Chapter 12: The Shattered Dream of Wealth

Ericko's statement caused a sensation. No one anticipated such an outcome, and immediate discussions ensued. Maggie remained silent, her lips pursed. As expected, her brother always had the courage to set things right; otherwise, other families would struggle to minimize their losses in such situations due to reputational concerns.

Vanessa, on the sidelines, stared at Ericko on stage in disbelief, her face frozen. How could this be? she wondered. What did Ericko mean?

Phillip and Fiona stood motionless. Phillip, unable to contain himself, asked, "Ericko, what do you mean? Is there a mistake?" He glanced at Vanessa, his eyes reddening. However, he also noticed Maggie beside Vanessa. The girl possessed a radiant, delicate face, subtly aloof. Her eyes, sharp and clear, resembled precious gems.

Ericko's words, "Dad, the testing center just called. They said there was an error with the DNA samples," snapped Phillip back to the present before he could dwell on his thoughts.

Vanessa clutched her wine glass tightly, her expression shifting. Her smile, not yet fully faded, now looked strained and unattractive. Phillip's heart sank slightly at Ericko's confident response. His gaze toward Vanessa became more probing, the usual warmth replaced by something cooler.

This wasn't just about the DNA test results; it involved the jade pendant in Vanessa's hand. Vanessa had arrived with the pendant and later suggested the paternity test. Ericko, omitting mention of the pendant and attributing the mistake solely to the test results, clearly spared Vanessa's feelings, avoiding an unsightly scene. But if Vanessa wasn't truly his and Fiona's child, it was a deliberate deception!

Vanessa felt her throat tighten, a thin sheen of sweat appearing on her forehead under Phillip's cold gaze.

"Phillip" Fiona's vision blurred, but she fought back tears. False claims of kinship were common, but this shattered her fleeting happiness.

"Mr. Adam What what is happening?" Vanessa asked, her heart heavy with unease. Why did this happen?

Ericko looked directly at her, his warmth gone, replaced by polite distance. "You must be well aware of what exactly happened," he said.

Vanessa's teeth clenched, her anger evident. Where exactly did the mistake occur? she wondered. Did Ericko suddenly change his attitude? Or did he discover something? She instinctively looked at Maggie. Could it be because of her presence?

Sensing Vanessa's gaze, Maggie curved her crimson lips and said, with a hint of mockery, "Tsk! The shattered dreams of wealth. I'm afraid it's not your destiny after all."

The seemingly indifferent words shook Vanessa, leaving her trembling with rage.

"Maggie! Is it you? What are you so proud of?"

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "I'm not proud. I'm happy!"

Her simple words struck Vanessa deeply. Vanessa's lips trembled, her pupils dilated with anger. Through gritted teeth, she hissed, "You bitch!"

"I'm afraid you'll need to work multiple jobs simultaneously to afford the clothes you're wearing," Maggie calmly replied, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Compared to Vanessa's past actions against her and the Adams, this felt insignificant.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside. "Let go! I want to get in! Let me in!" A slurred, high-pitched voice, accompanied by shouting and breaking sounds, filled the air.

Heads turned. Security personnel rushed forward, explaining, "There's a drunk causing trouble."

Grandpa Adam frowned. "Take him away, don't disturb the guests."

Before the security could fully restrain him, the drunkard shouted hoarsely, "Where's Vanessa? Tell her to come out! How come she doesn't recognize me as her father after climbing the social ladder!" Vanessa froze, panic flashing in her eyes. How did Gerald, that drunkard, get here? She couldn't let him create a scene; everyone would discover her lowly origins.

"Vanessa! Come out! You found a new dad and don't recognize me anymore, did you? Let me tell you, I know whether you're my daughter! If you don't bring me 7.5 million, I'll"

"Let him in," Ericko said in a deep voice, taking control.

Security released Gerald, who immediately barged in. He wore a cheap, wrinkled, oversized suit, his greasy face and balding, slightly curly hair making him look disheveled. His eyes were murky and yellowed, showing more age than Grandpa Adam. His features were passable, but time and hardship had robbed them of their luster.

"Vanessa, how's it going? Did things work out?" Gerald approached eagerly, putting on a smile.

Vanessa's face paled, and she avoided his hand anxiously. "I don't know you."

Gerald's face changed. "Oh, do you really think you're a young lady of the Adams? Fine, you can recognize whoever you want as your father, but after giving birth to you and raising you all these years, you can't skimp on 7.5 million for me!" He grabbed a beer, ignoring the stares.

"Stop talking nonsense! I never"

"Who's talking nonsense? You know better than anyone! Fine, you want to play tough? Let's go! The Adams will pay for a paternity test so that you won't deceive them!"

"You ungrateful! I've raised you for so many years, and now you want to ditch me! You're a treacherous person, just like your mother!" Gerald grabbed Vanessa's hair, dragging her toward the exit, resentment in his eyes.

Maggie lifted her wine glass, watching with a cold, indifferent expression. Gerald was her arrangement. Once prosperous and kind to Vanessa's mother, he'd faced business failures, and Vanessa's mother absconded with his money, leading to his decline. Initially kind to Vanessa, his relationship with her soured due to her mother's actions and Vanessa's vanity and materialism, contributing to his alcoholism.

Tears glistened in Vanessa's eyes—unwillingness, anger, and deep pain. She knew Maggie was right. Her aristocratic dream had shattered. It had been so close; she'd almost succeeded. Why?