Chapter 5
Griffin barely acknowledged my words, his focus solely on the papers as he checked my signature, making sure I hadn’t played some trick. Once satisfied, he let out a relieved sigh, a smug smile spreading across his face.
“Arabella, I’m finally free. Now, I can marry you.”
Arabella’s excitement mirrored his own. “Griffin, I’ve waited so long for this! But first, we need to deal with this pest. She’s still here, throwing around empty threats.“W
With that, Arabella clung to Griffin’s arm, her gaze fixed on me, mocking.”
“If you’ve got something to say, say it now, I’m dying to see how you plan to back up all that nonsense you spouted.”
Griffin snorted dismissively. “Celestine, you’ve got thirty seconds. If you’re still bluffing by then, we’ll show you the door. Today’s celebration is for the president of Cavendish Corporation and that’s Arabella now. This place has nothing to do with you anymore.“>
The guests eyed me like I was a circus act, convinced I was nothing more than a joke./
But instead of answering, I turned my gaze toward the man and woman I had once called father and mother.”
But no more. I couldn’t call them that anymore.”
“Dad, Mom, maybe you should tell them instead.”
Griffin’s glare shot through me like a dart. “Shut up! I’ve divorced you. You have no right to call them Mom and Dad!“>
Arabella, ever the picture of sweetness, tried to calm Griffin, all while signaling for the security guards. “There’s no need to listen to this crazy woman’s nonsense. Just throw her out.”W
“Enough!”
Chairman Ronan Cavendish, my father, had been silent since stepping into the room. But with that one word, he silenced Arabella and the room fell still.
His years of authority were undeniable. With just those two simple words, the room fell into an eerie silence, everyone waiting with bated breath for what he would say next.
“Eight years ago, Griffin needed a minor surgery. That’s when we discovered he wasn’t our biological child. After an exhaustive search, we learned that our baby had been switched at birth. Celestine is our real daughter, but she was swapped with Griffin!“}
My father’s words hit like water splashing onto hot oil, causing an immediate explosion of chaos.
The guests erupted into shocked whispers and even Griffin staggered back, eyes wide in disbelief.”
“That’s impossible. Dad, are you out of your mind? Even if Celestine kisses up to you, you can’t tell such a ridiculous lie just to keep her around! What does that make me? I’m the son you raised!”
But my father only gazed at him with a look of deep disappointment.
“When we found our real daughter, we should’ve set things right. But after raising you, after growing fond of you, we couldn’t bring ourselves to let you go. So we asked Celestine, we begged her to stay close to you, hoping we could still be a family.”
My mother’s gaze lingered on him, a mix of emotions swirling within her.”
“You thought Celestine washed our feet and took care of us just to flatter us? No. She was making up for the years we lost as a family. She was showing her filial piety. She has a heart of gold. She didn’t hesitate to return to the Cavendish Family as a daughter–in–law. She obeyed you in everything and managed the company with grace; she’s truly remarkable.”
“Do you understand now? Celestine didn’t become president of the Cavendish Corporation because she married you. She’s the rightful heir and she’s earned every bit of that position.“W
