Chapter 563 What Happened
Harriette was feeling incredibly pleased with herself, oblivious to the fact that the tables had now turned. Once the puppeteer, she was now the puppet.
Miles, on the other hand, was lost in thought. He was still reeling from Harriette's suggestion to go up to the rooftop like they used to do as children.
The real Harriette had loved early mornings. Every time she woke up early, she would go upstairs to watch the sunrise.
She used to say that her life before meeting Oliver had been like living in darkness, but his presence brought the light. Watching the sunrise was her reminder to appreciate each new day.
Miles had always known about her fondness for this ritual. Whenever she went to the rooftop, he made it a point to join her, even if they sat in silence, just waiting for the sky to transition from darkness to light.
"But how did the imposter Harriette know all of this?" The question had barely formed in his mind when he realized the answer.
"Lizzie! This imposter must have some connection to Lizzie. As for the things Lizzie had said on the rooftop last night..." "Etta..." Miles whispered, his thoughts consumed by his curiosity about what had truly happened to Harriette all those years ago.
Startled by his sudden voice, Harriette turned toward him. "What is it, Miles?" she asked, her raspy tone pulling Miles back to the present.
Realizing he had let his thoughts slip, he quickly composed himself, his gaze softening as he looked at Harriette. "I'm just glad you're back."
Harriette smiled brightly in response. "Back?" she thought. She liked the sound of that. It was good to be back, and it would be even better if she could get what she truly wanted.
As she redirected her gaze to the sky, Miles's expression changed. The warmth in his eyes dissipated in an instant.
"Indeed. It's good that she's back," he thought.
If this fake Harriette hadn't returned, the truth about what happened to the real Harriette might have remained forever buried. But now, he saw a glimmer of hope, a chance to uncover the answers he desperately sought. As the sky brightened, the two of them sat side by side, consumed by their own thoughts.
As the sun rose, news spread like wildfire across various media outlets. The headlines were all focused on one person-Rose.
"The former CEO of Lerain Group and legendary figure of the Xanth family has found his long-lost biological daughter!"
"Mr. Miles of the Young family announces the late Mr. Young Senior's will. The entire fortune to be inherited by his biological granddaughter!"
"The Xanth family's daughter is named Rose..."
"The Young family's granddaughter is also named Rose..."
In no time, the internet was buzzing with talk of this "Rose", the woman everyone now considered to be the luckiest person in Regalia. Her name was on everyone's lips, from the city's elites to everyday people. The consensus was clear-Rose was now undoubtedly the wealthiest and most powerful heiress in all of Regalia.
"Rosie! Is it true? The Rose they're talking about online... It's you, isn't it?" Yvonne's voice crackled over the phone.
Rose had just finished getting ready when Yvonne called, her voice filled with disbelief despite having pieced together Rose's connections to both the Young and Xanth families.
"Rosie's background is unbelievable!" Yvonne thought.
"Yes, it's me," Rose replied softly, a tinge of guilt in her voice. She hadn't returned to the villa in Royal Garden the previous night, leaving Yvonne there alone.
"Good heavens, Rosie!" Yvonne gasped, practically losing her composure. "This is unbelievable! Do you even know what they're saying? You're being called the wealthiest woman in all of Regalia, and it's all true!" Her excitement only grew as she continued, "Although I don't know much about Lerain Group, I could tell from Clover's demeanor that he's no ordinary man.
"It all makes sense now! No wonder he's always treated you so well-he's your cousin! Did he know all along that you were his biological cousin?"
After asking this question, she finally calmed down and waited silently for Rose's response.
Rose paused, reflecting on the previous day's events. "No, I don't think he knew from the start."
Yvonne squealed again, her voice piercing Rose's ears. "Oh my goodness! That's even more incredible! If he treated you so well without knowing you were his cousin, imagine how things will be now!" Rose's thoughts drifted to Clover. He had indeed always treated her kindly. With this newfound familial bond, she felt like she and Clover had grown even closer.
"And then there's the Young family..." Yvonne continued, "Miles is truly remarkable. He could've easily kept the entire fortune to himself, but he chose to hand it all over to you instead."
Rose couldn't help but agree. Miles could have hidden the will and claimed the vast inheritance. Yet, he had chosen to reveal everything.
The weight of that gesture settled heavily in her heart as she wondered how she could ever repay such kindness.
Yvonne chattered on, her excitement palpable. It was as if her best friend's newfound prominence meant they would both soar to new heights. Rose could tell she was genuinely happy for her. After hanging up, Yvonne remained exhilarated. Sitting in her wheelchair, she looked down at her phone, still smiling.
"This is really wonderful," she whispered, her words full of sincerity.
"It is," Evan agreed, sitting on the couch nearby. He had seen that day's trending topic online as well.
The news was everywhere-Rose
was now the heiress of both the Lerain Group and the Young family, her status elevated beyond comprehension. He couldn't ignore the vast distance between their lives, and a shadow of sadness crept into his eyes.
As Yvonne lifted her head, she just happened to see his expression.
"Evan," she suddenly said. "You're a wonderful person, and so is Rosie. But sometimes, fate decides the ties between people."
She was well aware of her brother's long-standing feelings for Rose, but fate had a way of being unpredictable.
"I know Rosie is amazing. I've always wanted the best for her. I see her as a sister, just like you do." Evan managed a smile, his words filled with genuine sincerity.
He had long known that there was no future for him and Rose. With Dawn in the picture, his guilt toward Rose had only deepened.
"It's good that you can think that way, Evan. Speaking of which, Dawn called me yesterday..." Yvonne shifted the conversation abruptly.
She wasn't close to Dawn. During the time she was bedridden, Dawn had visited her a few times, but Evan had always been present. They had never spent time alone together, nor had they exchanged phone numbers. Yvonne didn't know how Dawn had found her number, but she was caught off guard when she received a tearful and nearly hysterical call from Dawn. Despite Yvonne's questioning, Dawn wouldn't reveal what had happened. "Evan, what exactly is going on with you and Dawn?"This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
Yvonne could tell that Evan didn't
like Dawn. They had gotten married out of a sense of responsibility because of their child. But after returning from Aquastead, where they were supposed to be married, Evan had become despondent.
"I asked Mom and Dad, but they wouldn't say anything. I don't think you have any reason to hide it from me, do you? Look, I'm all better. now!" she said as she tried to stand up, hoping to convince Evan that she was truly okay.