They Forged My DNA Test–Fine, I’m No Longer Your Daughter Chapter 04

They Forged My DNA Test–Fine, I’m No Longer Your Daughter Chapter 04

Everyone crowded around.

I snatched up the report and clutched it in my fist.

I couldn’t let them learn the truth.

Because I knew exactly what would happen.

If I told them I was the Valens’ biological daughter, I knew what they would choose.

They wouldn’t take me back out of love.

They would only keep me out of obligation.

I didn’t want love born from obligation.

And I had no intention of staying.

I lowered my head and spoke quietly.

“I just… didn’t believe the first result.

“So I secretly took another test.”

“And the result?” Father asked, a thread of tension in his voice.

I raised my head and met their eyes calmly.

“Nothing changed. I’m not a Valen by lineage.”

Every one of them visibly relaxed.

Father’s voice softened again.

“I’m glad you’ve finally accepted it, Elowen.

“Lineage isn’t everything. You’re still the child we raised.”

Something complicated crossed Caelan’s face as he looked at me.

But it vanished almost at once.

“The test confirmed the truth. It’s time you let go of the past.

“Seraphine didn’t mean to hurt you. She just needs our protection.”

Stellan sighed.

“Once you’ve made up for what you did, Seraphine will forgive you.

“Then things can go back to the way they were. We can all be happy again.

“But don’t join us for the family portrait today.”

Seraphine, who had nearly fainted from crying minutes ago, sniffled.

“It’s all right if you refuse to give the necklace back, Elowen.

“Just please don’t steal from me again.

“If you want something, all you have to do is ask.”

Then she leaned close and whispered so only I could hear, her voice thick with mockery.

“You can keep the necklace. Consider it compensation for that stupid letter I tore up.

“A designer necklace for a worthless piece of paper. You’re the one who came out ahead.

“I’m generous, aren’t I? No need to thank me.”

Seraphine drew back and linked arms with Stellan and Caelan again.

“Let’s go take the pictures. I want perfect photos to remember today by.”

Stellan forgot all about me and gently ruffled Seraphine’s hair.

“All right. Let’s go.

“I’ll have the jewelry set I just won at auction sent to your room.”

I was used to being invisible to them. It no longer hurt.

That night.

They went on with their belated family portrait session.

I wasn’t there.

No one noticed me packing my final suitcase upstairs.

My acceptance letter from Royal Crescent Academy had been shredded.

But I’d already asked Mrs. Mercer for a replacement.

That future belonged to me. No one would take it again.

I placed the last piece of clothing in my suitcase.

Then I contacted the identity broker I’d found in advance and arranged a new identity.

If I was going to leave, I needed to disappear completely.

Late that night, once everyone was asleep, I wheeled my suitcase out of the Valen estate.

From that night on, Elowen Valen ceased to exist.

***

At the studio, the Valens pressed close together and smiled brightly.

Just outside the frame, Caelan held Seraphine’s hand, their rings touching.

The shutter clicked, freezing that happy moment in place.

After the portrait session, they left on a trip around the world.

Not one of them thought of me.

No one asked where I was.

Sometimes Stellan or Caelan would open my message thread and stare at it.

The last message was always the one I’d sent months ago.

But Seraphine always managed to draw their attention back to her.

They exchanged a look and decided I was only sulking.

“Leave her alone. She’ll cool off.”

Three months later, they returned home.

“Father, when are Caelan and I going to have our mating ceremony?” Seraphine asked, clinging to his arm.

“I want Elowen as my maid of honor.”

Father hesitated. He clearly thought it was a bad idea.

But Seraphine put on a wounded pout, and he gave in.

“Caelan, you handle it.”

Seraphine beamed, and Caelan readily agreed.

He went to my door, knocked, and called my name.

No one answered.

Caelan’s patience frayed.

“Elowen, Seraphine is giving you a chance by asking you to be her maid of honor.

“Why would you throw away a chance to reconcile?

“Don’t you want to be part of this family again?”

Still, no one answered.

Then, Stellan slammed into the door with the full force of his Alpha strength.

It crashed to the floor.

The room was bare.

Not one of my belongings remained.

Stellan’s jaw tightened as dread turned his veins cold.

He immediately called his Beta.

“Find out where Elowen is.”

After a long, suffocating silence, the Beta answered softly.

“Elowen… is gone.

“The last record I could find… showed that Elowen had disappeared completely.”