The Fake Daughter at Dinner

Chapter 1: The Strawberry Test

"You like strawberries?"

Lady Margaret Winslow asked the question softly, but every person at the dining table felt the blade hidden beneath it.

Across from her, the young woman in the red sweater froze with a fork halfway to her mouth. A piece of strawberry cream cake trembled at the tip.

Her name was Natalie.

At least, that was the name she had used for the past three months.

The missing Winslow daughter.

The miracle child.

The girl who had supposedly vanished from a seaside estate at the age of six and returned eighteen years later with tearful memories, a broken childhood, and just enough documents to convince the lawyers.

Lady Margaret watched her carefully.

Natalie forced a small laugh. "Yes. I guess I do."

Margaret's face hardened.

"But my daughter is severely allergic to strawberries."

The room went still.

Natalie's fork stopped in the air.

Behind Margaret's chair, a young maid in a black-and-white uniform lowered her eyes to hide the faint smile on her lips.

Her name was Clara.

She had served wine, refilled water glasses, folded napkins, and listened silently while Natalie told stories about a childhood she had never lived.

Margaret leaned forward, both hands pressed against the white lace tablecloth.

"She was allergic since she was a little girl."

Natalie's fingers tightened around the fork.

"I... I must have grown out of it."

Margaret stood.

Her pearl earrings caught the chandelier light as her voice turned cold.

"Who exactly are you?"

Natalie's face drained of color.

Clara looked up at last.

For weeks, she had waited for this moment.

Because Natalie had made one mistake after another.

She did not know the lullaby Margaret used to sing.

She did not know the hidden garden gate.

She did not know that the real Winslow girl had nearly died from strawberry jam at age four.

Margaret turned suddenly toward Clara.

"And you," she said.

Clara's smile disappeared.

"Why are you smiling?"

Clara lowered her gaze.

"Because, madam," she said quietly, "I was wondering when you would finally notice."