A mother's embrace, a grandfather's rage, and a secret buried for years. As Elina finally learns the truth about her long-lost twin, Salina, she discovers that her past is darker than she ever imagined. But was her sister's death truly a suicide, or was it a cold-blooded sacrifice for a piece of land?
The moment Lara realized Elina's true identity, she rushed toward her and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. Elina, who had spent years yearning for a mother's love, felt tears stream down her face. Lara held her hands out in a gesture of apology, begging for forgiveness.Elina loved her mother deeply. Even though Lara had abandoned her as a child, the love in Elina's heart had never faded. Feeling that maternal warmth for the first time in years brought her an overwhelming sense of peace.Suddenly, Mr. Louis pulled Elina away. He glared at Lara and snapped, "Enough! Stop this drama. You can never be Elina's mother. No real mother would push her own children toward death out of greed for money. Elina might forgive you, but I never will. To me, you are already dead."Elina looked at her mother, her voice choked with emotion. "Mom, I recognized you the very first day I saw you. Grandfather never told me anything about you while I was growing up. I spent my childhood desperate just to see your face, but I wasn't even lucky enough to know what my own mother looked like."I spent years alone in the hostel, missing Suzi di so much. I didn't even realize how time passed. When I turned eighteen, Grandfather transferred your land to my name. That was the first time I ever saw your photograph. Until then, I didn't even know your face. I have kept that picture with me like a treasure ever since."When I finished my studies and came back home, I found out Suzi was no longer in this world. Wasn't the pain of being separated from my mother enough? Then I had to face the news of Suzi's death. I only spent a few months with her when we were kids. After I went to the hostel, Grandfather never brought me home; he always said it would ruin my studies. Eventually, I had even forgotten that I had a sister named Suzi."Lara looked at Elina through her tears. "Elina, my child... Suzi is Salina. You two are twin sisters. Suzi and you... I left you both all alone. Please, forgive me."Elina turned to her grandfather, her eyes wide. "Grandfather, is Suzi really Salina?"Mr. Louis, his eyes filled with both anger and tears, shouted, "Yes! Salina is your sister Suzi! She hated the name Salina, so we all called her Suzi. I wanted to send her to the hostel with you, but she suffered from a serious illness, so I had to keep her with me."I never let you meet her because I didn't want any jealousy or pain between you two. I didn't want you to think we kept her because we loved her more, or sent you away because we loved you less. That is the only reason I didn't let you come home until your studies were finished.
"I took care of her treatment. Even though she didn't go to the hostel, I enrolled her in a local school. But one day, your sister Suzi ran away with a boy. We tried to explain to her that she was sick and that marriage wasn't right for her health at that time. But she didn't listen; she married the boy of her choice."Two months after the wedding, Suzi committed suicide. The doctors had told her she could never become a mother. She couldn't handle the trauma, and she took her own life. Elina, your sister Salina is gone from this world."Though Elina and Salina were twins, they looked different and had completely opposite personalities. Mr. Louis pulled a photograph of Salina from his wallet to show Elina, weeping as he did."Her in-laws pressured her constantly, demanding a baby. They drove her to the edge. That is likely why she committed suicide."Elina asked softly, "Grandfather, didn't you even go to see her one last time?""Elina, she ended her life by jumping into the river," he replied brokenly. "She didn't know how to swim. Misfortune followed us—the police never even found her body. I never even saw the face of the man she married."After her death, that boy's grandmother came to see me. But she didn't come to show sympathy. She came to demand the papers for the other piece of land in your mother's name, so her grandson could move ahead in business and start a new life. Suzi had signed those papers long ago, but since a portion of that land belonged to you, your signature was required. That old woman came to me hoping I would get your signature for them."I threw her out of my house. In their rage over losing that land, that old woman and your sister's worthless husband set fire to my company. They destroyed everything I had. They left me standing on the streets. If it wasn't for you, Elina, our business would never have stood again."Mr. Louis looked at Lara with pure contempt. "My company was small, but I earned enough from it to raise you. I gave you everything you ever wanted. Yet, you spat on my face and left two innocent children on the street just to become a daughter-in-law in high society. But look at the game of fate. Look where you are, and look where my company is."The company you called a 'beggar's business' is now the largest company in the world. Do you know who built this company from zero to millions? It was the daughter you rejected. Elina Thomas... the owner of 'The First Impressions' company."Lara stood frozen in shock. The company that sat at the top of the world belonged to her daughter!
Will Lara be able to tell Sarlin the truth about Elina? What will Lara do now—will she choose Elina for David's marriage, or stick with Sarlin? Was Salina's death truly a suicide, or was it a massive, cold-blooded conspiracy?To uncover the truth behind these mysteries, keep reading "Beneath The Truth," only on Webnovel.