Chapter 445 Father-in-law!
Crystal secretly altered her hair, prompting her father to obtain a DNA paternity test. Realizing her folly, she willingly provided her hair for testing. Incredibly, even after seeing the results, she remained complacent, believing herself clever. She’d even dramatically overreacted. Crystal felt like a complete clown. Her father, however, already knew the truth.
Nora's heart plummeted upon seeing the paternity test results. Her worst fear had materialized; Crystal's true parentage was exposed. It was over. This time, Damien hadn't invited them to discuss the wedding; he'd brought them to face the consequences. Those who defied the Roberts, the world's wealthiest family, paid dearly, both principal and interest, for years to come. The repercussions were severe.
“Damien, what about this DNA test? Crystal is your daughter. We conceived that night. Did you forget?” Nora desperately tried to offer an explanation.
Damien coldly replied, “I told you before, it wasn’t you that night. That woman is Olive’s mother, and Olive is my biological daughter.”
Nora gasped, collapsing into the chair, her face drained of color. Her deception was uncovered; Damien knew everything. Mr. Paulo understood his failure. Years of scheming, building the Paulo family's wealth and influence since Nora married Damien, had all stemmed from Damien's generosity. He regretted his slowness. Knowing Olive's identity, he should have eliminated her. Olive possessed Joyce Brown's striking resemblance—a brilliant woman who remained indelibly etched in Damien's memory.
“Damien, please don’t be angry. We didn’t intend to deceive you. That year, you were famous throughout the city, and Nora was a huge fan,” Mr. Paulo explained weakly, offering a nervous smile.
Damien briefly surveyed the Paulo family before rising. “I despise lies. You will live here for the rest of your lives. I’ll remove the Paulo family from Imperial tonight. Consider it the price you pay.”
His tone was soft, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. The usually composed Damien, known for his politeness and composure, could dismantle a family in a single night. The Paulo family—Mr. Paulo, Nora, and Crystal—were trapped. This was their new reality.
Nora and Crystal fainted, collapsing to the floor, gasping for air. Damien had condemned them.
Mr. Paulo rose, shouting, “Damien, you can’t be so heartless! The Paulo family cannot perish! It’s my life’s work! I want to leave!” He’d lost his mind, consumed by power, only to see Damien crush everything he’d built. Damien's previous praise now felt like a cruel mockery of his downfall.
Damien, unwilling to see them further, left. Elvis and the butler followed, the door slamming shut behind them. Mr. Paulo, trapped inside, frantically pounded on the door, crying out, "Let me out! Release me! I don't want to be in this spooky place!”
Crystal wept in terror. At only twenty years old, she never envisioned spending her life in this dark, damp confinement. "Grandpa, Mom, help me!" she sobbed. Nora embraced Crystal, mother and daughter huddled together, trembling.
Mr. Paulo gradually calmed, settling into the chair, his face grim and unsettling. His shifty eyes hinted at something sinister.
“Dad, what do we do? Will you and Crystal stay here too?” Nora cried.
Mr. Paulo smirked cruelly, “Don’t worry, they’ll soon open the door to welcome us out.”
Nora, confused, tried to question him, but he impatiently silenced her. “You’ll understand soon enough.” He closed his eyes. Nora found his behavior increasingly erratic. He seemed changed, perhaps due to recent contact with someone; his poison was almost completely healed, and his temperament altered significantly. She barely recognized her father.
Damien boarded his luxury car. The butler was closing the door when Elvis arrived, sliding into the seat beside him.
Elvis gave a thumbs-up, “Father-in-law, your boldness endures! This single action will shake Imperial to its core!”
The butler stared, speechless, at Elvis's blatant flattery. Damien, displeased, snapped, “Who’s my father-in-law? Get out of my car!”
Humiliated, Elvis retorted, “Fine. I just wanted to show you a picture of my mother-in-law. Seems you’re not interested.”
As he moved to leave, Damien called, “Come back!”
Elvis's lips twitched; he quickly sat back down. He’d cleverly obtained a photo of Olive the previous night, aware that even the formidable Damien couldn't resist his mother-in-law! “Father-in-law, you called?”
Damien held out his hand. “Give me the picture.” Elvis handed it over, saying, "Father-in-law, you haven't met my mother-in-law yet, have you?"