Chapter 75

"Talk...? W-what would you like us to talk about, Miss Belladonna?" I asked awkwardly, watching in the distance as those two disappeared.
"Please, darling… don’t call me Miss Belladonna; it makes me feel old."
"I don’t want to offend you by calling you by your name."
"How amusing. I wouldn’t demand good manners from you since you’re from the streets. I can’t be so harsh as to judge your behavior."
My face hardened, and I replied coldly, "I see. Thank you for your consideration, but don’t bother; I don’t need your pity."
She stopped in her tracks and retorted, "For someone who doesn’t need my pity, you sure cling to Cesar to gain his favor."
I looked at her, breaking free from her grip in anger. "What favor are you talking about?"
"Oh, please... I know perfectly well the role you’re playing with him. Women have many weapons at their disposal, and your card of being a victim of life is the best one, especially with that face. You’re not going to replace me."
"What? What are you talking about? I’m not trying to replace you. I have no interest in being you. I’ve never gotten anything through deceit. If I’m with Mr. Cesar, it’s because I want to grow, because I want to learn, and then I’ll leave. I’m no threat to you..." I snapped, holding her gaze.
"How humble and good you are. You want to grow up professionally? Perfect. I’ll get you a spot at the best university in Siberia so you can go very, very far away..."
"Thank you very much, but that’s not what I want for myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll join the dinner."
As I was about to leave, she grabbed my hand.
"I asked my father about some fortuitous woman he might have met in the past..." I stopped in my tracks, feeling a sharp pain in my chest. I turned to look at her and asked, "What are you saying? Do you know anything about my mother?"
"Maybe he met her, maybe not... What I do know is that my father sent that woman to hell. She was a snake..."
"Shut up!" I grabbed her dress, glaring at her.
"I won’t let you talk about my mother like that..."
"Do you really believe, in your little head, that there’s even a possibility you’re a Zambrano?"
"I-I..." Doubtful, I let go of her, lowering my gaze, unsure of how to respond. We were so similar... and if she truly was my sister... if it were true...
"Erase those thoughts from your mind. You’re not a Zambrano. Let me warn you: the role of the lost daughter won’t work, because before you even make a move, I’ll destroy you. Got it?"
"Don’t talk about my mother again if you know nothing about her. Consider this a warning."
With a smile, she pushed my shoulder forcefully as she passed by. "I’m just saying this so you know... She was no one, just a simple trash collector, and your father was no better."
I clenched my fists, struggling to breathe deeply.

**Belladonna A few weeks earlier...**
"If you’re calling me, it’s because you have something," I said, turning up the speed on the treadmill.
"I’ve been investigating your father’s past, as you ordered, Miss Belladonna, and it seems he did lie to you."
"I knew it. If I don’t protect the family’s heritage, who else will? Tell me what you’ve found."
"Your mother’s name was Berenice Praga, a woman of middle-to-lower status. She met your father on a business trip, and after a few months of knowing each other, they married. Within a year, she became pregnant."
"With me?"
"Yes. At the hospital, there’s only a record of the date and time of your birth." I sighed in relief when I heard him say, "But there’s something that doesn’t quite add up."
"What is it? Speak quickly."
"Your mother... it seems she was seeing another man while still married to Mr. Zambrano, and the dates align with her pregnancy."
"What are you trying to tell me?"
"That could explain why there’s another woman who looks so much like you and is the same age. If we get a hair sample, we could confirm if she carries your father’s blood or that man’s." I stopped the treadmill, breathing heavily.
"I’ll let you know. Keep investigating."
"As you wish, Miss Belladonna."

Present Day
"Don’t talk about my mother again if you know nothing about her. Consider this a warning."
With a smile, I shoved her shoulder aside, taking the opportunity to pluck a loose strand of her hair. I took out my handbag and placed it in a small bag, walking inside with elegance, leaving behind that poorly made clone of me. I wouldn’t let anyone threaten my heritage or my existence... and much less let a cheap copy take Cesar away.

**Belle**
I took a deep breath, wiping my tears. I no longer even knew who my mother was. Did I truly belong to that family, or had I been just a fleeting distraction for them? Whatever the case... it hurt. It hurt to know that my poor mother had people around her who could have helped her, and yet she died in the cold streets, leaving a child behind in this harsh world. I looked at the moon and turned away, wanting to escape far from here.
The dinner went on as usual. Belladonna didn’t stop talking or asking Cesar questions, while I remained silent. Every attempt at strength had been crushed by what she said about my mother. I couldn’t stop thinking about her death, about who I was, about whether I might have a family searching for me. Everything spun in my mind, twisting my stomach. I wanted to leave; I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
"Belle... are you okay? You haven’t said anything about the place; you haven’t even tried the food."
I looked up, bewildered, and with a faint smile, I muttered, "I’m just a little tired."
"Wow, already? But my brother still has to tell you to your face how he pulled you off the streets, exploiting your need for your grandfather to make you agree to his stupid plan to bother me."
"That’s not entirely true, Cesar! Stop distorting reality like the psychopath who enjoys these situations. You’re not a saint… and if you needed a lesson, those weren’t the best ways to go about it," he scoffed and replied.
"What a noble avenger you are. But that makes you just as much of a piece of trash as I am, using a poor, needy girl."
I looked at Keylef, and after everything I’d heard tonight, it was a blow I hadn’t expected after all this time listening to their schemes about me.
"Enough already!" I slammed the table, shouting, "Stop talking about me as if I’m not here, and stop trying to humiliate me for what I’ve done. I know who I am… and I won’t be ashamed of it again."
I pushed my chair back and left that suffocating room. I saw Cesar stand up, but Belladonna quickly held him back. Keylef hurriedly got up and followed me.