The elegant and dignified Myra Walsh hugged Felicia tightly, tears streaming down her face as she cried out to her daughter. For a moment, the entire square seemed to hold its breath, especially Lance and his lackeys, who had arrived too late. They stood in stunned silence.
Rumors had circulated that the Fuller family, Khogend's wealthiest, had been searching for their long-lost daughter—Felicia. The lackeys gasped. One turned to Lance, asking, "What do we do now, Mr. Thompson? Do we still take her?"
They couldn't. Lance sneered coldly, his gaze lingering on Felicia. "Let's see how this plays out. If she's truly the Fuller family's daughter, this just got more interesting. I want her, and that's that." With another sneer, he dismissed them: "Let's go."
Quietly, Lance and his lackeys slipped away.
Myra continued to weep in the square, her face, though youthful despite her nearing fifty years, streaked with tears. She reached out to touch Felicia's face, but Felicia subtly avoided her.
In contrast to Myra's emotional outpouring, Felicia remained unnervingly calm, her expression blank, as if observing from a distance.
Myra's hand froze, but she quickly remembered Felicia's ignorance. Wiping her tears, she explained, "Licia, I'm your mother, your real mother. I recently discovered my daughter was switched at birth. Since learning the truth, I've searched for you. And now, I've found you." Tears flowed anew, her red eyes reflecting heartache and guilt—a mother's true emotions.
Felicia didn't doubt Myra's sincerity, then or now. At that moment, Myra was genuinely her mother; her heartache and guilt were real. However, Myra's later favoritism and disdain were equally real. Every time Myra chose between Felicia and Kayla, Felicia was cast aside.
For example, in her previous life, after Kayla faked her death, Myra slapped her, crying, "Felicia, bringing you back is my greatest regret!"
Felicia closed her eyes, her body trembling. Despite her vivid memories, she couldn't articulate her pain.
Gently but firmly, she disentangled herself from Myra's embrace. "You have the wrong person, lady."
"Licia..." Myra's face crumpled, but she quickly composed herself, forcing a smile through her tears. "It's alright, sweetheart. I understand. Blood is thicker than water, and I believe you'll recognize me someday." Felicia remained silent.
Myra tried to soothe her. "Licia, it's late. Come home with me tonight. I'll feel better knowing you're not alone."
Having learned of the switch, Myra had already investigated Felicia's life. She knew about her adoptive family: an unemployed mother constantly arguing with neighbors, a petty criminal father, and a gambler son perpetually in debt.
Myra couldn't respect such a family, fearing Felicia would emulate them. With her biological daughter before her, she wouldn't allow Felicia's return. "Licia, please come home with me."
Despite Myra's plea, Felicia didn't respond, but her gaze shifted to Shawn, still frozen in shock.
Shawn, stunned by the revelation, saw an opportunity: blackmailing the Fullers. His gambling debts could be erased. After all, his family had raised Felicia. A few million, perhaps tens of millions, seemed fair compensation. His eyes gleamed with greed.
Felicia would never return to Shawn; that life was suffocating. Neither Shawn nor Lance would forgive her easily. Escaping them meant returning with Myra.
Her expression softened. A hint of hope and longing appeared in her eyes, melting Myra's heart. Myra cried, "Let's go, Licia. Let's go home."
Felicia allowed Myra to lead her to the car.
In the backseat, the warmth vanished, replaced by cold indifference and mockery. It was time to meet Kayla. The cars headed toward the Fuller residence.
Shawn watched them go, Felicia giving him a thumbs-up followed by a throat-slitting gesture.
He scrambled to his feet, calling his parents, "Dad! Mom! Felicia was taken by the Fullers! We need to demand justice! We didn't raise their daughter for free for eighteen years!" He paused, remembering Myra's words. His eyes lit up. Since Felicia was the Fullers' daughter, Kayla, their current heiress, was his biological sister. "It's time to bring our family back."