He Chose Another Heir Now He Wants Me Back Chapter 56
Suddenly, arguing voices erupted in the foyer.
Ophelia was brought in by two guards.
She was no longer wearing her soft beige dresses, only an ill-fitting gray coat. Her right ring finger was bare, the skin where the signet ring had been for six years now a pale circle.
The moment she saw the documents on the table, she laughed.
“So tonight isn’t just about judging me.”
Luca came in behind her.
He wore no wedding band, no underboss signet ring. His black suit was still impeccable, but his place in the room had shifted from the right side of the table to a spot behind the witnesses.
A Rossi advisor set two documents on the table.
I had seen them before.
One was the paternity test showing no biological link between Luca and Milo. The other was the internal investigation into the switched sample.
“The Rossi family revokes Ophelia’s status as wife and all related protections, obtained through false bloodline claims,” the advisor said. “The relevant materials will be transferred for formal proceedings. Milo bears no responsibility and remains protected until adulthood.”
Ophelia’s gaze swept across the room and settled on Luca.
“You’re really handing me over?”
Luca met her eyes.
“I was the one who entered the false report into the bloodline registry. I’ve already surrendered my position for that error in judgment. The people who switched the sample will answer for their choices, too.”
“Choices?”
Ophelia lunged for the table and snatched the paternity report.
“All of you get to make choices. Elena gets to board a plane to Paris. Luca gets to hand over a ring and call it atonement. Maria gets to lie in a hospital bed and say she knew everything. I’m the only one who, from the day I was adopted, had to watch everyone’s faces!”
The pages crumpled in her fist.
“I only took one thing I wanted.”
“One thing?”
I unlocked my phone and projected the photo and message she had sent me onto the dining room wall.
The black-and-gold signet ring filled the screen.
*Marco is going to the hospital tomorrow. Dress nicely. Don’t embarrass both families.*
The screen showed only the message she had sent. Several witnesses at the table had been at the hospital that day. They had all seen Marco arrive according to the terms she’d arranged.
“You used a false bloodline claim to take a position in the Rossi family, and then you used that position to agree to a marriage on my behalf.” I looked at her. “That wasn’t one moment of fear. That was a choice you made again and again for six years.”
Ophelia’s face was nearly transparent.
She turned to Vincent.
“Father, you agreed to Marco going to the hospital. You said that as long as Elena married out, the relationship between the Rossi and De Luca families could still be stabilized.”
Vincent shot to his feet.
“Shut up!”
The shout didn’t silence her. It only made her laugh harder.
“Scared now? Who was it that put me in Elena’s seat and had me pass messages to the Rossis? Who kept saying I wasn’t blood, yet still expected me to act like a blood daughter whenever the family needed something to trade?”
Salvatore’s face was grim.
At last, Ophelia was tearing down the people who had once protected her.
I didn’t interrupt. I didn’t speak for either side.
I just left the evidence on the wall, letting everyone see where they stood.
Vincent raised his hand to call the guards.
“No one will touch her.”
Maria’s voice came from the doorway.