ignored him.
My father smiled.
“Please welcome my son.”
Then he looked directly at the man standing beside me.
“Simon Vale.”
Preston’s smile disappeared.
His face went white.
Around us, hundreds of people turned toward Simon.
And I watched Preston realize that the man he had spent a week calling my unemployed lover—
was the real Ashford heir.