Chapter 2: The Envelope of Truth
Beatrice walked toward the stage, her posture rigid, her eyes fixed on Veronica. The heiress, still smiling with a touch of nervous confusion, tried to regain her footing. "Grandmother, really? It’s just a maid. Don't cause a scene."
Beatrice didn't respond. She reached into her clutch and pulled out a thick, official-looking manila envelope marked DNA RESULTS - CONFIDENTIAL.
"There was no scene, Veronica," Beatrice said, her voice amplified by the ballroom’s sound system. "Until you made one. You’ve spent twenty-two years believing you were the future of this family. You’ve spent twenty-two years bullying those who worked for us, believing your bloodline made you royalty."
Beatrice held the envelope up. "This document doesn't just verify your heritage. It disproves it."
Veronica’s face blanched. "You’re bluffing. You’re senile."
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"I am many things," Beatrice countered, walking toward the center of the floor. "But I am not mistaken. I have suspected for years that the child brought to us by your parents—my son and his wife—wasn't the child I lost in the maternity ward. I kept the secret, waiting for the right moment to see if you would become the person I hoped you were. Instead, you became a monster."
She tossed the envelope onto the table. "You aren't a Sterling. And you aren't the granddaughter I lost."
