chapter345
“She is the real Sally Hoffis!” Vincent’s voice thundered across the room, leaving a vacuum of silence in its wake.
The shock was palpable, particularly among the Morrison family. Guests stood frozen, their gazes oscillating between the composed woman on stage and the frantic girl clinging to the Hoffis matriarch. The air hummed with a mix of excitement and disbelief.
“Nathan,” someone called out from the crowd, “you grew up with her. You were closer to her than anyone. Do you believe she is Sally?”
A wave of guilt washed over Nathan at the words “closest to her.” It had taken him far too long to see through the fog of memory and deception, a delay he would likely never forgive himself for. He stepped forward, his voice absolute and ringing with authority. “She is Sally Hoffis.”
His declaration acted as the final gavel, silencing the whispers of doubt. A new murmur rippled through the guests: “No wonder the General married her. It all makes sense now.”
Loretta slumped to the floor, the weight of the revelation crushing her. The woman posing as Sally immediately scrambled to her side, grabbing the only person left who might shield her. “Grandma, you have to believe me! I’m your granddaughter! She’s the fraud—she’s lying to you!”
The imposter grew more hysterical, her voice shrill. “Think about the video calls! Think about the DNA tests! How could medical science be forged? Would my parents not recognize their own daughter?”
Loretta, clinging to the familiar lie, stood up to defend her. “Yes! We’ve seen her on screen for years. Wouldn't her own parents know who she was?” She pointed a trembling finger at Zach. “Zach, you’ve spoken to her too. Tell them! Tell them she isn't a fraud. Don't you trust her parents?”
Loretta was on the verge of a breakdown, but Zach was consumed by a different kind of intensity. He clenched his chest, his face contorted with frustration. “You stubborn woman, get down from there!” he roared. “Stop harassing Wanda!”
Despite the evidence, the crowd began to waver again. The idea of parents failing to recognize their own child was a difficult concept for the guests to grasp. Amidst the chaos, Dylan watched the scene with a cold, calculating sneer. The engagement party was forgotten; he was now entirely absorbed in the unfolding theater. “This,” he murmured, “is getting interesting.”
Suddenly, a new voice pierced the room. “She’s my daughter, Suzanne York!”
Betty rushed onto the stage, seizing Mila’s hand and turning to the audience with a look of practiced apology. “I am so sorry, everyone! This is my daughter, Suzanne. She... she is a bit mentally unstable. I apologize for the disturbance. Please, forgive us!”
With a sharp tug, Betty tried to haul Mila off the stage.
“Let me go!” Mila cried, fighting against the woman’s grip.
The stage was suddenly flooded with movement. Phoebe rushed forward, followed closely by Cole under Nathan’s silent command. They intercepted Betty, pulling her arms back to release Mila.
Betty didn't stop, her voice rising to a frantic pitch. “Suzanne, have you lost your mind? Why are you making a scene here? Is this because you wanted to marry Mr. Scott? The DNA tests have proven twice that you are mine!”
“Shut up!” Phoebe snapped, her eyes flashing with anger as she shielded Mila.
Across the room, Dylan’s expression shifted. A look of dark satisfaction crossed his face at the mention of Mila’s supposed desire to marry him. The tangled web of identities had reached its breaking point, and the truth was now a weapon that everyone was fighting to claim.