The Real Heiress Rules the World (Sloane Rivers) novel Chapter 491

**Chapter 491: The Lost Daughter Returns**

Grayson summoned every ounce of strength he had left, pushing himself into a seated position. His demeanor was resolute, even as fatigue clung to him like a heavy fog. “Dr. Rivers,” he declared, his voice steady, “I assure you—this paternity test is legitimate. You are indeed the biological daughter of Beth and Mr. Tony.”

Sloane felt her world tilt on its axis, her voice quavering as tears threatened to spill over. “There won’t be… another mistake, right?” The weight of her fear was palpable, a suffocating dread that wrapped around her heart. The thought of being let down again was almost too much to bear.

Lucas instinctively wrapped his arms around her, sensing the violent shivers that coursed through her body. “Remember what you told me about the connection you felt with Aunt Beth? Maybe that’s the bond that exists between a mother and her child,” he murmured softly, hoping to provide her with some comfort.

His words struck a deep chord within her. Sloane felt the dam within her break. She clung to Lucas’s shirt, burying her face against his chest as she wept. The tears that flowed were not just tears of joy; they were a torrent of over two decades filled with confusion, loneliness, and a yearning for belonging. Each sob was a release, a cathartic expression of all she had endured.

Through her tears, she managed to choke out, “Every time I saw Beth… I felt this strange warmth… I didn’t understand it then… But now I do… I truly do…” The realization washed over her like a wave, overwhelming and beautiful.

“Lucas… I finally… found my family…” Her voice broke, and the sobs intensified, each one echoing her relief and disbelief.

In that moment, the door swung open with a suddenness that startled them all. Jeffrey entered, leaning heavily on his cane, followed closely by Kaizen. The old man’s hands trembled, and his eyes were red-rimmed and glistening with unshed tears. He struggled to keep his cane steady, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

“My child… my sweet granddaughter…” Jeffrey’s voice quivered, thick with emotion as he reached out a shaking hand toward her. “All these years… you’ve suffered so much…” Each word was laced with a profound sense of regret and longing.

Sloane felt a jolt of recognition and love as she stiffened momentarily in Lucas’s embrace, then broke free and stumbled toward her grandfather. “Grandpa!” she cried out, her voice a mix of joy and disbelief, as she threw herself into his arms like a lost child finally finding her way home.

Kaizen stepped forward, wrapping both of them in a firm, emotional embrace. The man who had always exuded strength and resilience now had tears streaming down his weathered face. “You’re home now… that’s all that matters,” he said, his voice thick with emotion as he held them close.

At the doorway, Shawn wiped his eyes hastily, a grin breaking through his tears. “Looks like we’re truly one big family now,” he remarked, his voice lightening the heavy atmosphere.

His excitement bubbled over as he pulled out his phone. “I’ll call Aunt Beth right now! She’s going to be over the moon when she hears we’ve found her daughter!”

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