The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 432

"Come on, Mom," Mark urged gently. "Let's go. Let Dad handle this."

Vivian nodded absently and allowed herself to be led away.

Back in her room, she sat in silence, her mind racing back to the day she gave birth. The nagging doubts she'd suppressed for years were finally surfacing. Eventually, she stood up; she couldn't wait any longer. She needed answers.

She made her way to Amber's room and reached for the handle, but froze when she heard voices coming from inside.

"Dad, I love Jasper," Amber was saying. "We aren't actually siblings, so why is it such a problem?"

"Your true identity can never be revealed," Felix hissed.

"So you raised your first love's child—it just shows what a devoted man you are! Why does it have to stay a secret?"

Slap!

This time, it was Felix who delivered the blow. It was the first time he had ever laid a hand on her; in the past, he couldn't even bring himself to speak harshly to her.

Between her earlier head injury and the fresh blows to both cheeks, Amber felt her world spinning. She glared at him, stunned and furious. "You hit me? How could you? If my mother knew, it would break her heart!"

A flicker of immediate regret crossed Felix's face. "I... I didn't mean to."

Amber burst into heavy sobs.

"Don't you ever mention this again," Felix warned, his voice low and firm.

He turned to leave, but the sight of the door left slightly ajar sent a flicker of unease through him. He hurried toward it.

Seeing Vivian standing there with a look of utter shock, he froze.

Slap!

Without a moment's hesitation, Vivian struck him across the face.

"What was that for?" Felix stammered.

"Have you no shame, Felix?" Vivian's voice trembled. "You actually made me raise your first love's child?"

"You misheard," Felix insisted.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Knowing he was in the wrong, Felix didn't dare fight back.

"Where is my daughter?" Vivian demanded. "Where is she?"

"Amber is your daughter."

"I was wondering why she was so shameless," Vivian spat. "Drugging men and crawling into their beds... I see now. It's in her blood."

"Enough!" Felix barked. He grabbed her arm, trying to pull her back toward their bedroom.

"Let go of me! Tell me the truth—where is my child? Where is she?"

"Stop this nonsense, will you?"

Vivian answered with three more sharp slaps to his face.

This time, Felix snapped. He stopped taking the blows, and a physical struggle broke out right there in the hallway.

Amber wasn't hers.

"Her parents are gone," Felix said firmly. "She is our daughter now, and I am not abandoning her." With that, he turned and walked back into his room.

Vivian watched his cold, retreating back and let out a hollow, mocking laugh.

"Mom," Amber sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Even if I'm not your biological daughter, you're still the one who raised me. Don't you remember? You stayed by my side for a day and a night when I had that high fever. When I had trouble with my classmates and got bullied, you were the one who protected me. I know you love me. Please, don't kick me out."

Amber wept piteously, but Vivian didn't give her a second glance. The realization that the girl she had poured her heart into was the child of her husband's unattainable first love made her skin crawl. Her stomach turned, and she suddenly felt physically ill.

Back in their room, Vivian leaned against the door, her gaze fixed on her husband with icy contempt.

"Start talking," she demanded.

"Vivian, please—"

"Don't try to play the sympathy card with me."

Felix took a deep breath, realizing there was no point in hiding it anymore. "The baby died right after she was born," he admitted. "At the same time, Amber's mother was dying from complications during labor. She asked me to look after her child, so I..."

"Oh, how incredibly convenient!" Vivian laughed bitterly. "My child dies, she dies, and her baby is left all alone—so she entrusts the girl to you, the ex-boyfriend she wouldn't even give the time of day back then? Is that really the story you're going with?"

"Whether you believe me or not, that is what happened."

"I don't believe a word of it."

Felix rubbed his temples, looking utterly drained. "Then what do you want from me?"

"I'm going to find out exactly why my daughter died," Vivian said coldly. "And whoever was responsible will pay for it with their life. As for Amber, she's leaving this house. She has no right to an inheritance that belongs to my children."