Chapter 3:The Lost Heiress
527 Words
The black Rolls-Royce glided through the rain-soaked streets, leaving the cathedral behind.
Inside, Isabella sat silently, still wearing her wedding dress. Her fingers clutched the engagement ring Damien had thrown away.
Everything had happened so fast.
Just an hour ago, she had been a bride.
Now she was an orphan, rejected by her family...
And supposedly the heir to one of the richest families in the world.
Edward Lancaster watched her quietly.
"I know this is difficult to believe."
Isabella looked out the window.
"My father disowned me..."
"The man I loved humiliated me..."
"And now you're telling me I'm your granddaughter."
She laughed bitterly.
"It feels like a dream."
Edward reached into a leather folder and handed her several documents.
"These are the DNA test results."
"I collected a sample from your hairbrush two weeks ago."
Isabella looked at him in surprise.
"You... what?"
Edward smiled apologetically.
"I needed to be absolutely certain before I approached you."
Her eyes scanned the report.
Probability of biological relationship: 99.99%.
Her hands began to tremble.
"So..."
"My mother never lied to me."
Edward nodded.
"She always wanted to bring you back to me."
"But she became seriously ill before she could."
A single tear rolled down Isabella's cheek.
"I wish I had known her better."
Edward gently held her hand.
"You have her smile."
"And her courage."
For the first time that day...
Someone looked at Isabella with love instead of disappointment.
She couldn't stop the tears.
Edward pulled her into a warm embrace.
"You're home now."
At that moment, the Rolls-Royce stopped before a pair of magnificent golden gates.
The gates slowly opened.
Beyond them stood a breathtaking mansion surrounded by colorful gardens, fountains, and rows of luxury cars.
Isabella stared in disbelief.
"This..."
"This is your home," Edward said softly.
Before she could step out of the car, dozens of maids and servants lined up outside the mansion.
The head butler bowed deeply.
"Welcome home, Miss Lancaster."
Every servant bowed at the same time.
"Welcome home, Miss Lancaster."
Isabella froze.
No one had ever welcomed her like this before.
Meanwhile...
Several kilometers away...
Damien slammed his fist against his office desk.
"Find out everything about Edward Lancaster!" he shouted.
His assistant looked nervous.
"Sir... Edward Lancaster is one of the most powerful businessmen in the world."
Damien frowned.
"What does he want with Isabella?"
Before the assistant could answer, Victoria quietly listened from outside the office door.
A smile slowly spread across her face.
"So..."
"That useless girl is still alive."
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"The plan failed."
A cold male voice answered.
"What happened?"
"She's with Edward Lancaster."
There was a long silence.
Then the man spoke in a chilling tone.
"If she inherits the Lancaster Empire..."
"Our secret will be exposed."
Victoria swallowed nervously.
"What should we do?"
The man answered without hesitation.
"She must never live long enough to claim her inheritance."
The call ended.
Victoria stared at the screen, her hands shaking.
For the first time...
She realized Isabella wasn't just returning for revenge.
She had become the target of people willing to kill to protect their secrets.
- Writer
