Chapter 453 The Truth of Her Origin Revealed
Grace attempted to muster a smile, but it failed to materialize, her eyes betraying fear and panic instead.
"Grandpa, why are you showing me this? Who are 'A' and 'B'?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Shane dispensed with any pretense. "A is me, B is you. This morning, I took strands of our hair for a DNA test, and the results were unexpected."
Confronted with Shane's directness, Grace felt exposed, like a cornered cockroach with no escape. "How can this be? I'm your granddaughter; there must be a genetic link. The results have to be mistaken. Let's go together for a retest, a blood test, which is more accurate."
"There's no need," Shane replied, his gaze piercing.
Grace, in a last attempt to convince him, pleaded, "Even tests can err. Let's go for another one. I'm your granddaughter; how could it be otherwise?"
Shane regarded her. "Do you believe blood is thicker than water?"
Confused, Grace asked, "What?"
Shane explained, "It's about the natural connection you feel with family. With Patricia, I felt an immediate bond, but with you, that connection was absent."
Grace fidgeted, her anxiety mounting.
Shane continued, his voice laced with sarcasm, "My daughter was always gentle, kind, and sensible, compassionate by nature, a trait embedded in her very genes. Despite being deceived multiple times, she remained pure, never resorting to base actions."
He paused, his stare intensifying. "You, however, are the antithesis. Your malevolence is inherent, manifesting in your ruthless ambitions and even plans to kill Patricia.
"I once thought your behavior was shaped by your past, but I've come to realize that Elise, even in the direst circumstances, would never have become like you. Throughout her life, Elise had often suffered for being too kind-hearted. In kindergarten, a girl envious of Elise's popularity pretended to befriend her and garnered her sympathy, only to deceive her time and again. There was even an incident when she lured Elise out, hoping she would be taken by child traffickers.
"After the truth was uncovered, all Elise did was cut ties with this girl, forcing her to leave school. She didn't seek accountability or demand any compensation from her family. It was a hard lesson that taught Elise not to give her trust away so freely. After all, you can never truly know what lies behind someone's facade. She'd always rather bear the pain herself than see someone else suffer. How could such a daughter birth malice? Impossible."
Grace still sought to defend herself. "But I'm not solely my mother's offspring!" she argued, hinting that her father's traits might be influencing her behavior.
Shane, however, remained unconvinced. "I trust Elise's judgment. She wouldn't have chosen poorly. Unlike you, if Elise found worth in someone, there must have been good reason."
Throughout their time together, Shane had not seen a single trait in Grace that reminded him of Elise.
It didn't matter in the grand scheme of things; the Koch family's wealth was vast. Even if Grace proved to be of no real value to them, they had the means to sustain her. Yet, her actions had repeatedly led to disappointment, a fact that became painfully clear through Shane's direct confrontation.
Grace felt a wave of despair wash over her as Shane's blunt assessment left her reeling. "Grandpa..." she began, only for Shane to raise a hand, silencing her further pleas.
Leave tonight, quietly, so as not to draw attention. Distance yourself from this country, and I will take care of the rest," Shane instructed firmly. He was well aware that the revelation of Grace as an imposter would incite the Koch family's ire, but despite everything, he harbored no ill wishes towards her.
"But..." Grace tried again, her voice tight with emotion, the reality of losing her opulent lifestyle and status hitting her hard.
Shane turned away, not wanting to look at her, and waved his hand dismissively. "Just go! I don't want to see you again."
Overcome with despair, Grace approached him, and with a heavy thud, knelt at his feet, clutching the arms of his chair. "Grandpa, I can't bear to leave you. Please don't send me away," she pleaded through her tears.
Shane looked down at her, his expression unwavering. "It's not me you're afraid to lose, but the wealth and prestige of the Koch name. Your actions have always been driven by a desire to cement your place within this family."
"I..." Grace began, attempting to defend herself, but she faltered, realizing Shane had already unraveled the truth about her.
Shane's disappointment was palpable as he spoke. "If you had genuinely cared about me, you wouldn't have committed actions that compromised the Koch family's integrity, constantly exposing us to danger. Your role in our home was nothing more than a strategy to exploit our influence for your personal gain. I've lived long enough to know a person's nature at a glance, yet I was misled by your facade."
Regret and self-blame had clouded his judgment, leading him to ignore many warning signs. Even when doubts arose, they were quickly smothered by his guilt. Now, with a clearer perspective, Shane acknowledged the red flags that had been present all along.
Grace was inconsolable, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Shane, her body trembling with each sob. "Grandpa, it started with the money, but over time, my feelings changed. I've never been treated with such kindness before. Losing this family, losing you, became my greatest fear. I didn't want to face the loneliness of being an orphan again."
Shane gently lifted Grace's face, searching her eyes for sincerity. "If you truly care for us as you claim, then answer me this: Who orchestrated your impersonation as my granddaughter? How was the blood test manipulated to show we were related? Every clue I've uncovered points to you being my granddaughter, yet here we are."
It was evident that the situation had been meticulously orchestrated by someone else, and Shane was determined to uncover the orchestrator.
Under Shane's intense scrutiny, Grace's anxiety spiked. Shane tempted her, "If you come clean, there might still be a place for you here, not as my granddaughter, but perhaps as a god-granddaughter I once held dear."
Faced with the alluring offer dangling before her, Grace's resolve began to falter.
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