Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Before this moment, Xandra had always carried herself like a proud swan, her head held high, her gaze full of superiority. Arrogance oozed from her as if the world owed her something–especially Sophia.
Even when Tristan gave Sophia special attention, Xandra was certain her high status alone was enough to crush Sophia’s
After all, she was the one who had claimed the title of the Roscere family’s only daughter. She had always envisioned herself as Tristan’s fiancée, dismissing Sophia as nothing more than a naive woman trying to steal what was rightfully hers.
But now… Now Xandra was the fool.
Sophia was the one who truly belonged. She was the heir to the Boscente family, the woman Tristan was engaged. She was the real daughter of the family, the one who had always belonged at the top, with everything Xandra had once believed was hers.
And Xandra? What was she now?
Xandra thought, ‘Does anyone, especially Allen, even consider how I am feeling when they hold Sophia so close? Do they care at all about the emotional storm I am trapped in?”
But Xandra knew the truth. No matter how much pain burned inside her, no matter how much resentment twisted her heart, she couldn’t show it. Not even for a second.
Her grandfather, father, and brothers had made it crystal clear. If she showed even a flicker of jealousy or anger towards Sophia, she might never step foot in the Roscente family’s door gain.
She’d worked too hard to carve out her place in this family. She fought for everything she had. Everything. She had sacrificed more than anyone knew, even her father.
She couldn’t let it all slip away now. She wouldn’t lose the Roscere family. She wouldn’t lose all of this.
Xandra forced herself to compose, hiding the wave of emotion threatening to break free. Her eyes, perfectly made up. betrayed a flash of sadness, but she stiffened her expression, making it hard as steel.
She swallowed hard and glanced at Sophia in Allen’s arms. There was envy in her gaze, but it was cloaked in a smile that was more bitter than warm. When her eyes dropped, it seemed like single tear might fall, but she blinked it away quickly.
She murmured, barely audible, “If this is true… then I should be happy for Grandpa, for Dad, and the brothers. You all get to be together again, as a family.
Her words were barely a whisper, heavy with unspoken feelings envy, sadness, longing–but they were soft enough to almost go unnoticed. Almost.
But Allen, still holding Sophia tightly, heard it. He stopped crying, his gaze shifting toward Xandra,
His red–rimmed eyes hardened the moment they landed on her
A frown crossed his face, and the emotion in his eyes quickly vanished, replaced by a cold detachment. Xandra lowered her lashes, her smile fading into something more like a grimace.
She forced it, but it wasn’t convincing.
1/5
Exclusive Profile
Andon
20:47 Mon, Feb 17
Chapter 88
米39%定
Xandra’s voice trembled as she spoke again, her words thick with pain and hidden tears. Tve already lost my family. It’s… it’s good that Sophia found hers…”
Allen’s expression grew darker as he listened, the muscles in his jaw tightening. His eyes, still wet with unshed tears, seemed to cut through her as if he could see the mess of emotions beneath her perfect mask.
There was a long pause–an unbearable silence. Then, with a quiet sigh, he slowly released Sophia from his arms, his voice cool and calm. “You don’t need to worry. Sophia’s return won’t affect you.”
Xandra’s breath caught. Her tear–filled eyes glinted with hope, and she looked at Allen with desperation. “Dad, does that mean… I’m still a part of the Roscente family?”
Before she could finish. Allen cut her off, his voice distant, yet somehow colder than before. The family promised to nurture you. And we’ll keep that promise.”
The hope that had bloomed inside Xandra’s chest withered in an instant. The smile she had fought to keep up froze on her face, her entire body turning numb.
Her expression turned pale, and she stared at him in disbelief, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Nurture… Dad, is that all? just… nurture?”
Her voice cracked with the weight of her words, an echo of the crushing realization settling over her like a blanket. Allen’s gaze softened with a trace of impatience as if he were saying. “Isn’t ‘nurture enough for you?”
Xandra, still reeling from the sting of his cold words, looked over at the two of them–Sophia and Allen standing so perfectly together.
The resemblance between them was undeniable. They looked so alike, it was almost like a punch to her gut.
The sight of them together–so effortlessly perfect–felt like a dagger to her heart.
Xandra’s eyes burned with the realization of everything she had lost. And she didn’t know how much longer she could keep up the act.
Xandra’s fingers tightened into a fist, her slender hand trembling slightly. Beneath the veil of tears that blurred her lashes. there was a flash of sharp, unsaid defiance, quickly hidden behind a mask of calm.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, her tear–filled eyes heavy with sorrow. Her voice cracked, thick with unshed tears. “I know… you taking me in, raising me, letting me stay in the Roscente family… it’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for. 1 shouldn’t ask for more. I shouldn’t even dream of having a family of my own… I understand. La girl without a father… shouldn’t want more than this, I know I’m not your real daughter, and I don’t have the right to ask for anything more..
-rface
As she spoke, her makeup, so carefully applied, started to betray her, tears streaking down her
In front of the Roscente family, Xandra had become an expert at playing the role of the wronged, pitiful daughter.
It was a far cry from the arrogant, dismissive attitude she had shown Sophia only days before
Sophia, arms crossed and lips curling into a small, knowing smile, watched the drama unfold with quiet, detached
amusement.
Xandra’s sorrowful speech continued, each word dripping with manufactured hurt, but Allen’s face remained unmoved. His frown deepened as he stared at her, his gaze growing colder by the second. “I’ve done everything for you since you came into the Roscente family. Everything you could want–materialings, resources, opportunities…you’ve had it all,” he said,
2/5
Exclusive Profile
Badoo
20:47 Mon, Feb 17
Chapter 88
his voice clipped but controlled. “But beyond that… you shouldn’t expect more.”
39%
His eyes were icy, and his words even colder. “You’re not my biological daughter. The only reason I’ve taken you in, the only reason I’ve raised you, is because I owe your real father a debt.”
He let the words hang in the air, sharp and unforgiving. “Do you hink, because of this debt, you’re entitled to be treated like my real daughter? Or that you could somehow take her place?”
Xandra’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Her face drained of color, the bold lipstick doing nothing to hide the shock that swept over her.
She had expected sympathy, a little kindness, maybe even a few words of reassurance.
She had thought Allen would tell her that, despite everything, she was still his daughter–that nothing would change, not even with Sophia’s return.
But instead, she got the cold, unfeeling truth. Allen had just shattered her illusions. Everything she had–everything she thought she was entitled to–was simply a result of a debt, a favor owed to her biological father.
Nothing more.
Allen’s words were blunt, almost cruel, and completely final.
The humiliation burned deep, and her anger flared as she felt the eyes of everyone in the room–servants, family, everyone -turn on her with quiet scorn. The weight of their judgment was suffocating.
She had thought everything was fine before.
She had been comfortable in the Roscente family, hadn’t she?
Especially with Allen. Sure, he wasn’t the warm, doting father she had dreamed of, but he had always met her needs. He had always given her what she asked for.
Why was he doing this now, in front of Sophia? Was it all just to make Sophia happy?
Even though Xandra wasn’t his biological daughter, she had called him “Dad” for over a decade.
She thought, ‘How could he be so heartless? How could he just throw me away like this?
‘Has he forgotten the debt he owed my real father? Or is it that now, in front of Sophia, that debt doesn’t matter?
Xandra’s eyes watered with the sting of her broken pride.
But when she met Allen’s cold, unwavering gaze–sharp like an eagle’s–she bit down on her lip, forcing herself to swallow the hurt. With a tremor in her voice, she tried to defend herself, Dad, I didn’t mean it… I just…”
“Enough.” Sophia’s voice, low and effortless, cut through the tension.
With slow, deliberate steps, she moved toward the center of the room.
Sophia, dressed in nothing more than a plain hoodie, her hair filling carelessly around her face, looked completely harmless at first glance.
But with every step she took, it felt like she was crushing Xandra heart beneath her heel, like a sharp kick that tightened Xandra’s chest.
3/5
Exclusive Profilo
Ad–Free
20:47 Mon, Feb 17
Chapter 88
Her pulse quickened, and an overwhelming sense of dread washed over her.
8% 39%
Sophia’s tone was cold as she continued, “Xandra, don’t even start with that Tm so lucky the Roscente family took me in, I’m so grateful, I’ll be happy just to be accepted as a sister nonsense, Don’t pretend to be the sweet, humble one now.”
Sophia’s gaze turned steely, her words stabbing into Xandra like daggers, each one more cutting than the last.
She could see Xandra falter, unable to speak, her practiced facade crumbling under the weight of Sophia’s icy challenge.
Xandra had, indeed, planned to say exactly what Sophia had just mocked.
But Sophia had taken that chance away in an instant.
Sophia studied Xandra closely, watching as her face paled further beneath the perfect makeup, a cruel smirk spreading across her lips,
She was savoring the discomfort she was causing.
“I’m sorry,” Sophia said with mock sweetness, “but I just can’t accept you. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to family. and I don’t like sharing… especially not with someone like you.”
She paused, letting the words hang in the air, before adding, her smile deepening with satisfaction. I’m sure you understand. You’re grateful, right? You wouldn’t do anything to upset my family, would you?
Her voice was lazy and laid–back, yet it was incredibly sharp with a sarcastic tone.
Xandra gritted her teeth, trying to keep her emotions in check.
Sophia was making her move–trying to push her out of the Rostente family once and for all. And Xandra realized that the more Sophia pushed, the more she couldn’t let herself be manipulated.
With tears still clinging to her lashes, Xandra lowered her gaze, her voice trembling as she forced the words out. “Sophia… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I do want to stay with the Roscente family… to have a family…”
Her voice faltered, but she made sure to steal a glance at Allen, her eyes full of longing as if to show how much she cared for them.
Sophia noticed the act–Xandra’s attempt to appear meek, self–sacrificing, and full of regret.
It was clear she was trying to win the family’s sympathy by looking humble. But Sophia wasn’t fooled.
With a sharp, derisive laugh, Sophia shook her head. “Don’t flatter yourself. Do you think you matter to me? Your presence doesn’t affect me in the slightest. I just can’t stand how fake you look with that self–pitying expression.”
Her voice became even colder. “And why are you still staring at my dad like that? Can’t be his daughter? Maybe you’re trying to play the role of the mistress?”
Xandra flinched, the sting of Sophia’s words cutting deep, her face burning with a mix of bumiliation and rage.
She looked desperately at the Roscente men for support, but none of them so much as glanced her way.
Instead, Edward, Allen, and Lukas exchanged glances, their faces softening into satisfied smiles as they admired Sophia’s boldness.
Xandra’s heart plummeted.
4/5
Exclusive Profe
5/5
Chapter 88
All the years she had devoted to this family, all the sacrifices she had made–it had meant nothing.
The family she had once thought of as her own had no love for her–not the kind she had hoped for.
The warmth they had for Sophia was all–consuming, leaving Xaulra standing in a cold space.
It hit her then–the Roscente family hadn’t been cold by nature. They just had never considered her one of their own.
And now, the truth was glaringly clear: blood was thicker than the years of loyalty she had poured into this family.
Xandra’s last shred of pride, the last bit of her self–respect, felt like it was crushed under Sophia’s heel, twisted and shattered beyond recognition.
Just as she was about to turn and flee, a clear voice rang out from the entrance of the hall.
“Is this the kind of behavior we can expect from Miss Roscente?
