er own affection deep within, silently enduring Janess

hites, and in her relentless pursuit, she orchestrated Lacey's public humiliation. The scheme left Lacey a fig

ving her with nothing, Lacey accepted the blow, swallowing her defea

ry. Every betrayal by Janessa and the Whites, every cruel rejection from the f

ruelty to fade into the shadows. The balance had

s she entered, her surprise evident as she saw Lacey's eyes open. But as she moved closer, an unfamiliar

d, her voice faltering as

n Elora's eyes, sensing th

e even when the world seemed to turn its back. At that moment, Lacey's heart

She had to regain control to show the calm and gentleness Elora had always known. "Elora,

it as her imagination. She couldn't reconcile the idea that someone as warm and lighthearted as Lacey could hold a

Mr. and Mrs. White are dealing with urgent matters, but they'

lora wasn't being

, a day for the family to come together and welcome her. H

r. At the time, she had convinced herself their absence was due to their demanding work schedules. It

heart. It was then that Janessa's manipulation began, pulling he

mposure, and spoke softly, her voice barely ab

s in Lacey's voice, was stunned.

, I could still hear fragments of conversation. I overheard the doctor mention that Mom's and Dad

but in reality, she had been completely

ered, struggling to f

. "Today must be the day that Mom and Da

ade Elora realize there was no longer any point in hidin

d, her voice soft and t

ed the emotional toll. "Whether you're related to the W

ightly, though her voice remai

ciled with the fact that she was not the Whites' daughter. Her heart, once fragile and tende

vering. "Please contact my mother and let her know I'm awak

with precision. A long silence stretched on the o

ich and soft, gleamed underfoot, free from even a trace of dust. World-renowned art pieces adorned the walls, their frames gleaming in the soft light

out of place in this world of wealth and refinement. Her feet were encased in cheap sneakers, bought by her foster mother at a

e upright, though her eyes were swollen. She radiated warmth and mater

streaked clothes. She took a step back, her head lowered in quiet humili

ontrast to the refined surroundings. Her thoughts turned to the information her as

ed, how could her daughter, Janessa, have endured such har

a soft smile, her voice filled with tenderness. "If it gets dirty, we can replace it easily. You are my

ession full of confusion and dis

nwavering conviction. "Yes, this is your home. I

mind spinning as she tried to grasp th

ory, a man of wealth and power. Her mother, whom she had long assumed to be a loud,

in constant fear of the roof collapsing. Instead, it was a mansion, grand and opulent,

rb the magnitude of the revelation,

oice soft yet clear. "Mrs.

, her gaze drawn by the sound

rl dressed in a simple white gown, her right leg bound in a t

the darkest shadows. Her nose, petite and perfectly shaped, complemented the full, cherry-red lips tha

adiated an undeniable grace. Her posture was regal, her presence comma

undeniably graceful, someone whose charm and dignity surpassed tha

er than usual. "Ah, Lacey, you're back. The

his girl-sitting before her, radiating nobility and charm-was

ed through Janessa. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails d

essa had been robbed of a life she thought was rightfully hers, and the