Selina still held onto hope.
Even after Adrian began drifting away...
even after every gala, every meeting, every celebration placed him beside Elara instead of her...
a fragile part of her still believed there had to be an explanation.
Because people didn't just stop loving someone overnight.
Right?
Tonight, the Vale mansion glowed brighter than ever.
The family had organized a private celebration after the successful signing of the Chase–Vale partnership deal. Reporters crowded outside the estate gates while music and laughter echoed through the halls.
Selina stood frozen near the staircase.
At the center of the ballroom—
Adrian held Elara's hand.
And Elara was smiling.
Damian raised his champagne glass proudly. "To the future partnership between the Vale and Chase families."
The guests applauded loudly.
Then Rowan added with a grin, "And to the couple everyone already saw coming."
More laughter.
More cheers.
Selina felt the world tilt beneath her feet.
Elara leaned against Adrian comfortably while cameras flashed around them. And Adrian—
the man who once whispered that she deserved to be chosen—
didn't deny any of it.
He simply stood there beside Elara.
Like he belonged to her.
Selina's breathing became shallow.
Livia noticed her first.
For a brief second, guilt crossed her mother's face.
But it disappeared quickly.
"Selina," Livia said softly, almost cautiously, "you should sit down."
That was when Selina understood.
They knew.
Every single one of them knew.
Her eyes moved from face to face—
Damian avoiding her gaze,
Rowan standing awkwardly silent,
Elara holding Adrian's arm possessively.
No one defended her.
No one explained.
It felt as though she had never truly existed in this family at all.
"Elara..." Selina's voice trembled. "You knew?"
Elara's expression softened with something dangerously close to pity.
"I didn't mean for you to find out like this."
Find out?
Selina looked toward Adrian desperately, waiting for him to deny it all.
But he remained silent.
And silence was crueler than lies.
Something inside her shattered completely.
Without another word, Selina turned and ran.
—
Rain poured heavily by the time she reached the far east wing of the mansion.
The old storage corridor was dark and silent, untouched during parties. Selina leaned against the wall, trying desperately to breathe through the ache crushing her chest.
Then voices echoed nearby.
Her parents.
"...we should've told her sooner," Livia whispered shakily.
Damian's voice remained cold. "There was never a right time."
Selina froze.
"She's still our daughter," Livia argued weakly.
"No," Damian replied firmly. "She never was."
The words sliced through her.
"She was abandoned on our property twenty-two years ago. Someone left her wrapped in a blanket with money and instructions to raise her quietly. We did our duty."
Selina's knees nearly gave out.
"No records. No name," Damian continued. "Just a child that was never meant to belong to us."
Tears blurred her vision instantly.
"She was always different from Elara," Damian said. "And no matter how much we gave her, she could never truly be a Vale."
Selina covered her mouth to stop herself from making a sound.
Suddenly everything made sense.
Why Damian's affection always felt forced.
Why Livia loved her gently but distantly.
Why Elara was always chosen first.
Why every achievement of hers disappeared into Elara's shadow.
Because she had never been theirs.
Not really.
She stumbled backward silently before turning and running out into the storm.