Chapter 2

Emilia's POV

When I arrived at the Harkins estate, the first raindrop smashed against the windshield. As I got out of the car, the wind nearly knocked me over, and my sense of foreboding grew stronger. The towering building looked particularly cruel under the dark clouds, much like my childhood—full of rules and expectations, but without a shred of warmth.

The butler coldly led me through the hallway, and I noticed the unusual glances from the servants and their deliberate avoidance of eye contact. Was there a problem with the company? Or was my father ill?

Outside, thunder rumbled, and lightning illuminated the portraits in the hallway—the faces of generations of Harkins family members seemingly scrutinizing me.

The moment I stepped into the main living room, I forced a polite smile. "Dad, Mom, I came as soon as I got your message. Is something wrong? Can I—"

"Emilia," my father began, his voice terrifyingly cold, cutting off my greeting. "Sit down."

My smile froze. My father and mother sat rigidly on the sofa, expressionless, their eyes cold. Beside them, a blonde woman I had never seen before was examining me, the corners of her mouth turned up in obvious satisfaction.

"What's happening? Who is...?" I tried to ask, but my father's gaze silenced me.

I mechanically obeyed, my legs weak as I practically collapsed onto the sofa opposite them. The atmosphere in the living room was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.

"A routine physical examination a month ago," my father continued, his eyes fixed on me, "showed some... abnormalities."

My hand unconsciously covered my abdomen, my heart racing. God, had they discovered my pregnancy? Had the hospital violated confidentiality and told them?

"You are not our biological daughter."

Five words, like five bombs, exploded in my mind. I felt dizzy, my ears ringing.

"W-what?" I barely managed to squeeze out the word, my voice so weak it was barely audible.

"The DNA results are conclusive," my mother—no, Caroline Harkins—added coldly, looking at me with disgust, as if I were something filthy. "You were a baby switched at the hospital. And this is Victoria, our biological daughter."

The blonde woman—Victoria—shot me a victorious glance, reaching out to take Caroline's arm in an intimate gesture.

My world was collapsing. Twenty-four years of life, suddenly turned into an absurd farce. "That's impossible..." I mumbled, my voice broken. "There must be some mistake... I am Emilia Harkins... I always have been..."

"No, you're not," Jonathan Harkins's voice brooked no argument. "You're nothing but an impostor, a mistake. More importantly," he pulled out a thick folder from his briefcase and slammed it onto the coffee table, "we've already notified the Blake family. These are divorce papers. Given that you're not of Harkins blood, Noah Blake has already decided to divorce you."

I trembled as I took the documents, tears blurring my vision, but I could still make out the cold legal language: "blood fraud," "false identity," "immediate termination of marital relationship." Each word cut into my heart like a knife.

"Every memory I have growing up... my childhood... my school... everything... was it all a lie?" I asked with difficulty, my voice choked.

Caroline's eyes flashed with disgust. "We did our duty. Now that we've found our real daughter, your role is over."

Outside, rain violently beat against the windows, thunder growing louder. I felt an icy chill spread up my spine, my throat gripped by an invisible hand. In this moment, my entire world had collapsed.

"I won't sign," I said, my voice shaking but firm, clutching the documents tightly. "At least let me talk to Noah first. I have the right—"

Jonathan's gaze instantly turned to ice. He made a gesture, and two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, standing on either side of me.

"You have NO rights," he said coldly. "You're not even a Harkins. Sign, or I'll make you regret it."

Fear flooded my veins like ice water. I shook my head, tears finally breaking free and silently sliding down my cheeks. For twenty-four years, the Harkins family had never given me true love, but at least they had given me identity, status, and security. Now, they were stripping even that away.

"Please... I'm the daughter you raised for twenty-four years! Even without blood ties, we're still family!"

Caroline's expression twisted at my words. She suddenly stood up and walked to me. Without warning, she slapped me hard across the face, with such force that my head snapped to the side, and I immediately tasted blood in my mouth.

"You are NOT my daughter," she hissed. "You're nothing but an impostor, a thief who stole our real child's place. For twenty-four years, I've been taking care of a stranger's child while my own flesh and blood suffered outside!"

I held my stinging cheek, feeling dizzy. Victoria laughed softly nearby, as if watching an entertaining show.

"Hold her," Jonathan commanded coldly. The bodyguards immediately moved forward, one firmly gripping my shoulders, pinning me to the sofa, while the other grabbed my right hand. My father took a pen and roughly shoved it into my hand.

"NO! I won't sign! You can't do this to me!" I struggled desperately, but the bodyguards' strength far exceeded mine.

"You will," Jonathan sneered. "Otherwise, I'll have you spend tonight at the police station, charge you with fraud, and ensure you never get near high society again. Twenty-four years of child support costs—enough to keep you in prison until you die."

I stared, unable to believe that this man who had raised me for twenty-four years could say something so cold-blooded. His eyes told me this wasn't a threat; it was a promise.

The bodyguard forcibly controlled my hand, guiding me to sign my name at every place that required a signature—no, Emilia Blake's name, a name I thought belonged to me. Each signature felt like it was tearing my soul apart.

After signing the last page, I felt completely drained of strength, collapsing back onto the sofa, tears flowing silently.

"Victoria will take your place in the Blake family," Caroline announced calmly. "The alliance will continue as originally planned. Just with a different person."

Victoria elegantly stood up and walked to me. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your husband... oh, I mean my fiancé."

Her words cut into my heart like a knife. I wanted to fight back, to scream, but could only produce a weak sob. I had thought my marriage was cold, but at least it was mine. Now, even that was being taken away.

"You can't do this," I choked out. "I am Emilia Blake, I am—"

"You are NOTHING," Jonathan interrupted harshly. "You're just a nobody, an abandoned baby. Now pack your things and get out of my house."