Chapter 147
Marcus's face turned unusually grim, unsure whether to hand over or retract the paternity test report in his hand.
"What’s going on? What exactly is going on?" Seraphina turned pale with fright upon hearing Ophelia's words and hurriedly ran over to ask, "What happened? Why are you saying you are Alice? Ophelia, this is not something to joke about!"
"Seraphina," Ophelia cried anxiously, "I am not lying to you. I really am Alice. They are my family, my biological parents! Dad, don't you want to acknowledge me?"
Having finally found her biological parents, Ophelia was overjoyed and at a loss. She had always hoped to escape her adoptive parents and that oppressive home, to return to her real family. But now that the moment had finally come, Marcus suddenly denied her. How could this be?
Lila had clearly said that she would definitely bring her back to her family and set everything back on track.
Caleb glared angrily, his chest heaving. James quickly supported him upon seeing this. "Is this what you call dignity? This is enough!"
Marcus wanted to explain but didn't know where to start. After thinking for a moment, he took out a file bag from his briefcase and handed it to David. "David, everything Ophelia said is true. You can look at these documents."
David glanced at the file bag and took it. Inside was a thick stack of documents, including the paternity test report and bank transfer records.
"Impossible." Alice staggered upon seeing the contents. "How can this be true? Grandpa, why is this happening?"
David looked at Alice in his arms and handed the documents back to Marcus.
Marcus took the documents and said heavily, "David, I only found out about all this yesterday. I didn't know Lucas had made these arrangements. If I had known Alice wasn't my daughter, I would never have let you get engaged to her. Now that the truth is out, the engagement is off. After all, the engagement was with my biological daughter, Alice."
Still holding onto a glimmer of hope, he pushed Ophelia forward. "She is my daughter, Alice! Your engagement was with the real Alice, not this imposter!"
As soon as he finished speaking, David held Alice tightly, soothingly patting her back, and said calmly, "Mr. Bailey, you are mistaken. My fiancée is her. I want to spend my life with her, not just a name."
"But this is indeed a mistake!" Marcus anxiously pointed to Alice in David's arms. "She is not my daughter. She is an imposter! I don't know her! How can you be engaged to her? How could Gavin agree to this?"
Everyone in the hall turned to see Gavin pushing Lucas in. Both were dressed in suits, but Lucas's face showed no smile.
"Who said I didn't agree?" Gavin said with a smile. "I arranged the engagement with a person, not her name. No matter what Alice's name is, she is still my choice for the engagement."
Marcus didn't dare argue with Gavin and turned to Lucas instead. "Dad! What are you doing? Why was Ophelia sent to the orphanage? Why did you let this unknown child impersonate Alice?"
"Shut up!" Lucas shouted angrily, glaring at Marcus. "This is a family matter. Is it necessary to argue here?"
Celeste stepped forward. "Grandpa, we also have the right to know the truth. Even if she is an illegitimate child, she is still our family. Why should we accept Alice, an outsider with an unknown identity?"
Juniper stepped forward to add, "Dad, please give us an explanation. What is the hidden truth here? Could Alice have some connection with you?"
Lucas trembled with anger upon hearing this. "What do you mean by that? Get me some water!"
Gavin quickly helped calm Lucas down. "Seraphina, quickly get a glass of water."
Seraphina hurriedly brought a glass of water, which Lucas knocked away, pointing at Juniper. "You all want to know the truth, right? Today, I will explain everything."
Lucas looked at Alice and beckoned her over. "Alice, come here."
Ophelia cried, "Grandpa, I am Alice."
Alice was about to step forward but stopped upon hearing this. Lucas continued to beckon her. "Come here, don't be afraid. Come to me."
Alice walked over with tears in her eyes and held Lucas's hand.
Lucas said gently, "My granddaughter is so beautiful. Don't cry, you won't be beautiful if you cry. Alice, no matter what they say, don't believe them. You are the real Alice, and no one can take that name from you."
Ophelia couldn't accept the reality. "Grandpa, that is my name, mine!"
Lucas sneered. "Yours? Marcus can be yours, the position of Miss Bailey can be yours, but not this name. I would rather give you all my property, but if you dare to call yourself Alice, I will not leave you anything!"
He looked at Marcus and sneered. "Marcus, I still have the right to decide these things. You made the mess, and I have to clean it up. I sent Ophelia to the orphanage for her own good. You want me to acknowledge her? Dream on."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
