Chapter 11: You Dream Well

Vanessa, engrossed in socializing, was suddenly pulled by Joseph into a dimly lit corner of the banquet hall.

"Joseph," she breathed.

Upon seeing Joseph, Vanessa's face lit up with joy. However, his expression was far from pleasant. He tightly gripped her wrist and said coldly, "Didn't I tell you not to argue with Maggie? Can't you think before you speak and act?" Caught off guard by the scolding, Vanessa's face darkened.

"Whether or not the Adams acknowledge my identity is just a matter of time," she retorted. "If you want to bring down the Adams, you don't need her at all."

"I don't care what reasons you have. You're not allowed to let Maggie find out about us!" Joseph's gaze darkened, clearly displeased.

Reluctantly, Vanessa looked at him with teary eyes. "Have you really fallen for that woman? Didn't you see how she treated me at the banquet?"

Joseph didn't answer directly. He simply said, "That's because you spoke arrogantly first. If you hadn't revealed yourself so easily, she wouldn't have seen through it!"

Hearing his defense of Maggie, Vanessa felt a surge of anger. She grabbed his arm. "Joseph, I noticed Nathael seems to treat Maggie differently. Maybe they are already involved."

Joseph furrowed his brows, giving her a cold look. "If she has that ability, then so be it."

Vanessa was speechless, unable to discern his true attitude toward Maggie.

When Maggie returned to the banquet, Mr. and Mrs. Adam were on stage, announcing Vanessa's background. Mr. Adam, a gentle and refined man, tall and handsome, bore a striking resemblance to Ericko, though with a slightly more distant demeanor. Mrs. Adam's complexion was somewhat pale, but her beauty was still apparent despite her ailing appearance.

"We sincerely thank all the guests for joining us today to celebrate," Mr. Adam announced. "At the same time, we would like to announce that our long-lost daughter has finally returned!"

Phillip was visibly excited, his eyes brimming with tears. He tightly held the microphone, his face radiating unrestrained joy.

Maggie stood below the stage, looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar couple. Tears welled up in her eyes. In her previous life, after Vanessa impersonated her, she had exploited Mr. and Mrs. Adam's trust and guilt. Collaborating with Joseph, they quickly depleted the Adams' resources. With Nathael's assistance, they inflicted further damage from the outside. After centuries as an illustrious family, the grand mansion finally collapsed amidst chaos and bloodshed.

Mrs. Adam, burdened by the loss of her daughter for all those years, had seen her health improve somewhat when Vanessa falsely claimed to be their daughter. However, the restored joy was shattered upon learning the truth, replaced by deep sorrow. Upon discovering Vanessa's deceit, Mrs. Adam fell gravely ill and passed away. With her passing, the Adams faced financial ruin. Exhausted from social obligations, Ericko died in a car accident.

Maggie's eyes welled with tears; her heart ached. She didn't know the extent of the Camerons' involvement, but it seemed the Adams had never given up on finding her. In contrast, the Camerons knew her true identity and deliberately concealed it, causing harm to close relatives. It was a vicious calculation with dire consequences.

"Yes, Vanessa is indeed my daughter, lost to me for many years," Phillip said. "Fiona and I owe her so much. From now on, we will do our best to make amends. We hope you will all take good care of this unfortunate child." He gazed affectionately at Vanessa in the audience.

Mrs. Adam (Fiona Xavier) couldn't contain her emotions and rushed to Vanessa, tightly holding her hand. "Nana is it really you?" Fiona had only just learned that Phillip had found their daughter. Concerned about her fragile health, he'd kept it secret until now, intending a surprise. "Mom?" Vanessa said tentatively, her voice choked with emotion.

Tears welled in Fiona's eyes. "Nana Nana I'm sorry. I didn't take good care of you!"

Mr. Adam smiled. "Vanessa, feel free to ask for anything you need in the future."

"Congratulations, Vanessa!" her friends exclaimed. Compliments poured forth. "Adam, your daughter is stunning!" "She's really fortunate. From now on, Vanessa is destined for success!"

"What do you mean, destined for success? She suffered for over twenty years. Those years should have been ones of comfort and luxury for a young lady of her status."

"Is she the woman who had a conflict with Mr. Harris just now?"

"Yes, it's her. But with the protection of the Adams, I'm sure Mr. Harris will show her some respect."

Vanessa, surrounded by a crowd, was the center of attention. Her smile was radiant, her eyes filled with joy. There was no trace of the unease she'd shown earlier with Nathael.

Maggie remained calm, observing from a distance. The saying goes, "To make something perish, first make it go mad." Considering their long relationship, she didn't mind letting Vanessa enjoy her happiness for a while longer.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Vanessa approached Maggie. "Maggie, why aren't you offering your congratulations?"

Maggie smiled knowingly. "Congratulations."

Vanessa furrowed her brow, feeling a hint of discomfort. She reasoned that Maggie's words were insincere, born of resentment and jealousy. Leaning close, a touch of pride in her voice, she whispered, "Can you even imagine? I turned out to be the heiress of the Adams. You, a servant-born illegitimate child, what do you have to compare to me?"

Maggie lowered her gaze. "I thought we were, at least, friends."

Vanessa's hatred surprised Maggie. Even in the previous life, within a year of Vanessa's return, they'd had a falling out.

"Huh, friends? Maggie, stop pretending! Do you feel proud being friends with the daughter of a drunkard when you're the young lady of the Camerons? You're using me to elevate your status and beauty! I'll tell you, from now on, you're the one who has to watch your step. The Camerons, no matter how powerful, can't compare to the Adams. Besides, you're just an illegitimate child picked up by the Camerons. What's there to be arrogant about? But if you lower your head and beg me, I might consider continuing our friendship."

Maggie chuckled, her almond-shaped eyes cold. "You have quite the imagination."

Ericko's voice resonated from the platform. "I sincerely apologize to everyone. It appears there was an error in the verification process concerning my sister. I regret to inform you all that Ms. Vanessa Adam is not related to me."