“I SAID ENOUGH!”
Charles’s thunderous roar reverberated through the room as he slammed both hands down on the table for the second time.
The force of his outburst sent plates clattering and silverware dancing, creating a symphony of chaos.
Everly’s attention snapped to her father, who in the mere two days they’d known each other, had already shouted “enough” three times, effectively putting a halt to their never-ending family drama.
Seriously?
Can’t this father of mine come up with anything else to say?
If he utters that word one more time, I’m seriously considering handing out personalized plates emblazoned with “ENOUGH” to every single person in this house.
Everly couldn’t help but mentally poke fun at Charles, a coping mechanism in the face of the overwhelming shock of discovering the sudden existence of a fiancé she knew nothing about.
“What Alan said is correct, my dear.
Your idea is not only bad but also potentially disastrous.
We simply cannot go through with it, especially since Uncle Chang is already aware of Everly’s return, thanks to my mother.”
In truth, Charles’ resolve had wavered slightly when he first heard Anna’s proposal to acknowledge Everly as their adopted daughter.
But Alan’s words had struck a chord, reminding him of the Chang family and their knowledge of Everly’s true identity.
If they were to proceed with Anna’s plan, Sylvia would automatically become the Chang family’s chosen bride.
However, the Chang family was well aware of Sylvia’s mother’s criminal past as Everly’s kidnapper.
By presenting Sylvia as their daughter, the Tang family would essentially be offering a criminal’s offspring to the Chang family, a move that could have severe consequences for their business partnerships.
“Furthermore,” Charles continued, his voice stern, “we cannot risk alienating the Chang family.
Their support is crucial to our business, and any misstep on our part could have far-reaching implications.”
Anna’s face fell as she realized the gravity of the situation.
She had been so focused on protecting Sylvia that she had failed to consider the potential repercussions of her actions.
“I…
I didn’t think of that,” she stammered, her voice filled with remorse.
“Dad, seriously?
You’re not only going to reveal this…
this barbarian girl’s identity, which basically means outing Sylvia as not a real Tang, but you’re also just going to hand over Sylvia’s fiancé to her?
Everyone in our social circle knows that Mateo and Sylvia have been inseparable since they were kids, and they’re head over heels for each other!
At this rate, our birthday is going to turn into the most humiliating day of Sylvia’s life!”
Sylas was practically foaming at the mouth, his face contorted with a toxic mix of stress and rage as he glared daggers at Everly.
In his warped mind, she was the root of all their problems, the unwelcome intruder who had shattered their perfect little world.
He couldn’t help but wish that she had never been found, that they could go back to the way things were before she came along and turned their lives upside down.
On the other hand, Sylvia was on the verge of a full-blown meltdown.
Not only was her carefully constructed facade about to crumble, exposing her as the fake daughter of the Tang family, but she was also on the verge of losing the one thing that had given her status and security in life:
Her engagement to Mateo.
The Chang family was not just rich; they were powerful, influential, and the key to her future.
She couldn’t bear the thought of Everly stealing Mateo away from her, of watching as her dreams slipped through her fingers like sand.
“Dad, please…
me and Mateo…” she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
But Charles had heard enough.
He cut her off mid-sentence, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to ward off a migraine.
“Sylvia, your relationship with Mateo…
we’ll discuss that later, when Mateo is present.”
In that moment, Charles’s loyalty to the Tang family’s business and reputation outweighed his affection for his adopted daughter.
After all, both Everly and Sylvia were technically part of the Tang family, and either one of them marrying Mateo would bring certain benefits.
But if he were to follow his heart, he would much rather see Sylvia as Mateo’s bride.
She was more obedient, had a better reputation, and didn’t come with all the strange quirks and power that Everly seemed to possess.
But then, as he pondered the matter of Everly’s mysterious power, a sudden realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
He hadn’t heard a single peep from her thoughts.
His newly discovered daughter, who usually had a mouth as sharp as a razor and a mind that chattered away like a hyperactive parrot, was now completely silent.
It was as if she had suddenly become a mute, or worse, as if his ability to hear her thoughts had mysteriously vanished.
“Dad, what about the announcement of Everly’s identity?”
“Yeah, dad!
You’re not really going to embarrass Sylvia in front of everyone, are you?”
Charles’s musings were abruptly interrupted by the voices of his children.
He snapped back to reality, realizing that there were still several unresolved issues, all of which revolved around Sylvia.
“About that…”
Just then, Magnus’s cold, authoritative voice cut through the chaos.
It was the first time he had spoken since the breakfast drama had begun, and his words carried a weight that demanded attention.
“Mom, Dad.”
Despite the commotion that had ensued during breakfast, Magnus, like the day before, was still consumed by his curiosity about his ability to hear Everly’s thoughts.
So, while everyone else was caught up in the heated discussion, his attention was divided between listening to the arguments and waiting for any sign of Everly’s inner monologue.
But to his disappointment, he had heard nothing.
Now, Magnus realized that their ability to hear Everly’s thoughts was not constant.
It came and went, like a fickle breeze that blew in and out without warning.
While he was intrigued by this new development, he knew that he had to put his curiosity aside and focus on the matter at hand.
“Dad, I believe we need to consider the potential consequences of this announcement carefully,” Magnus said, his voice calm and measured.
“Not only will it have a significant impact on Sylvia’s reputation, but it could also have far-reaching implications for the Tang family as a whole.”
Charles nodded, grateful for Magnus’s level-headedness.
“You’re right, son.
We need to think this through.”
“This might seem like a harebrained scheme, but what if we claim that Sylas, Sylvia, and Everly are actually triplets?
We could spin a story about how Everly was abducted as a newborn, and because you were so devastated by the loss, you chose to let the world believe you only had twins, not triplets.”
Upon hearing Magnus’ outlandish suggestion, Charles’ eyes widened with surprise, then slowly nodded in reluctant agreement.
Meanwhile, Anna’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, her eyes shining with hope and relief.
“That’s brilliant!
This way, everyone will still think of Sylvia as our biological daughter, and Everly will be our long-lost biological child!”
Everly, who had been as silent as a stone since learning about her fiancé, had been happily munching on dumplings and steamed buns, relishing the family drama like it was the latest soap opera.
The servants kept bringing more food, and she ate with gusto, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Since yesterday, she had given up all hope of receiving any affection or encountering any normal logic from this family.
So, she had decided to just enjoy the ride, soaking up the wealth and the crazy dramas that came with it.
But even she had to admit that this latest development was…unexpected.
Now they want to pass me off as Sylas and Sylvia’s triplet, all for Sylvia’s sake?
Honestly, after all the clichéd nonsense I’ve been through, I have to admit, this is a refreshing change of pace…
or maybe…
I missed reading this kind of plot…?
Damn, I need to find more novels tonight!
Despite her amusement, Everly couldn’t resist the urge to throw in a snarky comment.
With a saccharine smile on her face, she turned to Anna and said, “Right, Mom?
Isn’t it wonderful that you were finally able to save Sylvia’s reputation without having to sacrifice your own biological daughter?”
Anna’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, plastering a fake smile back on her face.
“Well, dear, we’re just trying to do what’s best for the family.
And this way, everyone wins.”
“Are you absolutely positive that everyone’s a winner here?
But hey, even if I’m the loser in this little game, it’s still a win for you, right?
Because my feelings?
They’re about as important as a speck of dust on a rhino’s butt.”
Everly tossed out these words with a nonchalant shrug, not giving Anna a chance to interject before she plowed ahead.
“Mom, you know what?
You should just cut the crap and act like the evil stepmother you clearly want to be.
I can see right through your fake smiles and phony concern.
It must be exhausting, pretending to care about someone you’ve never given a second thought to.
And don’t you dare think I’m jealous of Sylvia or anything.
I’m just feeling sorry for you, having to put on this act for the past two days.”
With that, Everly went back to devouring her food, as if she had just shared some juicy gossip about a random grandmother spanking a gardener who was having an affair with her husband.
Even Alan, who had lost his appetite due to his simmering anger at Anna, nodded in solemn agreement with Everly.
His voice was flat, devoid of emotion, as he spoke.
“Everly’s right, Mom.
Your actions speak louder than words.
From giving Everly a servant’s room to planning to announce that she’s your adopted daughter in public, you’ve made it crystal clear that you couldn’t care less about her feelings.
And let’s not forget how you’ve been ignoring her since she arrived.
It’s like she’s a ghost in this house.
If you had been honest from the start, you wouldn’t have to put on this ridiculous act.
You might as well be like Sylas and just tell her straight up that you don’t like her.”
Anna’s face turned a deep shade of red as she struggled to come up with a response.
How dare this girl and Alan speak to her like that?
She was the matriarch of the family, and she would not be spoken to in such a disrespectful manner.
Anna seethed with anger, but beneath that fiery rage lurked a maelstrom of shame, guilt, and a sadness so profound it felt like a lead weight in her chest.
She didn’t want to be this cold, calculating mother, but how could she possibly reveal the truth to everyone?
How could she admit that every time she looked at Everly, she was confronted with a painful reminder of her own sordid past, a past she had buried so deep she had hoped it would never resurface?
When they first found Everly, they had, of course, conducted a thorough investigation.
Everly’s abysmal grades, her penchant for getting into fights – it was all too reminiscent of Anna’s own days as a rebellious thug in school.
Seeing her long-lost daughter inherit her wild personality and fierce spirit filled Anna with a paralyzing fear that her darkest secrets would be exposed.
And with everyone able to read Everly’s mind, Anna’s anxiety reached new heights.
She was terrified of getting too close, of having her deepest, most shameful thoughts laid bare for all to see.
Even though her husband and sons dismissed the things they heard from Everly’s mind, Anna couldn’t shake the feeling that she was walking on thin ice.
Subconsciously, Anna began to shove Everly to the very bottom of her heart, treating her like a pesky little inconvenience.
She even harbored a tiny, shameful hope that everyone else would reject Everly too, making it easier for her if Everly would remain an outsider, a distant figure in their family portrait.
Anna convinced that it was the only way to protect herself.
She knew it was selfish, but she couldn’t help it.
Although she wanted to love Everly, to treat her like her other children, but the fear was too overwhelming.
And then there was Sylvia…
She…actually…
Just as Anna’s thoughts were spiraling out of control, Charles’ voice cut through the chaos like a warm ray of sunshine, dispelling the storm clouds that had gathered in her mind.
“You!
What on earth did you just say to your mother?
Apologize this instant!” Charles thundered at Everly, his voice as cold as ice and twice as sharp.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Everly with fiery glares, except for Alan, who looked at his father with a mixture of disappointment and resignation.
Sylvia, on the other hand, wore a mask of faux disappointment, but her eyes betrayed a smug, mocking look that screamed, “You’re such an idiot.”
Everly cursed herself for her impulsive outburst.
She had intended to be sarcastic, to add a little spice to the drama, but she had clearly gone too far.
After all, she was here to enjoy the family saga unfold like a juicy soap opera, not start a full-blown war.
If she came across as too defiant and unruly in their eyes, they might just toss her out on the street.
And then where would she be?
No more free food, no more front-row seat to the Tang family’s crazy circus.
So, with a forced smile that could rival a beauty pageant contestant, she turned to Anna and said, “I apologize.”
Everyone braced themselves for Anna’s inevitable outburst, but to their surprise, her face contorted into a complex expression that seemed to be a mix of guilt, shame, and…
was that a hint of sadness?
“No, Everly,” Anna said, her voice quivering slightly.
“Mom should be the one apologizing to you.
I…” She trailed off, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for the right words.
Everly’s jaw dropped.
An apology from Anna?
Was the world coming to an end?
She half expected Anna to sprout wings and start singing hymns.
It was so creepy, it gave Everly the heebie-jeebies.
She felt like she needed to reach for a cross or a garlic necklace, just in case Anna had been possessed by some evil spirit.
To keep herself from freaking out completely, Everly forced herself to nod slowly, accepting Anna’s apology.
If she didn’t, one more minute of this creepy sweetness, she was pretty sure she would start throwing salt, Alan’s cross earring, or even Sylvia (as a human sacrifice) at Anna.
Charles, meanwhile, let out a heavy sigh.
He was exhausted.
Everly’s arrival had turned their lives upside down, and all he wanted was a bit of peace and quiet.
The last thing he needed was a full-blown cold war between his wife and his newly discovered daughter.
“You’ve truly wronged Everly, wife,” he said, his gaze sweeping between the two women before settling on Everly.
“That’s why…
this afternoon, your mother will take you to the best boutique in town.
We’ll have a custom-made dress designed for your birthday party.
It’s the least we can do.”
Of course, Charles had more than one reason for this decision.
Not only did he want to improve the relationship between Anna and Everly, but he also didn’t want Everly to embarrass the family by showing up in something less than spectacular.
After all, as the Tang family’s newfound daughter, her appearance would reflect on them all.
“And Sylvia should come along as well.”
Everly’s mouth twitched as she heard Sylvia’s name.
Oh, wonderful.
Just what I need.
A shopping trip with the walking cliché.
This is going to be a barrel of fun…
or maybe a complete disaster.
Little did Everly know, this was just the beginning.
Throughout the day, her gossip system would be activated several times, sending her on a wild ride…