Chapter 1: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The words echoed through Valeria's mind long after the housemaid fell silent.
"Mrs. Vance... he told everyone you died six months ago."
Her pulse hammered against her ribs.
"Died?" she whispered.
The maid glanced nervously toward the ballroom before answering.
"Everyone here believes Mr. Vance lost his wife in a terrible car accident. He even held a memorial service. Miss Isabella has lived here ever since."
Valeria felt the floor tilt beneath her feet.
A funeral.
He had buried her without her ever dying.
She forced herself to stay hidden behind the marble column while Julian laughed with the little boy. Every smile now felt rehearsed. Every embrace was part of a performance built upon her stolen identity.
Marcus suddenly appeared beside her.
"I've been watching the house," he said quietly.
She looked at him in surprise.
"You knew I'd come."
"I knew you wouldn't believe my report without seeing it yourself."
He handed her a slim folder.
Inside were photographs.
Bank transfers.
Property records.
Private school tuition.
Medical insurance.
Every payment stretched back almost six years.
Julian hadn't just started another family.
He had been financing two completely separate lives while living with Valeria.
Marcus flipped to the final page.
"The boy's birth certificate."
Valeria stared at the father's name.
Julian Alexander Vance.
Her knees nearly gave out.
The child wasn't adopted.
He was Julian's biological son.
Everything Julian had ever told her about working late, overseas business trips, emergency board meetings...
Had all been lies.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"It gets worse."
Valeria slowly looked up.
"The mansion doesn't belong to Julian."
"Then whose is it?"
May you like
Marcus answered with one sentence.
"Your father's."
