Chapter 188

Looking back now, Laura couldn't recall a single moment when Verena had purposefully concealed her talents.

In truth, it was Laura and Alec who refused to recognize their daughter's strengths, never once asking how she truly felt or what she faced.

Was it possible that Verena had always possessed such remarkable abilities?

Neither parent had ever reached out with real care,nor had they taken the time to sit down for an honest conversation. Understanding her had never been their priority.

Instead, they simply shaped Verena in the mold of their own assumptions.

That realization hit Laura with the force of a revelation, and waves of regret washed over her,leaving an ache in her heart.

Questions churned in her mind. This was the child she'd carried for months, the girl she brought into the world with so much hope. How had she treated Verena like that?

Frozen where they stood, both Alec and Laura found themselves lost in thought.

Alec recovered his composure first. Surrounded by an audience of powerful figures, he made sure not to betray a hint of emotion. Smiling with pride, he told them, "Verena has always been bright, never once giving us cause for concern. We're thrilled by all she's accomplished. Still, I can't match my daughter's abilities. These days, the business world is filled with risks, and managing a company has never been tougher. All of you are leaders in your own fields, and I hope you'll give us your support moving forward."

Never one to let family drama stand in the way of opportunity, Alec used the moment to strengthen business connections.

With Verena's reputation shining so brightly, the other businessmen were smart enough to show some respect for Alec.

Whatever disagreements simmered beneath the surface, blood ties remained untouchable.

Standing with Alec was a move nobody here would regret.

Glasses were raised all around, and the group repeated, "Certainly, Mr. Willis."

Through the rest of the meal, both Alec and Laura seemed distracted, their thoughts elsewhere.

Once dinner ended and Alec finished small talk with a few business acquaintances, they left for home.

Back at Willis Villa, Kaia lounged on the couch,deeply absorbed in a newly released movie.

The sound of footsteps at the entryway made her pause the film, slip on her slippers, and hurry to welcome Alec and Laura.

A bright smile on her face, Kaia called out, "Dad,Mom, you're home. Come join me-the movie's really good!"

She tugged gently at Laura's hand, hoping for a little warmth.

Instead, Laura pulled away, leaving Kaia's smile to fade. She stared at her parents' clouded expressions,the silence between them was heavy and cold.

From the day she fled home, a wall seemed to stand between her and her parents.

Alec's distant manner made her nervous, and that fear lingered.

Confused by their sudden cold shoulders, Kaia hesitated and finally asked, "Dad, Mom, did something happen?"

Alec snapped, his anger barely contained as he flung his phone toward her. "You still have the nerve to ask? Take a look for yourself! Your constant clashes with Verena have held the Willis family back from reaching real success."

Earlier, on the drive home from the dinner party, both Alec and Laura had watched the entire livestream unfold.

Anger smoldered between them, threatening to boil over. The moment they saw Kaia acting as if nothing was wrong, they unleashed all their frustration in her direction.

Puzzled, Kaia caught the phone and glanced down at the screen.

Verena's face stared back at her from the video.

Caught up in a school competition, Kaia only recently managed to relax and watch a movie, all while remaining oblivious to what had been happening online.

As a result, Maxton's live broadcast had gone completely unnoticed by her.

She stared at the screen in confusion, uncertain what to make of it. "What's this about?"

Laura's voice cut in, icy and distant. "Just watch."

As Kaia pressed play, Verena appeared on camera,introducing herself as Evelyn, her tone steady.

Next to her, Maxton openly praised Verena, vouching that she was not romantically involved with Tobin.

"Yes. I am Evelyn Rowe, and I came to Clokron for one reason-to treat Mr. Maxton Fairclough."

Those words echoed in Kaia's head, turning her face ashen.

Confusion settled over her as she struggled to process what she was seeing.

Her hands started to shake, and she nearly lost her balance as the reality hit.

How could this be true?

Hadn't Katelyn always claimed to be Evelyn? How was Verena suddenly revealed as Evelyn? Somebody had to be lying.

Could Verena have pulled off such a deception?

Kaia quickly dismissed the idea.

Verena might have reason to lie, but the chairman of Smoothdeed Group would not, which made his information unquestionably reliable.

Deceiving him was something Verena wouldn't have the courage to attempt.

Could it be that Verena was truly Evelyn?

But where did that leave Katelyn?

Kaia had been told outright by Katelyn that she was Evelyn, and Katelyn had vowed to stand with her in bringing Verena to justice.

Kaia's lashes fluttered, and panic swept across her face.

Realization struck; Katelyn had been the one to mislead her all along. That same resentment Katelyn held toward Verena had been used as a weapon, turning Kaia into a pawn in her schemes.

Her eyes grew wide as everything fell into place.

It was unthinkable. The doctor she'd admired from afar, the very person who had given her a sense of direction and taught her how to fit in, was Verena,her own flesh and blood.

But what did she do to her sister?

What choices had she made since Verena stepped into her life?

Afraid that their parents' love might shift away,she had done nothing but stand against Verena,spreading rumors, setting traps, and wishing her gone for good.

Instead of seeing the truth, Kaia believed every word from Katelyn's mouth, sided with her, and even plotted against Verena.

All this time, Evelyn, the person she idolized and respected above all, had been Verena.

A wave of guilt crashed over her.

Unsteady on her feet, Kaia stumbled backward, tears streaming down her cheeks.

With her voice trembling and lost, she pleaded,"Dad,Mom, I never meant to hurt Verena..."

Alec's cold voice cut her off, "Don't call me that.I have no daughter like you." He left wvithout another glance, heading straight upstairs.

Sobs shook Kaia's shoulders as she watched him disappear.Desperate, she grabbed Laura's sleeve."Mom, please, you have to believe me. If I'd known Verena was Evelyn, I could never have acted this way.She's been the person I looked up to for so long."

Laura's stare remained icy and unmoved.

Had Kaia not targeted Verena from the beginning,maybe things could have been different between Laura and Verena. Still, Kaia constantly pushed her to take sides against Verena, a pressure that eventually shattered their bond as mother and daughter.

That thought made Laura pull away, giving her a final look full of disappointment. "Kaia, you've truly let us down."

"Mom, please,it's not what you think..." Kaia's words broke down into sobs as Laura turned and walked away, refusing to look back.

As her parents walked past without a trace of warmth, Kaia collapsed into tears, her body trembling with each sob.

Regret tangled with bitterness as it consumed her.

If she'd known the truth about Verena, she would have kept her distance from Katelyn, never letting herself be used against her own sister.