The Stolen Heiress: Claimed by her Father's Ruthless Enemy. novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14: She’s alive.

"She’s alive..." Claudia’s voice shook slightly as she stared at her mother.

Irene looked up from the papers in front of her. "Who is alive?"

"I saw her... I saw Anna."

"Didn’t you say she fell off a cliff? How is she alive?" Irene asked, a deep frown settling on her forehead.

Claudia shook her head in disbelief. The more she thought about it, the more crazy she became. There was no way Anna would have survived that fall. Even if she did, she would drown in the river.

"I’m not lying, mom. I saw it happen. She couldn’t have survived that."

But she did. She didn’t only survive, she looked very happy too. She was dressed in an expensive dress that looked custom-made. Her hair was styled and her makeup was flawless. The one thing that still baffled Claudia was the huge diamond ring on her finger, the memory of it made her stomach churn. How could she?

"She wasn’t just alive," she said, her voice growing bitter. "She was wearing a designer dress and a ring too."

"A ring?"

"Yes. She has some sugar daddy taking care of her. There is no other explanation."

For a long moment, Irene didn’t speak. However, her face grew colder.

"How dare that thing try to bring shame to this family," she hissed, her fingers clenching around the armrest. "We gave her a roof over her head, did everything for her, and this is how she repaid us? Dragging the Steele name in the mud like something common..." She trailed off, her anger shimmering on the surface.

Claudia just stared at her own ring on her finger with a sour look on her face. She had been engaged to one Alexander Vaughn her entire life, yet her diamond ring wasn’t as big as Anna’s. It made her heart burn with hatred to think that Anna could be living a better life than her. She wasn’t supposed to. She was still the same runt that had lived under her shadow for years. Nothing changed. Even though she was involved with someone rich and suddenly became confident, it shouldn’t bother her.

"She always was a problem. I should have known she would find a way to embarrass us even after she was gone."

Irene stood up and started pacing the length of the room.

"I won’t allow this. If she’s playing mistress to some rich old man, she will bring nothing but disgrace to the Steele name. The world would know her connection to us. That can’t happen. No one should know the mistress’ daughter."

She stopped pacing and turned to Claudia. "We need to find out who this rich old man is. Contact Jonan right away. We need his help right now. I need to know what is going on."

Claudia nodded with a smirk. She would find out who the man was. And when she did, Anna would regret ever showing her face again.

She took out her phone and texted a number.

"Let’s meet, Sebastian."

****

"Sign the properties over to me, and I will ensure the Resort and Estate are restored to their former glory. This is an opportunity Mr. Steele, and I’m afraid if you refuse, they will surely sink further into debt."

Alexander smiled inwardly at the memory. George had unknowingly signed the ownership of the Resort and Estate to him. Though it wasn’t very easy to manipulate him, he was glad for the call that George received. After that call, he literally lost his mind.

Alexander was quite sure it was the news of his boys who were murdered, but whatever it was, he was glad that it came when it was needed.

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