Chapter 15
"Jack, thank you for delivering the order personally today," Kimberly thanked Jack and tilted her head slightly. "Jacob, please serve tea for Jack."
"Yes. Please follow me, sir."
Jack knew that the Medicis needed to talk. He glanced at Abella and exchanged some pleasantries before following Jacob downstairs.
"Come on. Let's sit down and have a talk."
Kimberly took Abella's hand and motioned for Lola to sit down.
Her move was like a punch to Lola's guts.
"Lola, let me reintroduce Abella. Her full name is Abella Medici. She is our long-lost daughter."
Lola froze as if she had been struck by lightning.
She assumed that Abella was a distant relative who came to borrow money. She never expected that she would be their daughter.
No wonder they treated her so well!
"Here is what happened. When Beckett and I, carrying the baby, passed through a small town years ago, my water broke suddenly. We had no choice but to find the nearest hospital for delivery."
Kimberly recalled those fragments in her mind. "The hospital didn't have any single rooms left. The nurse temporarily arranged me into a three-person ward where two other pregnant women were waiting for delivery. In the middle of the night, the hospital caught fire because of unknown reasons. I lost my orientation in the heavy smoke. In a panic, I grabbed you and ran out, thinking that you were Abella. But actually, you are another woman's child. I got the wrong baby in chaos."
Kimberly's story crushed the last hope in Lola.
She couldn't believe that she had no blood relationship with the Medici family!
"Abella was taken away by the Wilson family, and their baby was left behind. Luckily, a cleaning lady took her home and raised her. And you came to the Medici family. If I hadn't happened to see a missing person notice online recently, we wouldn't have known that all three families had raised the wrong baby!"
Dumbfounded, Lola was at a loss for words.
"As for your birth mother." Kimberly hesitated but eventually decided to tell Lola the truth. "According to our investigation, due to excessive bleeding after delivery, she was too weak and failed to escape from the fire on that night."
What???
Lola thought, 'My biological mother died on the night when I was born?!'
Lola's face was drained of color. She could not believe any of this.
"Your biological father is missing, and there is no trace of him." Kimberly looked at Abella and kindly said, "We have discussed this with Abella and decided to let you continue to stay in this family. From now on, you're sisters. We owe Abella too much over the years. We will do our best to make it up to her. Although you are not our biological child, we have treated you as our own for many years. In the future, please get along well with Abella. Be kind to her and keep her company, okay?"
Lola couldn't accept it. They were favoring Abella. She was the younger sister. Why should she take care of Abella?
For all her life, everyone had been accommodating her, pleasing her. It was her turn to accommodate others or please them? She didn't think so.
Despite the strong reluctance, Lola weighed the pros and cons before saying gracefully, "This news came as a shock to me. I can't say that I'm not upset. I've lived in this house for eighteen years. And one day, my beloved parents told me that I was their biological child."
Lola lowered her curled eyelashes in disappointment, feigning a pitiful look.
"I never thought that my birth mother died in a fire on the day I was born. And my biological father is missing. To think that I never showed filial piety towards them..."
Tears flowed down uncontrollably from Lola's eyes as she spoke.
She wiped the tears quickly so as not to reveal how sad she felt.
"Dad, Mom, thank you very much for allowing me to stay in this home. I am grateful. I can't ask for more. Please rest assured. Abella and I will get along well!" Lola's expression was earnest, her watery eyes shining particularly with sincerity.
However, Abella grew up in the Wilson family and had seen all kinds of weird people. With just one glance, she could tell that Lola was lying.
"Abella, welcome back." Lola opened her arms, acting like a loving sister.
As Beckett and Kimberly were watching them excitedly, Abella didn't flat-out reject Lola. She said indifferently, "OK. I appreciate your kind words but let's skip the hug."
Lola froze in place.
Abella explained, "I usually avoid physical contact. Sorry about that."
Abella was always cold toward others. However, to Lola, Abella's attitude was like a slap to her face. Embarrassment washed over her.
"Abella is slow to warm up to others. Things will get better over time. We are all family now, so there is no need for you two to be formal," Kimberly said, trying to ease the tension between them.
Lola's face changed colors rapidly over Kimberly's defense of Abella. At last, she obediently said, "Okay."
"Well, enough talk. Let's have dinner!" Kimberly checked the time and smiled at Abella. "You must be hungry. I lost track of time and forgot that we hadn't eaten yet!"
"Kimberly and I cooked tonight. Try it out and see if you like it?" Beckett grinned at Abella. "If there is anything you don't like, please tell us immediately so we can adjust accordingly."
The table was filled with various delicious dishes which were made by Beckett and Kimberly themselves.
Lola had a bitter taste in her mouth. Because they had four chefs in the house. They never cooked.
But they did it for Abella.
Beckett and Kimberly kept piling food on Abella's plate. In no time, her plate was full.
Although they didn't want Lola to feel left out and give her food too, Lola noticed that they served Abella more frequently. The fact made her lose her appetite completely.
"Abella, you've suffered so much over the years! Have more soup. It's nutritious."
"Eat more meat too. You're too thin."
Standing aside, Maria felt sorry for Lola as they were ignoring her. Fortunately, Abella finished her meal and went upstairs, giving Lola the chance to chat with Beckett and Kimberly.
After a few idle talks, Lola cautiously asked, "Dad, Mom, how did you find out that Abella was your daughter from a missing person notice online? Is there any evidence?"
In fact, she wanted to imply that Abella was an impersonator. After all, everyone wanted to be the daughter of the richest man in the country.
Surely, they didn't believe that Abella was their child just because they looked alike.
Beckett was taken aback but soon recovered. He explained with a smile, "There is no evidence. But the story on the notice matched our memory."
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