Dad’s Secret Daughter Called Herself Heiress, But Mom’s Family Owned Everything Chapter 09

Dad’s Secret Daughter Called Herself Heiress, But Mom’s Family Owned Everything Chapter 09

“They weren’t mocking me—they were jealous. If your mother so much as glanced their way, they’d be head over heels.”

“I’m not about to let a few gossipy remarks drive a wedge between us. That would just be playing right into their hands.”

So, I wasn’t biologically related to Dad.

I was the result of the IVF procedure Mom underwent before they married.

After finishing the story, my parents walked over and each took hold of one of my hands.

“In my heart, you’ve always been my real daughter,” Dad said softly. “If it weren’t for you, I never would have met your mother. You’re a gift fate gave us.”

Mom also smiled warmly at me. “Exactly. You’re my lucky charm. The moment I got pregnant with you, fate sent me my true love, and just like that, we were a family of three.”

A wave of warmth rushed through me as I listened to them.

So that was the truth.

Honestly, I had been terrified that learning I wasn’t his biological child would create a rift between Dad and me.

Now, there was absolutely no need to worry.

In every way that actually mattered, I was his real daughter.

But the warm, happy scene of our little family clearly stung Tara.

She couldn’t resist breaking the warmth with a pointed remark, “So you’re just the product of some random donor, Iris? That makes you even worse off than me. At least I’m actually my dad’s flesh and blood.”

She whirled back around to face Dad. “Dad, I’m your only real child in this world. You’re getting older, and you’re probably never going to have any other kids. Can’t you at least help me out and let me stay here?”

Before Dad could even open his mouth, I cut her off, “Stop trying to change the subject. I told you to apologize to my mother, and I mean right now.”

Tara couldn’t bring herself to swallow her pride. She shot a desperate, pleading look toward Everett, who had been standing in dead silence for a while now, begging him to bail her out.

But Everett completely avoided her gaze.

He was far too busy worrying about his own skin.

If his parents found out that he had blown his engagement to the Morrison heiress over a nobody, they would absolutely skin him alive.

Being much smarter than Tara, he immediately jumped to apologize. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Morrison, I completely misunderstood the situation and let myself get manipulated by Tara. I’m so sorry”

“Please forgive me for being young, reckless, and spouting absolute nonsense. My mother is a good friend of yours, so about the engagement between Iris and me…”

“The engagement is canceled,” I stated flatly.

“My mother has always let me make my own decisions when it comes to marriage. Everett, I must have been blind to ever like someone like you.”

“Thank God I found out before we married, or I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.”

“As for whether my mother forgives you, that’s entirely up to her.”

Out of respect for Everett’s mother, Mom chose not to ruin him completely, settling instead for a stern warning.

“I’ll let this slide for now. But don’t ever come to my house again. And if word of what happened today gets out to anyone, I will not let it go lightly.”

Hearing that Mom wouldn’t pursue the matter further, Everett nodded frantically. “Absolutely, Mrs. Morrison. I know when to keep my mouth shut. I’ll leave you to your affairs and take my leave now.”

Everett turned to bolt, but Tara scrambled forward and grabbed his arm. “Wait! If you leave, what am I supposed to do? Aren’t you my boyfriend?”

“Figure it out yourself!” Everett violently shook off her grip. “We are broken up as of this exact second. Don’t you dare drag me down with you.”

With that, Everett bolted out the door without giving Tara a single backward glance.

Seeing that her only potential ally had completely abandoned her, Tara had no choice but to bite her lip in bitter resentment and finally bow her head to Mom.