Chapter 2

I packed a few changes of clothes and led Nina back to the Bellandi estate. The house looked like a mansion on the surface, but underneath it connected to the Bellandi family's arms warehouse and accounting rooms.

Every time I'd come back before, my adoptive parents would smile and greet me before I even got through the door.

This time, my adoptive mother's disgust was barely hidden.

"Why are you here?"

"Mom... I have nowhere else to go. I just want to bring Nina to stay for one night."

She sneered. "The Bellandi estate isn't a shelter. Don't bring your bad luck here."

My chest tightened.

Nina peeked out from behind me, timid.

"Grandpa! Grandma!"

Her voice was soft, the way it used to be, waiting for them to pick her up.

Their faces went cold.

"Don't call us that. We don't have relatives like you."

I felt like I'd been hit over the head with a club. I stood there frozen.

A few days apart, and we'd gone from adopted daughter to people who couldn't even claim kinship?

I remembered my adoptive father lifting me over his head, saying Elena was the Bellandi family's precious jewel.

My adoptive mother bragging to everyone about how outstanding her adopted daughter was.

But after Bianca came back, their love for me seemed to vanish overnight.

The family's ports, casinos, and underground businesses were taken from me one by one.

The connections I'd built through years of hard work were transferred to Bianca bit by bit.

Back then, I told myself Bianca was the real daughter. Making it up to her was only natural.

Now I realized—they hated me.

Hated me for taking Bianca's place. For stealing her life.

Dante's cruel words still rang in my ears.

To please Bianca, they'd allowed that smear campaign, mercilessly grinding me and Nina into the dirt.

I pushed the surging emotions down and tested the waters:

"If... the DNA test was wrong? If the report was fake?"

My adoptive mother paused. "The evidence is conclusive. You still want to argue?"

My adoptive father looked at me coldly too. "So many people saw it. The Bellandi family's face has been ruined by you. The DNA test isn't enough? What do you want? Do you need to be caught in bed to admit it?"

A bone-deep chill spread through me.

They knew it was all fake.

And they were still cursing me with that venomous tone, nailing me to the pillar of shame.

My adoptive father frowned, his tone like charity.

"Fine. If you really want to stay, then tomorrow you'll make a statement. Publicly admit you were unfaithful in your marriage. Admit Nina isn't Dante's child. Then withdraw from the family's core council and transfer your company shares to Bianca unconditionally."

I couldn't believe my ears. My voice shook.

"You want me to admit what? Nina is not a bastard!"

My adoptive mother didn't even lift her eyelids.

"Something born from a fake—what else would it be?"

A buzzing filled my head. Something inside me shattered completely.

Footsteps came from upstairs.

Bianca came down, eyes red, looking startled.

"Dad, Mom, don't be like this..." She looked at me, voice gentle. "Elena, I know you're hurting, but Mom and Dad are getting older. The family has a reputation. You can't drag everyone down just for your personal life. Just admit you were wrong. Once this blows over, we're still family."

She looked down at Nina, her eyes full of performed sympathy.

"As for whether the child is Dante's flesh and blood... Dante is such a good man. He won't hold it against you."

I tried to speak, but my adoptive parents had run out of patience.

They ordered the family guards to throw my things out.

"We raised you for twenty years. We wanted to leave you some dignity. Since you won't admit fault, don't come back to the Bellandi family again."