Chapter 9
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The events of that day snowballed into a high–society scandal that rocked the entire city. As Vandersa’s most prominent elite family, the Herman family became the center of attention. Their scandalous videos spread like wildfire, soon becoming trending topics across all major news outlets and social media platforms.
The news footage showed a disheveled Carly being loaded into an ambulance. After she was taken away, Nora clawed at Samuel, screaming curses. Even Bryce, who had always defended his father, stood frozen, pale–faced, making no move to intervene.
The bombshell revelation and high–society scandal left everyone stunned.
Lounging in the courtyard of my new home, nibbling on Daisy’s homemade cake, and scrolling through the news on my phone, I thought this show was more dramatic than anything on TV.
How did I find out that Carly was actually the biological daughter of Samuel and Meagan?
I found out when Meagan accidentally let it slip once she was drunk.
As I grew older, I became increasingly suspicious about my origins. Every time Meagan got drunk, she would clutch a tattered rag doll and sob, “Carly, Mommy’s so sorry. Anyone with half a brain could tell something wasn’t right.
I’d never forget the way her face contorted with rage when the one and only time I came in first place.
Her eyes burned not just with envy and resentment, but with something deeper–a deranged hatred that seemed to scream, “How dare this pawn for my daughter outshine my daughter?”
She must have a daughter of her own whom she thought was inferior to me, yet still the one she pinned all her hopes on.
I finally uncovered the truth through careful probing. Turned out Meagan–a distant relative of the Herman family- rekindled her old flame with the young Samuel while she was supposed to care for the pregnant Nora. Their secret affair even resulted in her pregnancy.
Nora was about to give birth at the time. Naturally, Samuel couldn’t risk letting Meagan have the baby–it would jeopardize his carefully maintained high–society marriage and the career prospects he’d worked so hard to build.
Thus, Meagan bore a malicious scheme. She calculated the timing precisely and gave birth at almost the same time as Nora in the same hospital. While everyone’s guard was down, she swapped the two babies.
Then, under the pretense that the baby needed special medical attention, she took me away. I was distinguishable by the small red birthmark on the back of my neck, which Carly lacked.
Little did she know that the calculating Samuel had long since uncovered the truth about the baby swap through that tiny birthmark
But he chose to stay silent. He feared that if his affair with Meagan came to light, the perfect image he’d painstakingly crafted–a devoted husband and doting father–would shatter, and everything he’d built would vanish into thin air.
“So my own father just stood by and watched as a resentful woman took me away to live a life worse than death.
Perhaps out of a sliver of guilt, or more likely to buy Meagan’s silence, Samuel would anonymously wire Meagan a hefty sum every year.
Unfortunately, not a single penny of that money ever reached me–it just fed a drunkard and a gambler.
When I first learned the truth, it hit me like a thunderbolt. The agony almost overwhelmed me.
But later, I also fell silent.
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Chapter 9
I knew full well that no one but myself could save me in this world.
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So when the Hermans came to take me home, I wasn’t excited at all. I even secretly prepared for every possible outcome. Besides, even my so–called mother and brother I once held a faint hope for predictably favored Carly.
I did give them chances. But every time, their actions only proved how foolish, selfish, and cold–hearted they truly were. After all the disappointments piled up, all that was left was despair and the will to strike back.
What happened next?
Well, bad people got what they deserved. The Herman family completely collapsed.
The divorce battle between Nora and Samuel became front–page news. The media and furious shareholders left no stone unturned in exposing every sordid detail of Samuel’s long–hidden affair with Meagan and his approval of the baby- swapping scandal.
Hanora Group’s reputation was thoroughly discredited, its stock price plummeted. Compounded by the couple’s bitter feud, endless shareholder disputes, and relentless infighting, the company was severely weakened. In the end, it was broken up and devoured by corporate giants, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell.
In the divorce settlement, Samuel was left with almost nothing. He took Carly, who was still recuperating in the hospital with him, but certainly not out of any real paternal affection.
The sad truth was, after all these upheavals and the exposure of her true origins, Carly could never return to the mother and brother she once so desperately depended on. She would never again be the beloved princess who was the apple of their
eye.
How ironic. I once believed that blood ties could transcend all barriers. Yet when personal gain and reputation were at stake, the selfishness and ugliness of human nature were laid bare.
Carly was ruthless and clever enough–but she failed to see reality and my ability. That was why she lost, crushed beyond recovery, never to rise again.
Later, Nora and Bryce joined forces to press charges against Meagan for child trafficking and child abuse, ensuring she would spend the rest of her life in prison.
Bryce started bombarding me with texts and calls–nothing but lengthy apologies and endless tales about how much Nora missed me and regretted her actions.
fed at his texts. I had never truly had a mother.
ever imagined they’d go so far as to track down the house I bought and camp outside day and night.
When I came face to face with my so–called mother and brother again, they were almost unrecognizable.
Nora looked haggard, her face lined with wrinkles–a far cry from the glamorous, haughty socialite she used to be.
Though still young, Bryce already had gray hairs, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion.
When Nora saw me, she was so overcome with emotion that she tried to hug me, but I coldly sidestepped her.
Bryce’s voice was hoarse, thick with bitter regret as he spoke, ‘Elena, I’m so sorry. We know that nothing we say or do now can ever make up for the pain we’ve caused you.
“Meagan has already paid the price. As for Samuel, we didn’t press charges After all, he’s your father. We were afraid that if anything happened to him, it might tarnish your future reputation.”
“Oh,” I replied flatly, my face expressionless. They did the same to protect my reputation at all costs, just like what they did to Carly.
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Chapter 9
However, I wasn’t the least bit touched.
I once again produced the copy of the agreement that had long since taken effect, waving it before them.
I said in a calm but firm tone, “Back when you kicked me out of the family, I didn’t immediately show you the surveillance footage that could have cleared my name. It should have made my choice perfectly clear. I gave you chances, yet failed to cherish them
“From now on, stay out of my life and my loved ones. I have severed all ties with the Herman family and every single one of you. We are nothing to each other anymore.”
Beneath the dim yellow glow of the streetlights, Nora and Bryce looked utterly defeated, the last glimmer of hope in their eyes snuffed out for good.
Without a backward glance, I turned away, leaving them only with the sight of my resolute back fading into the distance.
From that day forward, we would never cross paths again.
From that moment on, I would only be Stella Whitehead. My life was mine to define and control.
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