87
Chapter 87
“Grandpa!” Xandra’s voice was thick with disbelief, her face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. “How… how could you say that, especially in front of a stranger?”
Even though Xandra wasn’t Edward’s real granddaughter, she’d been raised in the Roscente family since she was little. She’d called him “Grandpa” for over a decade. But now Edward humiliated her like this in front of an outsider–Sophia.
But the worst part was that Sophia knew Chloe and Tristan.
If she went around repeating what Edward had just said, Xandra’s reputation would be ruined. The Roscente family’s only “legitimate” daughter would be exposed for what she was–a fake
Tristan would have even more reasons to break off their engagement.
No. She couldn’t let that happen.
Xandra clenched her fists, her face pale with mortification. But in front of the Roscente family, in front of Edward, her usual arrogance melted away.
Instead, her eyes were red, full of hurt and sorrow, as she looked at Edward, almost pleading with him.
Even the proud, high–society woman who looked down on everyone else could act like a helpless little girl when she needed
- TO.
Sophia let out a soft, dismissive scoff.
The sound of it made Edward’s sharp gaze harden, his brows knitting together, his expression growing even more s
He turned his cold, steely eyes on Xandra, his voice low and dangerous. “Xandra, know your place. You’re the outsider here He shot a look at the two men standing behind her. “Whoever brought her in, throw her out. I’ve told you before–this is not a place for someone like her.”
“Grandpa!” Xandra’s voice cracked, panic seizing her heart. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her chest tightening with fear. She thought, ‘Why… why is Grandpa–who has always been so indifferent toward me–suddenly defending Sophia like this? “What kind of power does Sophia have over him, over Tristan? Its like she’d cast some sort of spell on them.
Before, even if Grandpa wasn’t particularly fond of her, he would never have treated her like this.
This had to be Sophia’s doing.
Who has she said to him? What has she done to make him do like this?‘ Xandra thought.
Xandra’s face crumpled, her composure slipping away. Her slender figure seemed ready to collapse as if she’d just been struck with a devastating blow.
Her eyes were red and swollen, and when she looked back at the man standing behind her, she reached out like she was grasping for a lifeline.
Biting her lip, she grabbed his arm, her eyes brimming with tear “Dad, I was just… just worried about Grandpa. I didn’t mean anything else. You know. I grew up with the Roscente farmly. You’re all I have in this world…”
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Chapter 87
The man she turned to was in his early forties, with a serious and commanding presence.
His featu
were strikingly similar to Edward’s, exuding the aura of a mature man who commanded respect.
He was Edward’s eldest son and now the head of the Roscente family, Allen.
Allen’s gaze was locked on Sophia, his usually impassive eyes betraying a flicker of something–surprise? Anxiety? It was hard to tell, but there was a wariness in the way he watched her, as if unsure of what to make of the situation.
Only when Xandra’s hand tightened around his arm did he finally glance down at her. His expression softened just a little, his eyes moving from Sophia to Xandra.
He met her tear–filled gaze, and for a moment, his usual cold demeanor seemed to crack.
But when he spoke, his voice was still firm, though there was a hint of something gentler in it. “I know, Xandra. I understand you’re concerned about your grandpa.”
Xandra’s heart leaped in relief.
But before she could even smile, Allen’s next words froze her in place. “But your concern is misplaced. Soph.. she’s not a fraud
Xandra’s smile faltered instantly. Her face froze, disbelief flickering across it.
‘Soph? Why is he using that nickname, so familiar and casual, to refer to Sophia? Does he know her? Xandra thought.
This… this couldn’t be happening.
Sophia wasn’t even from a good enough background to speak to her father–how could he know her like that?
“Xandra, you’re a good girl,” Allen said, his tone soft but decisive Since Grandpa doesn’t want to see you right now, it’s probably best if you head back to your villa. If you need anything just call my assistant.” Xandra’s face drained of color. She didn’t respond, just stared at him in shock.
Allen glanced down at his arm, where she was still holding him. Without a word, he gently detached her fingers from his sleeve, moving his arm away.
Xandra’s fingers hovered in the air, instinctively reaching for something that wasn’t there.
Her eyes went wide with shock, her mind struggling to process what was happening. It felt like a cold, merciless hand had wrapped itself around her heart, squeezing so tightly that she couldn’t breathe.
Slowly, she turned her gaze toward Sophia.
And then she saw it. Allen, with that usual, emotionless expression, had just pulled his arm out of her grip and was walking straight toward Sophia.
Though there were only a few steps between them, Xandra could sense the tension in Allen’s movements–the nervous urgency in his stride.
A knot of unease tightened in her chest. She clenched her fists, tails biting into her palms, barely noticing the pain as her breath hitched.
“Soph…” Allen’s voice was low, almost a whisper, as he stopped in front of Sophia, his eyes locked onto her face.
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Sophia’s skin was flawless, glowing with an almost ethereal quality, her features so delicate and sharp that Xandra could almost see her mother in them.
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There was something about the calm, confident air she carried–something untamed and free–it reminded Xandra of her mother, of his love from so long ago.
Allen’s eyes were tinged with a glimmer of emotion, his voice thick with it.
As he stood there, staring at Sophia, she too observed him, noting the hesitance in his gaze, the way he held back his feelings, almost as though he feared she might reject him as her real father.
Sophia blinked, completely thrown off. This was not what she had expected.
When she had seen Xandra clutching Allen’s arm earlier, her mind had wandered back to the books she used to read as a child, the ones filled with plots about fake and real daughters fighting for the title of the family’s true treasure.
The stories where the foster daughter, raised for years, had a deeper bond with her parents–while the real daughter, just discovered, was cast aside.
Sophia had expected the same thing to happen here. She had imagined Allen, the man who had raised a foster daughter, would look at her and say something like, “Don’t think just because you’re my biological daughter, you can just push Xandra aside!
But now… Allen’s expression–it was nothing like she had anticipated. It looked like he cared more about Sophia–the daughter he was just meeting for the first time,
Sophia cleared her throat, a little nervous, but not wanting to drag things out. “Dad,” she said simply.
And with that one word, everything changed.
Allen, the powerful businessman, and the cold–hearted CEO who ruled the family, completely broke down.
His eyes filled with tears as he staggered forward, arms wide open, pulling her into a tight, desperate hug. “Soph, my sweet girl… I’ve missed you so much!” he cried.
Sophia froze in shock.
This… this wasn’t how the story was supposed to go.
Allen, the man who controlled everything, the ice–cold patriarch was sobbing in her arms, clinging to her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
She stood there, stunned, as he wept, his voice full of longing and regret, spilling out words of how much he had missed her -and even her mother.
He couldn’t stop. His sorrow poured out like a flood, his emotions finally breaking free.
Sophia could only stand there in silence, unsure of how to respond.
Meanwhile, Edward and the other young man standing beside him seemed completely unfazed, as if they had seen this all
before.
But Xandra–she was beyond stunned. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she watched Allen, who had just shrugged her off, now rush to Sophia, embracing her like she was a priceless treasure.
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And the most shocking part? Edward, the usually stern and composed figure, was smiling softly at the scene.
This wasn’t the Allen Xandra knew. This wasn’t the Edward she had grown up with.
The warmth between them, the tenderness they shared. It was af Sophia was their entire world.
This moment hit Xandra like a lightning strike, a shock so intense it felt like her heart was being ripped out. The pain was overwhelming, suffocating
hen she heard Sophia call “Dad, and Allen’s response of “My weet Soph, it was like a punch straight to the gut, a blow
rattled her to her very o
core.
Her mind was a blur, her thoughts scrambled as if she’d been struck by thunder.
For what felt like an eternity, she couldn’t process a single thing. Her face twisted, her eyes wide with disbelief, her mouth open as if she were about to speak–but no words came out. Her throat felt tight like something was choking her from the inside.
“You didn’t hear wrong. A calm, deep voice cut through the chaos from behind her.
Xandra spun around, her face frozen in confusion and shock. Her eyes locked on the man standing
Luk
His expression was as cold as ice, his features sharp and distant, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. Lukas gaze was almost mocking as it settled on her.
His lips quirked into a small, cynical smile, and with deliberate slowness, he spoke, “Sophia is Grandpa’s real granddaughter, Dad’s biological daughter, and my real sister.”
The words struck Xandra like daggers.
She thought, ‘Sophia is part of the Roscente family? Is she the true heir? Impossible!
Chloe had told her–Chloe said Sophia was swapped, that she was the fake! Sophia came from the slums. She was nothing! If Sophia really was part of the Roscente family, how could Chloe have let her go so easily?
years, since high school. She knew Chloe’s past–knew how humble, how poor she had be Xandra had known Chloe for h
wasn’t an act.
If Chloe had truly been the Roscente family’s daughter, she would’ve flaunted it. She would’ve walked into any room like she owned it, letting everyone know exactly who she was.
This couldn’t be true.
Sophia, the girl who had been switched with Chloe, couldn’t possibly be the real Roscente heir!
“Don’t believe it?” Lukas‘ smirk deepened, his eyes glittering with cold amusement. “Too bad–it’s the truth”
He studied her pale, twisted expression, then raised his hand, as if drawing an invisible line across her cheek. “So, now that you’re no longer the Roscente family’s only daughter, no longer the only girl in the family, are you finally taking off that mask? Not going to pretend anymore?”
The coldnes
His voice was like ice, sharp and cutting. in his eyes seemed to pierce through her like he could see everything she was hiding-
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Chapter 87
Xandra’s face drained of color, her throat dry as she croaked, “Laikas… Is this… true?”
Looking
: real
the way Edward and Allen treated Sophia, and seeing Lukas‘ cruel smirk, Xandra knew, deep down, that it was
But she couldn’t wrap her mind around it. She couldn’t accept
Ever since she had joined the Roscente family, Xandra had always thought of herself as someone special, the exception.
She knew the Roscente family’s strict traditions–every member had to go through the family’s trials to prove their worth. No one was born at the top.
The Roscente family only accepted its true heirs after they had earned it. Even the daughters weren’t exempt. They had to prove themselves, no shortcuts.
The youngest daughter, who failed the trials, had been cast aside, and forgotten.
But Xandra… she hadn’t had to prove anything. She’d simply walked into the Roscente family without question. No trials, no
tests.
Allen had set her up in a beautiful villa, given her everything she needed, and treated her like royalty. He’d made her into someone worthy of the Roscente name, turning her into a high society lady who could mingle with the elite of Virelia
She could call them Grandpa and Dad.
At the holidays, she was invited into the family estate, sitting down to meals with the Roscente family.
She had always believed she was the true Roscente heir, the one and only daughter they cherished and adored.
She took pride in that, in knowing that the Roscente family loved her, that she was their golden girl. She had always felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
She never once thought that someone else would come to take everything that had been hers..
And certainly not her–Sophia, the girl Xandra had always looked down on, the girl she had dismissed as nothing more than
1 from the slums. a poor, worthless
Xandra thought, ‘How could I accept this? How could this be happening?”
E
