Elara's POV
What do you mean, I'm not your sister anymore?
The words came out strangled. Everyone in the room was staring at Adrian—Mom, Dad, the lawyers, Vivienne—but he only looked at me.
Exactly what I said. Adrian pushed off from the fireplace, moving toward me with deliberate steps. You're not my sister. You never were. Not by blood.
Adrian, not now, Dad said sharply. This isn't the time for
For what? For truth? Adrian's smile widened. Isn't that what we're doing here? Revealing truths that have been hidden for twenty-four years?
Mom's face went pale. What are you talking about?
I'm talking about the fact that I've known about the baby swap since I was seventeen. Adrian's confession dropped like a bomb in the quiet room. I overheard you and Dad talking to the lawyers. Late one night. You decided to hide it. To keep Elara and never tell anyone.
The room erupted.
You KNEW? Dad's voice thundered. For seven years, you knew and said nothing?
I was protecting our family, Adrian said calmly. Too calmly. If the truth came out then, we would have lost Elara. So I kept quiet. Waited. Made sure we had time to build bonds strong enough that DNA wouldn't matter.
I couldn't process his words. My brain felt like it was short-circuiting.
You're lying, I whispered. You wouldn't keep something like that secret.
Adrian finally looked away from me, meeting Dad's furious gaze. Ask your lawyers to pull the files from June 2018. The DNA tests. The private investigator reports. The discussions about finding Margaret Chen's family. It's all there.
One of the lawyers cleared his throat uncomfortably. Mr. Ashford is correct. Those files exist. We were instructed to keep them confidential.
Mom sank into a chair, her hand over her mouth.
Vivienne stood up, her face twisted with rage. So you all KNEW I existed? That I was out there, struggling, while this imposter lived my life?
We didn't know where you were, Dad said weakly. Margaret died before we could locate her family. We searched but
Not hard enough! Vivienne shouted. I was right here in Silvercrest! Twenty minutes away! And you chose HER over me!
We chose the daughter we raised, Mom said, tears streaming down her face. We love Elara. That doesn't mean we don't want you too
Want me TOO? Vivienne's laugh was bitter. I don't want to be an afterthought! I want what's mine! This house, this family, this NAME—it's all supposed to be MINE!
I felt dizzy. The room was spinning. Everyone was shouting, arguing, but all I could focus on was Adrian watching me with that intense, burning stare.
I need air, I gasped, stumbling toward the door.
Adrian blocked my path. We're not done here.
Move.
No. His hand caught my wrist. You need to hear all of it.
Adrian, let her go! Mom cried.
But Adrian ignored her, his grip tightening. Do you know why I kept the secret, Elara? It wasn't to protect our parents. It was to protect myself.
From what?
His eyes bored into mine. From the guilt I felt about loving you the way I did. The way I DO.
The air left the room.
What? Dad's voice was barely a whisper.
Adrian's thumb stroked the inside of my wrist, a gesture that would look tender to anyone who couldn't see the possessiveness in his eyes. I've been in love with Elara since I was old enough to understand what love meant. But she was my sister. Forbidden. Wrong. The guilt was eating me alive.
Stop, I begged. Stop talking.
Then I overheard the truth, and everything changed. His voice dropped to something almost reverent. She wasn't my sister. Loving her wasn't wrong. I just had to wait for everyone else to know it too.
Mom stood up, her face horrified. You're not serious. Tell me this is some kind of sick joke.
I've never been more serious about anything in my life. Adrian's gaze never left mine. I've spent seven years being the perfect brother, playing my part, keeping her close. Removing anyone who tried to take her from me. Building an empire worthy of her. All while waiting for this exact moment.
You're insane, Vivienne breathed.
I'm in love, Adrian corrected. And now there's nothing stopping me from claiming what's mine.
I yanked my wrist free, backing away. I'm not YOURS! I'm not anyone's!
You've always been mine, Elara. You just didn't know it yet.
Dad stepped forward, his face red with fury. Get out. Get out of this house right now.
No. Adrian's voice turned cold. You don't give me orders, Father. I own forty-five percent of Ashford Industries. I have enough power to destroy this family's empire in a single day. So here's what's going to happen: Elara stays in this house. She keeps the Ashford name. She remains part of this family.
Why would we agree to that? Dad demanded.
Because if you don't, I'll liquidate my shares, tank the stock price, and trigger a hostile takeover that will leave this family penniless. Thousands of employees will lose their jobs. Your legacy will crumble to dust. All because you tried to take away the one thing I've ever truly wanted.
The threat hung in the air like poison.
Mom turned to me, tears in her eyes. Elara, sweetheart, we would never—
I'm leaving. My voice came out steadier than I felt. I'm leaving this house, this family, and I'm never coming back.
You can try, Adrian said softly. But I'll follow you. I'll find you. I'll make sure every door you try to open slams shut. Every opportunity you chase disappears. Every person you try to build a life with suffers consequences they don't deserve. You think what I did before was bad? That was me being restrained because I had to maintain appearances.
He took a step closer, and everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath.
But now everyone knows the truth. Now I don't have to pretend anymore. So run if you want, Elara. But understand that you'll be running for the rest of your life, and I'll be right behind you. Always watching. Always waiting. Always loving you in ways that will never, ever let you go.
I couldn't speak. Couldn't move. Couldn't think.
Vivienne's voice cut through the horror. This is sick. You're all sick. I don't want any part of this twisted family.
She grabbed her purse and stormed toward the door, the lawyers scrambling after her.
But before she left, she turned back, her eyes meeting mine with something almost like pity.
You think you had everything? she said quietly. You had nothing. You had a prison disguised as a palace and a psychopath disguised as a brother. I may have grown up poor, but at least I was free.
She left.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Adrian smiled at me—that terrible, loving, obsessive smile.
Now, he said gently, let's talk about our future.