I was the Sterling family’s true heiress. But when Briar, the girl they raised as their own, and I were kidnapped, and they could only redeem one of us… My parents, who swore they’d never play favorites, didn’t hesitate for a second. They chose Briar. Even Julian, my fiancé, who’d vowed eternal love, made the exact same choice. Five years later, Lysander Thorne, the long-lost heir to a powerful international conglomerate, was photographed at the airport. My slightly weary figure, holding my child, was also captured, making headlines. Someone immediately recognized me as Elara, the true heiress of the Sterling family, who was supposedly murdered by kidnappers five years ago. Before the Thorne family’s evening gala, my parents saw me. The moment we met, my father, Richard, slapped me across the face. “Elara, I can’t believe you’d stoop so low as to get pregnant by a kidnapper just to save your own life. How utterly disgusting.” My mother, Victoria, wiped away tears, accusing me, “You’re a Sterling. Even if you were forced, you shouldn’t have given birth to a bastard child. It’s utterly disgraceful!” Briar, the fake heiress, pretended to intervene, “Richard, Victoria, don’t talk about Elara like that. She was just trying to survive. But Elara, you really shouldn’t have brought that mongrel back.” Julian, my ex-fiancé, sneered, “Good thing I married Briar later. I couldn’t be with a woman like you, utterly devoid of dignity.” But seeing Briar holding a child who looked nothing like Julian, all I felt was bitter irony. When I didn’t respond, my parents finally looked at me with condescending pity. “As long as you get rid of that illegitimate child, we can take you back and you can be a Sterling heiress again.” Later, as my son and I were being tormented, a dark, low voice echoed from behind us. “Who are you calling a bastard child?” They all spun around, and when they saw who it was, their faces drained of all color.
“This is our final concession. We hope you’ll think carefully.” Victoria had just finished speaking when Richard cut her off. “Think carefully about what? Why would you throw away a perfectly good life as a Sterling heiress to work as a servant and raise an illegitimate child? We can’t afford that kind of shame.” “Elara, quit your job right now, come home with us, and cut ties with that bastard. We can’t afford this embarrassment. If people find out the Sterling heiress is working as a servant, where do you think that leaves our reputation?” I smirked inwardly. How did they figure out I was a servant? I glanced down at myself. My clothes were dark gray, the fabric looked plain, and I was holding a platter of sliced fruit. It certainly made it easy for them to misunderstand. But that was only because Leo had been begging for the fresh peaches from the backyard, and I, seeing it was still early for the gala, hadn’t changed into my dress yet. I’d just thrown on some casual clothes to go pick the peaches. Who knew I’d run into them all? Dressed in their exquisite evening wear, they must be here for the gala, which is why they assumed I was a servant. I coldly dodged Richard’s outstretched hand. I looked him straight in the eye, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “The Sterling heiress? If I recall correctly, in front of the kidnappers all those years ago, you explicitly stated that the Sterling family only had one heiress: Briar.” That painful memory instantly flooded back—when the kidnappers ordered them to choose only one of us, they hadn’t hesitated for a second. Victoria had cried to the kidnappers, “Let our Briar go! She’s the Sterling family’s only daughter, our future hope!” Richard’s face flashed with a hint of guilt, as if recalling his words from back then. He was about to speak, but Briar cut him off. Briar looked at me with a pained expression. “Elara, don’t throw a tantrum about what happened back then. We’re here today at the Thorne’s gala for their grandson, hoping to secure an important partnership. If they find out you’re working as a servant in their home, what will they think of Richard and Victoria?” “You should quit quickly, before they find out. Otherwise, if you prevent our cooperation, you’ll ruin the Sterling family.” “And that bastard child of yours, while not many people know, you should send him away immediately. Otherwise, it’s the Sterling family’s reputation that will suffer.” I sneered, looking at her with mockery. “I won’t send my son away. Because he’s not a bastard child.”
Because he was the guest of honor at tonight’s gala: Leo Thorne’s welcome party, the only son of Lysander Thorne, heir to the international conglomerate. Mr Thorne had initially thought his son, Lysander, had died in a shipwreck and had been heartbroken and despondent for a long time. Now, not only had his son returned, but he also had a grandson. He couldn’t be happier. He’d give Leo the moon and the stars. Just one day after his return, Mr Thorne had already transferred fifty percent of his assets to Leo. Now, if he were to find out that someone called his grandson a bastard child, I doubt they’d ever be allowed into the Thorne mansion again, let alone dream of any cooperation. Julian sneered, “A child of yours and those thugs, what else would it be but a bastard?” “Elara, we saw the news reports. That child looks at least four years old. You were kidnapped five years ago. Whose child could it be if not the kidnapper’s?” “Now, come back with us immediately. Stop making a scene. We might still throw you a bone. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being rude.” With that, he roughly grabbed my arm. The platter in my hand clattered to the ground, and the freshly picked peaches were ruined. These were the two freshly ripe peaches from the tree, Leo had been talking about eating them since last night. Enraged, I forcefully pushed Julian away. “Enough! Stop calling him a bastard. My son has a name. He’s called…” Smack! Richard slapped me again. “I knew you were trying to deliberately cause a scene here, didn’t I?” “News of your return is already out. Everyone’s talking about you. The gala hasn’t officially started, not many people have seen you yet. Come home with me right now. Otherwise, once more people arrive, do you want us to become their laughingstock?” I clutched my stinging face, staring at Richard in disbelief. This was the second time he’d slapped me today. He wanted to take me away, not because he cared for me, but because he thought I was an embarrassment. My eyes burning red, I looked at him. “I’m not leaving. And this is the Thorne estate. You can’t take me away.” Seeing my defiance, Richard’s chest heaved with anger. He grabbed my arm and started dragging me towards the gate. “We’ll see about that! I won’t let you stay here and disgrace us, no matter what.” I struggled fiercely. “You have no right to take me! Let go immediately, or I’ll scream for help!” Looking at the empty backyard, I suddenly remembered that my husband and I didn’t like too many staff around, so the servants weren’t present before the banquet. Julian also came over to help Richard drag me. “Enough! Stop struggling, or we won’t be so polite.” Briar, her eyes red, pretended to console me. “I know you resent Richard and Victoria for choosing me, Elara. That’s why you’re being so rebellious and embarrassing them.” “If you just listen to Richard and Victoria this once, don’t work as a servant here, and send that bastard away when you get home, I’ll even leave the Sterling family and let you have Richard and Victoria all to yourself.” Victoria, looking heartbroken, pulled Briar into a hug. “Briar, what are you saying? Richard and I have raised you for so many years. You are our most beloved child. No one can make you leave us.” Briar shot me a triumphant smirk. I was already being dragged out of the mansion, about to be forcefully shoved into a car. Just then, an angry shout came from behind. “What are you doing? Let go of my mom!”
It was Leo. He must have come looking for me since I’d been gone so long. He rushed over, pushing fiercely against Julian. “Let go of my mom! If my dad finds out, he’ll never forgive you!” Julian’s eyes flashed with disdain. He lifted his foot and shoved Leo hard, sending him sprawling to the ground. Leo’s elbow scraped against the concrete, immediately leaving two red marks. My heart ached as I tried to run to him. “Leo!” “Mommy, my arm hurts so bad!” Leo sat on the ground, his eyes red, looking at me. But my arms were restrained by Richard and Julian. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t break free. Tears streamed down my face as I watched Leo. “Do you know who Leo’s dad is…” “Shut up!” Victoria glared at me fiercely. “Still shouting? Afraid people won’t know he’s a bastard? “His father is an animal! Why are you still yelling? What, can he come help you? “If he dares to show up, I’ll make sure he never leaves!” Just as I was about to be shoved back into the car, Leo, crying, started punching Richard. “Let go of Mommy! Don’t take Mommy away! Or I’ll tell Grandpa!” Richard’s eyes turned cold. I screamed at Leo, “Leo, watch out!” But it was too late. Richard kicked Leo, sending him flying to the ground. “No!” Leo’s forehead hit the hard concrete path, and blood immediately started to flow. Richard scoffed, spitting on the ground. “What a piece of trash, daring to touch me!” “First ‘Daddy,’ now ‘Grandpa’? What, are your whole family a bunch of kidnappers and thugs? Do you think I’m scared of them? Let them come, I’ll kill them all!” Leo sobbed indignantly, yelling, “My Grandpa isn’t a kidnapper or a thug! You’re trying to steal Mommy, you’re the bad guys!” “I’ll tell Grandpa to have them all locked up!” “How dare you curse my grandfather, you little mongrel! I’ll beat you to death!” Briar’s son, Cody, rushed out, straddled Leo, and started punching and kicking him. “No!” I screamed, then used all my strength to break free and lunged towards Leo. Cody was pushed away and fell to the ground, instantly crying loudly in pain. I hugged Leo tightly. Seeing his tender, pale face bruised and swollen, my heart shattered. “I’m so sorry, Leo. Mommy didn’t protect you well.” “Mommy will take you home to Daddy, okay?” “Mm-hmm.” Leo nodded tearfully. “Let’s tell Daddy, and he’ll deal with these bad guys.” I picked up Leo and started to leave, but they blocked me. Briar, eyes red, looked hurt. “Elara, how could you hit Cody? Look, his hand is all red from falling.” I looked at the small red mark and couldn’t help but sneer. “Did you not see him hitting Leo just now? All the bruises on Leo’s face are from him!” Victoria pointed at me, yelling, “How can you compare your bastard to Cody? Cody is our precious darling! Yours is just an illegitimate child!” Julian spoke up, “Exactly! You laid hands on my son, you’ll have to pay the price!” I held my son, looking at him. “And how do you intend to make me pay?” “Kneel down and apologize to my son right now, or don’t blame us for being impolite!” Cody’s eyes gleamed with malicious joy. “Yeah! And I want that bastard to kneel and kowtow to me, and let me ride him like a horse!”
“What?!” I looked at them in disbelief. “You want me to kneel and apologize to him, and make my son let him ride him like a horse? You people wouldn’t live long enough for that.” Briar put on a weak, fainting act. “Elara, I only asked for an apology, but you’re cursing my son and Julian’s. That’s too much!” I looked at her with a half-smile. “Briar, he might be your son, but is he really Julian’s?” A flicker of guilt crossed Briar’s eyes, then she slapped me across the face. “Elara, you’re going too far! I know you resent me for replacing you and marrying Julian, but we didn’t know you’d ever return back then. You can’t just make up lies because of that!” “Julian, you have to believe me! Cody is our son!” Julian put his arm around her, looking heartbroken. “Of course I believe you. Don’t worry, I’ll make her apologize to our son right now.” Then Julian walked towards me coldly. “Are you going to kneel down yourself, or should I help you?” I tried to run, but he grabbed me. He tried to snatch Leo from my arms, but I held on tight. But Richard and Victoria joined in. Richard kicked the back of my knee, and I stumbled, almost falling. Leo was then easily snatched away by Julian. He squeezed Leo’s neck. “Are you going to kneel or not?” Leo’s small face turned deathly pale, but he still shook his head at me. “Mommy, don’t kneel! Leo isn’t scared!” Terrified, I collapsed to my knees with a thud, begging them. “Please, let go of Leo! He’s not a kidnapper’s child, he’s…” Smack! Briar reached out and slapped me. “Elara, I didn’t want to hit you, but you’re slandering my name. I have to teach you a lesson!” She slapped me a dozen times before stopping. My cheeks burned with agonizing pain. I looked at her coldly. “You’ll regret this. My husband is…” Before I could finish, Richard grabbed my hair, forcing my head down to hit the ground. “Still daring to use your low-life husband to threaten us? You’re going to bow to Cody now until he’s satisfied!” I resisted stubbornly, refusing to bow, so he threatened me, “If you don’t bow, don’t blame me for being rough with that illegitimate child of yours!” Leo’s cries continued. I instantly lost all strength to resist, and Richard forced my head down, making me hit the ground repeatedly. I don’t know how many times. He only stopped when the ground was stained red with my blood, and blood flowed continuously from my forehead. “I told you not to spout nonsense. This is your lesson!” I felt the world spinning, and Richard flung me aside like a piece of rotten meat, sending me sprawling to the ground. “Mommy!” Cody cried, trying to help me, but Julian held him down firmly. “You little bastard, you haven’t given my son a ride yet!” Leo, eyes red, screamed, “I won’t! You’re not allowed to do this to me! I’ll tell Grandpa to come save me!” “No! Let Leo go!” I weakly crawled on the ground. Briar stepped on my hand, grinding her heel into it. “You little mongrel, if you don’t let my son ride you like a horse, I’ll teach your mom a lesson!” “I will!” Leo immediately knelt on the ground. “I will! Please, let my mom go!” “Haha, I didn’t realize you two had such a touching mother-son bond!” Leo knelt on the ground, carrying Cody, crawling around in circles. Cody punched him on the head, but Leo didn’t dare to resist. My heart was breaking. “When you see his father, you’ll regret this!” “Hmph, just a bastard. Why would I be scared of a bastard’s dad?” Just then, a dark, low voice echoed from behind us. “Who are you calling a bastard child?” They all spun around, and when they saw who it was, their faces drained of all color.
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