Chapter 183 Fiona, The Swapped Heiress
Nolan Cunningham furrowed his brows, clenching his fists.
Ethan seemed to have lost his mind, standing up for a woman against himself.
Nolan's expression darkened as he spoke, his tone weighed down by anger, "Ethan, you're picking this woman to be a stepmother for your bastard?"
He was about to say more when Fiona clutched his arm, pleading, "Nolan... please stop. Can't you two see each other without fighting? Aren't you here for me? Let's go, please." Fiona tried to defuse the situation.
Jasmine took another look at Fiona without saying anything. But then Justin spoke softly, "Mommy, that celebrity looks a lot like Uncle Richard."
Jasmine hesitated for a moment, studying Fiona more intently. Were it not for Justin's prompt, she might not have noticed, but Fiona did indeed share some likeness to Richard.
Certainly, the echoes of Richard were evident in her facial features.
"Let's go, we're off to get some skewers," Ethan said, picking up Justin and turning to take Casey's hand.
It was then that he realized Casey was nowhere to be seen.
After looking around, Casey charged at Nolan Cunningham and bit down hard on the back of his hand as he screamed, "I am not some wild bastard!"
Justin and Jasmine both displayed shock on their faces simultaneously. It was surprising to see such audacity from the typically well-mannered Casey; even Nolan Cunningham was not spared from being bitten by him.
Nolan Cunningham gasped, not wanting to lower himself to argue with a child. Today was just not his day, he thought, as luck had completely eluded him.
"Ethan, control your Douglas family’s brat," Nolan Cunningham said through gritted teeth.
Ethan lifted the corner of his mouth, slightly smirking. "We, Douglas folks, hold grudges. You got off easy with just a bite for running your mouth."
Nolan Cunningham took a deep breath, feeling increasingly frustrated with Ethan's response. Ethan was becoming quite the pain to deal with.
"Nolan..." Fiona giggled and cooed at Nolan Cunningham. "Don't stoop to a kid's level."
After Casey had departed and Ethan, along with the others, had left, Nolan Cunningham finally spoke, his expression darkening. "Fiona, this is all for you. You've liked Ethan for so many years. Why would our Cunninghams not be good enough for him? It's unfair the way he toys with your emotions, showing complete indifference."
Nolan felt his sister deserved better. For a long time, she harbored feelings for Ethan. While Nolan could understand Ethan's reluctance to pursue a relationship with his sister, he found it inexcusable for Ethan to thoughtlessly introduce a woman who offended the Cunningham family into their lives.
"It's okay if Ethan doesn't like me," Fiona said, looking down. "I just need to become better, and once I do, he’ll like me."
"You are already wonderful, truly exceptional. Don’t belittle yourself like that," Nolan scolded her gently, patting her on the head.
"But Nolan... besides you, the Cunninghams don't care for me. Mom doesn't like me. She thinks I stole the Cunningham heiress's life, but I never meant to," Fiona said, her voice choked up with emotion.
"That's absurd, who said Mom doesn't like you?" Nolan reassured her. "You’re a victim too, it was the hospital's mistake. What could you have possibly known as a baby?"
Tears glistened in Fiona’s eyes as she managed a smile, one filled with heartrending sadness.
Nolan Cunningham let out a sigh. "After all these years... not a single lead. Mom's even got depression because of it. Maybe it's time to stop searching. It's possible she's long gone."
Fiona's eyes gleamed with a flicker of hope; she certainly wished that the real Cunningham heiress would never return.
However, she feigned concern as she spoke, "Nolan, Mom will never be happy if she can't find the real Cunningham heiress. And my other siblings, they've been searching tirelessly. They don't like me…"
Nolan Cunningham ruffled Fiona's hair and reassured her, saying, "Don't worry. Whether she is found or not, you're the Cunningham family heiress. I'm here for you, and I won't let anyone hurt you. Nobody can take your place."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Fiona nodded and embraced Nolan Cunningham. "Nolan, you're so good to me. I love you the most."
Shaking his head with a resigned smile, Nolan patted her back. "You're all grown up and still acting like a baby."
"I'll always be your little sister," Fiona said cheerfully.
"Yeah, always."
...
After leaving the Pearl Restaurant, Jasmine sat in the passenger seat of Ethan's car and spoke in a low voice. "I'm sorry…"
"Why are you apologizing?" Ethan asked.
"Because I... I put you and Mr. Li in an uncomfortable situation," Jasmine confessed, burdened with the weight of her mistake, feeling as though her mere existence was a flaw.
"Nolan Cunningham? That whole family is nuts. Their precious little princess got switched at birth, and they've been like rabid dogs ever since, biting everyone in sight. Don't mind them." Ethan chuckled.
Jasmine blinked in surprise before speaking, "The Cunningham Family still hasn't found the young heiress they switched?"
Years ago, she had heard about the mishap involving the Cunningham family heiress and the matriarch's relentless search since then. It was surprising, considering the vast resources of the Cunningham Family, that they still hadn't found her.
"Nolan Cunningham always speaks ill of others," Ethan said irritably, clearly holding a grudge. Nolan had the audacity to talk badly about Jasmine right in front of him.
With a snort, Ethan spoke again. "Just ignore him."
"Oh..." Jasmine opened her mouth, wanting to ask about the relationship between Ethan and Fiona, but the words never escaped her lips.
"Fiona? Ah, she's the child the Cunninghams brought home by mistake," Ethan clarified for Jasmine, who seemed hesitant to discuss the topic further.
It transpired that Mrs. Cunningham, the mother of Nolan, underwent a period of instability upon discovering that the child bore no blood ties to their family. In a bid to shield his wife from anguish, Mr. Cunningham orchestrated for their butler to formally adopt Fiona. Thus, Fiona was nurtured within the opulent confines of the Cunningham household, enjoying the same privileges bestowed upon the trio of legitimate Cunningham heirs. She existed, albeit quietly, as an unheralded heiress.
A prudent glance was cast toward Jasmine as this revelation unfolded, a silent acknowledgment of the potential impact that the intricacies of inheritance and lineage could have upon her delicate sensibilities.
The Cunninghams and the Wilsons approached a mix-up at birth in entirely different ways. At least the Cunninghams had the decency to raise Fiona well and care for her.
On the other hand, the Wilsons seemed almost eager to drive Jasmine out once they discovered that she was not their biological daughter.
Clearly distressed by these sharply contrasting fates, Jasmine bowed her head, silently fidgeting with her fingers.
Ethan reached out, taking Jasmine's hand in his. "You have me."
That was all she needed. There was no need for a grand heiress title or the Wilson family name. Having Ethan was enough.
He was determined to make up for what Jasmine had lost, to treat her with the utmost care and adoration, like a princess. That was what she deserved.
Tears welled up in Jasmine's eyes as she looked at Ethan, wondering how long he could keep her safe and how long she would have him.
"Fiona... she likes you," Jasmine finally voiced, her keen insight picking up on Fiona's affection toward Ethan from just a glance.
A woman's intuition was rarely wrong, and Fiona made no effort to hide her feelings for Ethan.
"People liking me is nothing new," Ethan said dismissively, snorting. His heart belonged to Jasmine now.
Other women didn't stand a chance against her. Ever since meeting Jasmine, she brought new surprises into his life day after day.
He couldn't find such a treasure anywhere else.
He couldn't afford to lose her.
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