Charlie grabbed my arm, trying to stop me.Raine lunged at me, nails aimed for my face. "What right do you have to speak?! Once I'm vice president, the first person I'm firing is you!"Emmanuel hesitated, his grip tightening on his speech notes. Then he spoke. "Go ahead."I reached into my bag and pulled out a copy of a DNA test."This compares Raine and Mr. Moore—and one for me and Mr. Moore. Feel free to pass it around. They're not father and daughter."Raine let out a shriek, hands flying to her ears like she could block out the truth. "No! You're lying! You're just jealous because I have parents who love me!"She had lived the lie so long, she actually believed it.The crowd murmured.Charlie stood frozen, panic flashing in his eyes. He thought my silence meant I’d given up—that I’d let him spend the last year milking the Moores for every dime while playing the hero who "found" their long-lost daughter."Knew it. She never felt like a Moore.""Exactly. Blood doesn't lie.
"Charlie." I met his eyes, my voice sharp and deliberate. "I won't let Raine go. I'm taking her to court and reclaiming everything that belongs to me. And you? You're not getting away with it either."Charlie's face darkened."Madelyn, I didn't want you to reunite with your family because I was afraid. Afraid that if you became the Moore heiress, you'd drift further away. That you'd think I wasn't good enough. That someone better would take you from me. That's why I orchestrated everything—so Raine could take your place. I was terrified of losing you, Madelyn."Tears streaked his face.I felt nothing. Just watched him perform."No. Don't try to twist this into something noble. This was never about me or Raine—it was about you. You wanted Moore Corp for yourself. You had Raine steal confidential files, leak bottom-line prices to competitors, and rig bidding contracts. You really thought my father didn't know? He was just waiting for you to slip up."I let the truth sink in, my voi
"Why?"I stared at Charlie Jaudon. Guilt flickered across his face, but he didn't look the least bit sorry.Tomorrow was supposed to be the day I reunited with my real parents.But the girl standing on that stage today—the one they were calling their daughter—was Raine Toth.My head spun.Why were my parents recognizing her instead of me?Why did she have the exact same butterfly-shaped birthmark as mine?Charlie took a step forward and pulled me into his arms, holding me gently."Madelyn, does it really matter? It's just an identity."I stared at him like he was a complete stranger.He knew what this meant to me. He knew the hell I grew up in. My adoptive parents never let me forget I wasn't theirs. They'd punish me for the smallest mistakes—forcing me to kneel outside in the snow, barely clothed. When they were in a bad mood, they'd beat me and feed me spoiled leftovers.And then I saw the announcement.The Moore family—the most powerful family in Dreslane—was searching f
Rage twisted inside me, squeezing my heart like a vice.Charlie answered a video call.On the other end, Raine was sobbing. Pathetic."Charlie, is Madelyn still refusing?" Her voice trembled like she was the victim here. "If she exposes me, I won't blame her. They are her parents. But I never had a family... I just wanted to know what it's like to be loved. Is that so wrong?"Charlie's grip tightened on his phone.Raine sniffled dramatically. "If I'm going to be called a fraud today, I'd rather just end it all and jump off this building!"Fake despair flashed in her eyes, but Charlie fell for it."Raine, don't say that! Don't do anything stupid—I'll take care of everything," he promised.Then he picked up a knife.And walked toward me."Madelyn, can you really stand by and let Raine die over this?"A cold wave of dread crashed over me. I clutched my chest.He hesitated for half a second, but Raine's voice rang through the restroom."Charlie, if my parents were still alive,
Marriage? To him? The guy who hurt me like this for another woman? No way.I met Charlie's gaze, steady. "We're done."His expression twisted—panic, then denial. "You don't mean that. You're just upset. I won't take it seriously."Yeah, well, he should have. Instead, he took my phone, grabbed his guys, and bolted—probably to check on Raine.Dragging myself to the entrance, I found it blocked from the outside. He'd made sure I wouldn't crash Raine's little coronation.I pounded on the door, yelling for help. Nothing.I slumped against the freezing floor, pain ripping through me. My chest burned, blood soaking my shirt. Then a sharper, deeper agony hit my stomach.I was three months pregnant.I'd planned to tell Charlie after meeting my parents. It was supposed to be the best day of my life. A double blessing.But my baby would never see it.Warm blood pooled under me. My strength slipped away.Beyond the walls, laughter and celebration rang out. My parents—right there, yet im
Her eyes were red and puffy as she covered her face."Raine, don't do anything stupid."Charlie reached for her, and as she moved, a tattoo peeked out from her collar—a sleek arrow with a bold C inked into it.Something clicked.Charlie had a similar tattoo on his chest, a Cupid-like design.When I asked about it, he brushed it off. Just for fun, he'd said.He always swore Raine was like a sister.But lies, told often enough, start feeling real—to the liar, at least.He said he loved me, but his heart had never been mine.Raine ran out sobbing. Charlie chased after her.A nurse walked in, checking my IV. "Were those two your friends? While you were unconscious, they were all over each other by your bedside. Had to tell them to keep it down so you could rest.""Maybe," I muttered.Whether she was clueless or just warning me, I didn't care anymore.Between the stolen reunion and Charlie's betrayal, I was drained.The nurse wheeled me outside. "The weather's nice today. A li
At that moment, my real parents, Emmanuel and Yasmin, burst in, panic written all over their faces.I tried to speak, but my eyelids felt too heavy. My strength gave out, and I couldn't even say a word.Dr. Reed's voice was sharp with frustration. "That's right. She was three months pregnant."She was already severely malnourished, and the emotional distress caused excessive bleeding. It's a miracle she even survived."And now, she's fallen down the stairs on top of everything else."His gaze softened when he looked at me—like he'd never seen someone suffer this much before.But when his eyes snapped to Charlie, all that was left was pure disgust."And you—who the hell are you to her? Her enemy? She's barely hanging on, and you treat her like this? "Charlie just stood there, speechless.The doctors rushed both me and Raine into the ER."Not good," a nurse said. "They've both lost too much blood. We can only save one."Dr. Reed wasted no time issuing an emergency order.Emm
"Charlie." I met his eyes, my voice sharp and deliberate. "I won't let Raine go. I'm taking her to court and reclaiming everything that belongs to me. And you? You're not getting away with it either."Charlie's face darkened."Madelyn, I didn't want you to reunite with your family because I was afraid. Afraid that if you became the Moore heiress, you'd drift further away. That you'd think I wasn't good enough. That someone better would take you from me. That's why I orchestrated everything—so Raine could take your place. I was terrified of losing you, Madelyn."Tears streaked his face.I felt nothing. Just watched him perform."No. Don't try to twist this into something noble. This was never about me or Raine—it was about you. You wanted Moore Corp for yourself. You had Raine steal confidential files, leak bottom-line prices to competitors, and rig bidding contracts. You really thought my father didn't know? He was just waiting for you to slip up."I let the truth sink in, my voi
Charlie grabbed my arm, trying to stop me.Raine lunged at me, nails aimed for my face. "What right do you have to speak?! Once I'm vice president, the first person I'm firing is you!"Emmanuel hesitated, his grip tightening on his speech notes. Then he spoke. "Go ahead."I reached into my bag and pulled out a copy of a DNA test."This compares Raine and Mr. Moore—and one for me and Mr. Moore. Feel free to pass it around. They're not father and daughter."Raine let out a shriek, hands flying to her ears like she could block out the truth. "No! You're lying! You're just jealous because I have parents who love me!"She had lived the lie so long, she actually believed it.The crowd murmured.Charlie stood frozen, panic flashing in his eyes. He thought my silence meant I’d given up—that I’d let him spend the last year milking the Moores for every dime while playing the hero who "found" their long-lost daughter."Knew it. She never felt like a Moore.""Exactly. Blood doesn't lie.
I shot him a cold look.Won’t hold me accountable? Like I was the guilty one?"This whole reunion thing... I owe you an apology for that too. You say you love me, but you can't even give up an identity for me? Madelyn, Raine's parents died trying to save me. If we repay this debt together, maybe I won't have to live with this guilt forever."I snapped. "Raine's parents died because of you! You're the one who owes her, not me! Why should I pay for your guilt with my life?"Before I could stop myself, I slapped him—hard.I never owed anyone anything.Charlie just stared at me, like I had betrayed him."Madelyn, didn't you say you loved me? If you really love me, why can't you give up just a little for me?"His shamelessness stunned me."Even if Raine stole your identity, you pushed her down the stairs—that evens things out, doesn't it?"Like it was fair. Like I should just accept it.I trembled with rage, grabbed glass beside me, and hurled it at him. "Get out. Just looking at
At that moment, my real parents, Emmanuel and Yasmin, burst in, panic written all over their faces.I tried to speak, but my eyelids felt too heavy. My strength gave out, and I couldn't even say a word.Dr. Reed's voice was sharp with frustration. "That's right. She was three months pregnant."She was already severely malnourished, and the emotional distress caused excessive bleeding. It's a miracle she even survived."And now, she's fallen down the stairs on top of everything else."His gaze softened when he looked at me—like he'd never seen someone suffer this much before.But when his eyes snapped to Charlie, all that was left was pure disgust."And you—who the hell are you to her? Her enemy? She's barely hanging on, and you treat her like this? "Charlie just stood there, speechless.The doctors rushed both me and Raine into the ER."Not good," a nurse said. "They've both lost too much blood. We can only save one."Dr. Reed wasted no time issuing an emergency order.Emm
Her eyes were red and puffy as she covered her face."Raine, don't do anything stupid."Charlie reached for her, and as she moved, a tattoo peeked out from her collar—a sleek arrow with a bold C inked into it.Something clicked.Charlie had a similar tattoo on his chest, a Cupid-like design.When I asked about it, he brushed it off. Just for fun, he'd said.He always swore Raine was like a sister.But lies, told often enough, start feeling real—to the liar, at least.He said he loved me, but his heart had never been mine.Raine ran out sobbing. Charlie chased after her.A nurse walked in, checking my IV. "Were those two your friends? While you were unconscious, they were all over each other by your bedside. Had to tell them to keep it down so you could rest.""Maybe," I muttered.Whether she was clueless or just warning me, I didn't care anymore.Between the stolen reunion and Charlie's betrayal, I was drained.The nurse wheeled me outside. "The weather's nice today. A li
Marriage? To him? The guy who hurt me like this for another woman? No way.I met Charlie's gaze, steady. "We're done."His expression twisted—panic, then denial. "You don't mean that. You're just upset. I won't take it seriously."Yeah, well, he should have. Instead, he took my phone, grabbed his guys, and bolted—probably to check on Raine.Dragging myself to the entrance, I found it blocked from the outside. He'd made sure I wouldn't crash Raine's little coronation.I pounded on the door, yelling for help. Nothing.I slumped against the freezing floor, pain ripping through me. My chest burned, blood soaking my shirt. Then a sharper, deeper agony hit my stomach.I was three months pregnant.I'd planned to tell Charlie after meeting my parents. It was supposed to be the best day of my life. A double blessing.But my baby would never see it.Warm blood pooled under me. My strength slipped away.Beyond the walls, laughter and celebration rang out. My parents—right there, yet im
Rage twisted inside me, squeezing my heart like a vice.Charlie answered a video call.On the other end, Raine was sobbing. Pathetic."Charlie, is Madelyn still refusing?" Her voice trembled like she was the victim here. "If she exposes me, I won't blame her. They are her parents. But I never had a family... I just wanted to know what it's like to be loved. Is that so wrong?"Charlie's grip tightened on his phone.Raine sniffled dramatically. "If I'm going to be called a fraud today, I'd rather just end it all and jump off this building!"Fake despair flashed in her eyes, but Charlie fell for it."Raine, don't say that! Don't do anything stupid—I'll take care of everything," he promised.Then he picked up a knife.And walked toward me."Madelyn, can you really stand by and let Raine die over this?"A cold wave of dread crashed over me. I clutched my chest.He hesitated for half a second, but Raine's voice rang through the restroom."Charlie, if my parents were still alive,
"Why?"I stared at Charlie Jaudon. Guilt flickered across his face, but he didn't look the least bit sorry.Tomorrow was supposed to be the day I reunited with my real parents.But the girl standing on that stage today—the one they were calling their daughter—was Raine Toth.My head spun.Why were my parents recognizing her instead of me?Why did she have the exact same butterfly-shaped birthmark as mine?Charlie took a step forward and pulled me into his arms, holding me gently."Madelyn, does it really matter? It's just an identity."I stared at him like he was a complete stranger.He knew what this meant to me. He knew the hell I grew up in. My adoptive parents never let me forget I wasn't theirs. They'd punish me for the smallest mistakes—forcing me to kneel outside in the snow, barely clothed. When they were in a bad mood, they'd beat me and feed me spoiled leftovers.And then I saw the announcement.The Moore family—the most powerful family in Dreslane—was searching f