"You shouldn’t eavesdrop, sis," Celeste said. "It’s bad manners."
"And forging government documents is a crime," Savannah shot back. "So is destroying evidence to manipulate a DNA test. Do you really think you can hide this forever?"
Celeste laughed softly.
"It doesn’t matter what the truth is, Savannah," Celeste said. The innocence in her eyes was finally gone. "You still don’t understand how the world works. People will believe the proof. And now, I’m the legal granddaughter of Rosalind Quinn. And in two days, a DNA test will prove the same. No one can stop my marriage to Ansel now."
"Do you honestly think he will accept you?"
Savannah asked in disbelief. "You think a man like Ansel Locke will just roll over and take a fake woman as his bride?"
"Of course he will," Celeste replied. "He is only standing by your side because of your blood. But once the DNA results are announced, he will have no choice but to marry me to save his empire from his uncle."
She paused waiting for Savannah’s reaction. But she didn’t give her any. Irritated, she began speaking again.
"And once we’re married...he’ll eventually give in. Men always do. I’ll make him love me."
Savannah had known Celeste was selfish and manipulative but hearing her talk so confidently and proudly about forcing a man into marriage was making her sick.
"You really are delusional," Savannah finally said. "You think forged papers and a fake lab test can buy a man who saw through your tears from day one? Ansel didn’t refuse you because of your blood, Celeste. He refused you because you’re pathetic."
The smile disappeared from Celeste’s face. Her whole face was burning with fury.
"Don’t you dare..."
"Good night, Celeste," Savannah didn’t wait for her response.
She turned and walked towards the kitchen. For a few minutes, nothing happened. Then just when she was carrying the water jug to her room, she heard Celeste screaming in her room. Then she smashed something on the wall.
"Childish!!"
Miles away from the Quinn mansion, Savannah’s parents and brother weren’t spending the night at the peaceful mountain temple. Instead, they were staying in their old house on the outskirts of the city. It was the house they had lived in before Celeste arrived and brought them their wealth.
No one had taken care of this house in a long time. The floral wallpaper was peeling, and the rooms were covered in dust.
But Richard was unbothered. He was enjoying his whiskey sitting on the old sofa in the living room.
Cooper, however, was furious.
"I can’t believe this," Cooper shouted. "We’re hiding in this old house just so you can cheat Savannah out of her own identity."
"Watch your tone, Cooper," Richard snapped. "We are protecting the family’s future. The Locke fortune is at stake. One day, when you inherit everything, you’ll understand the sacrifices I had to make."
"Sacrifices?!" Cooper scoffed. "You didn’t sacrifice anything! You are using your own daughter for your greed."
"Enough!" Richard shouted, slamming his glass down on the table. "Savannah brought this on herself! She refused to play her part and now she is paying the price."
Cooper glared at him with tears in his eyes. He looked over at Diane who was sitting frozen on the other sofa staring at the floor.
"You’re both pathetic," Cooper murmured and left the living room.
Back at the mansion, Savannah’s head was spinning from constant thinking and pressure when her burner phone vibrated. She picked it up immediately.
"Ansel?"
"Leo will be waiting at the side gate at dawn," Ansel said. "Keep the sample ready. We only get one shot."
Savannah closed her eyes and remembered the spotless rooms of her parents and brother. She had nothing. She had failed.
"I’ll have it ready," Savannah lied.
"Good," Ansel murmured. "Get some sleep."
Then he hung up. Savannah stared at the ceiling. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she prayed for some miracle to happen.
"Please god...help me...what’s the use of this life...if I end up like last time...even worse...please help me."
Meanwhile, Richard had fallen asleep in the chair after drinking. But Diane was restless. She was feeling guilty. She had watched Savannah suffer while making excuses for herself. Whenever Celeste cried, Diane rushed to comfort her. Whenever Savannah needed help, she told herself there was nothing she could do and Savannah should be more understanding.
But no matter what, Savannah was her blood. And she had spent years letting Savannah believe she wasn’t wanted.
What kind of mother am I?
I can’t change what I have done but perhaps I can still do something to help Savannah.
Slowly she stood up and went to the old storage room. The moment she opened the door, she coughed but she quickly put her hand on her mouth to avoid any sound.
She switched on her phone’s flashlight and began searching old boxes stacked against walls. There were old papers, photo albums and clothes.
She pushed everything until she found a big box labelled Richard - 1998.
She immediately opened it. Inside were things Richard had packed away when they had left this house. Diane searched through the contents and found an old hairbrush wrapped in a cloth at the bottom.
It still had a few strands of his hair. Diane looked at it and sighed in relief. She wrapped the hairbrush again and put it into a small cardboard box lying empty nearby.
Then she searched for a paper and pen. Tears spilled over as she began to write.
Savannah...you are my only biological daughter.
Then she sealed the box, came out and slipped out through the back door. It was freezing outside but she didn’t care. Her only priority was to find a courier right now.
The sun was about to rise when the Quinns mansion’s intercom buzzed. Savannah, who hadn’t slept a single second, got out of the bed immediately.
"Who is there so early in the morning?"
She rushed downstairs and opened the front door even before the maids. A tired courier was standing outside.
"Package for Savannah Quinn," the man mumbled.
"It’s me."
She took it and went inside, frowning. There was no name or sender’s address. She carried it back up to her bedroom and opened it.
She froze when she saw a wrapped hairbrush inside. At a corner, there was a small note. She unfolded it and read it.
Savannah...you are my only biological daughter.
A sob escaped from her throat. She covered her mouth with one hand and dropped to her knees beside the bed. Tears streamed down her face as she read the note once again.
After a lifetime of standing silently by, after decades of choosing Celeste’s luck over her own child, her mother had finally chosen her.
It didn’t erase the past nor did it lessen the pain.
But it gave Savannah a chance to fight back.
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a text message from Leo.
I’m outside.
Savannah quickly wiped her face and packed her father’s hairbrush and her own blood sample into a metal container. Then she put on her coat and ran towards the back gate.
A brand new black sedan was standing in the narrow alley. Leo immediately rolled down the window when he saw Savannah. He looked exhausted and worried. Savannah handed him the container through the window.
"It’s all in there," Savannah said. "And... thank Ansel for me."
Leo put the container on the passenger seat and looked back at her.
"Mr. Locke specifically told me not to accept any thanks on his behalf," Leo said softly, making Savannah smile.
He started the engine and was about to drive away when he paused and looked at her again.
"He also didn’t sleep last night because he was worried," he said. "You both can sleep now."