Chapter 578: A Change in Plan
Olive’s words were neither rushed nor slow; each conveyed power. Joyce nodded, satisfied. She knew her daughter would be fine. Anabelle’s foster mother had been a palace maid, threatened by Logan’s mother-in-law, forcing her flight to Imperial City. There, she became a top waitress at a bar, favored by Lily’s father, with whom she became a mistress. She’d wanted to abandon Anabelle then, seeing the child as an impediment to her ambitions. Jobless and friendless, she was soon discarded by Lily’s father. She then lied, claiming pregnancy and childbirth, presenting Anabelle as her daughter, thus labeling Anabelle as Lily’s illegitimate child. However, having a daughter didn't improve her situation; Lily's father showed little interest in Anabelle.
The former maid was later diagnosed with a benign tumor, requiring expensive long-term treatment. During this desperate time, Anabelle grew up obedient and quiet, bathing herself by age two or three. Later, Lily, the daughter of the Midas family, was diagnosed with a disease requiring a bone marrow and blood type match from a close relative. The servant girl, seizing the opportunity, pushed Anabelle forward as a donor. Anabelle proved a perfect match, becoming Lily’s savior. Still young, Anabelle was remarkably sensible. Each visit to the Midas family left her injured, her arms and thighs covered in needle marks. The bone marrow extraction left her pale and trembling, yet she gave the money received to her foster mother. This defined her childhood.
By elementary school age, Lily’s illness prevented her from attending kindergarten. The Midas family devised a solution: as Lily and Anabelle grew similar, Lily underwent microsurgery, making the sisters indistinguishable. Anabelle, at the Midas family's behest, replaced Lily, attending school and living as Lily. Unexpectedly, Anabelle thrived, building “Fly” into a major jewelry brand, and later meeting Alpha, a prominent businessman. The Midas sisters had a sadistic relationship with Alpha. Ultimately, Anabelle jumped from a building into a river, disappearing for over twenty years. Deprived of Anabelle's financial support, the foster mother returned to poverty, terminally ill and coughing constantly, awaiting Anabelle's return.
Liam and Thomas, with their men, waited to meet the old woman’s foster daughter. Listening to her cough, Thomas whispered, “King Liam, it’s late; where’s the eldest princess?” Liam sighed, “I sensed tonight wouldn’t be easy. Let’s wait.” Suddenly, jeeps arrived, disgorging bodyguards. “Surround the house!” someone ordered. Liam and Thomas’ expressions changed; they’d been ambushed.
“Who are they?” Thomas started to go outside, but Liam stopped him, “Mr. Arthur, Aaron’s here!” Aaron arrived quickly, ordering, “Break down the door! I want Thomas—alive!” He'd received a report that Thomas was there. The door crashed open. Aaron found not Thomas, but a dying old woman. “Who are you? Forget Thomas; take this woman!” he commanded, disappointed. “Who are you? Where’s my daughter?” the old maid cried in fear. Aaron, noticing her relentless coughing, suspected an infectious disease and covered his nose. Bodyguards took her away. Aaron left empty-handed. Liam and Thomas emerged, solemn; they hadn't anticipated Aaron’s arrival.