Chapter 6 — Revelation and resilience

Diana’s POV

Okay, okay, calm down I am sure you are surprised about the sudden outcome of things right? Well here's what happened before Raphael came to the rescue

******

I Wasn't quite sure what I would call this. I stood amid every member of the Lorenzo's family. Marcel had a wicked smile on his face.

"Come, Serena," Mrs Riley said

Serena made her way to where Mrs Riley stood.

Holding her hands, she declared, "Henceforth, this is Marcel's fiancée. She is the real daughter of the Kensingtons." She paused, then turned to look at me. "This one is a fake—an impostor."

An impostor?

A fake?

How is a legally adopted child a fake?

I didn't choose to be adopted, nor did I choose the family I wanted to be adopted into. I was chosen by Mr. and Mrs. Kensington, so why the hell would anyone think I'm a fake?

"She thinks she can deceive us?" Anna laughed

At that moment all I wanted was for the floor to open up and swallow me.

I shouldn't have listened to Ciara; I should have followed my gut feelings; this was a trap.

"I see that she even went as far as wearing a dress similar to Serena's," Marco said.

Everyone laughed.

Marco was Marcel's immediate junior brother. I and Marco never got along, even when we were still together.

My gaze shifted to where Lorenzo senior sat quietly; his eyes were on me. I could see the pity in his eyes, but there was nothing he could do.

Was there nothing he could do?

Was he just trying to keep shut, so as not to hurt his family?

Just as I was about to look away, I saw him give a thumbs-up.

Suddenly, I felt bold and courageous.

I guess it was because I got the feeling that he wasn't in on it with them.

I took in a deep breath.

At least someone was on my side.

I began to laugh; it started with a low chuckle; my head was slightly bowed, and then the low chuckle graduated into an ominous laughter.

The Lorenzo's were taken aback.

"Oh my, to think that I actually believed the act."

The expression on their faces ere filled with confusion, I guess they weren't expecting me say anything.

"Hmm, where do I start from?" I said, placing my hands on my chin. "Okay, yeah... Marco," I said turning to his direction.

He had the 'what the hell' kinda look.

"So, my dress," I started, stretching it out a little "It's nothing compared to the dress Serena is wearing; if you open your eyes to see them clearly, you can tell. Besides that dress she's wearing is a dress I told Marcel about."

"What are you trying to say? That I took your dress?" Serena shot at me

"Oh no dear sister, but if that's how you see it, who am I to change your perspective."

She grunted and folded her arms.

"Mrs Riley, I must confess, you got me believing that I was still highly welcomed, and you made me believe that you didn't know about the status of our relationship. Kudos for that", I said, clapping my hands.

"Okay, that's enough, Diana; I won't have you talk to my family members anyhow."

My laughter faded as I straightened my posture, my sharp gaze scanning the room. Tension was evident in the room, and the surprised expressions on the faces of the Lorenzo's had begun to falter.

I could feel their unease, the way their confidence wavered slightly. It was clear that they hadn't expected me to behave that way.

I took a few steps forward, tilting my head and letting out a scoff.

"Tell me something," I said, my voice calm but laced with an edge. "Why didn't you see a problem with my adoption earlier?"

Everyone was quiet, Mrs Riley looked down at Serena, whose hands were still folded. Marco adjusted himself uncomfortably on his seat, while Marcel's gaze was fixed on me, his jaw clenched.

"You call me a fake, an impostor, as if I chose this life for myself," I continued, making sure my tone was steady. "The Kensington's chose me, raised me as their daughter legally. I never claimed to be something I wasn't. So why all this sudden performance, sudden switch of personalities? Why act as if I have been deceiving you all? Or was this how you all were? You've all just been pretending because you think I was their only child?"

Silence enveloped the room.

The weight of my words hung in the air.

I saw hesitation in their eyes for the first time, a crack in their carefully orchestrated humiliation

Mrs Riley finally broke the silence, her expression hardening as she tightened her grip on Serena's hands. "Oh child, I have always known that you couldn't be their real daughter; you look nothing like them", she said, her voice sharp. "You can never hide the truth, Diana, but it always comes out; you were nothing but a temporary replacement, and now the real heir has returned."

Serena smirked, charging forward with an aura of arrogance "You should have known that this day would come" she taunted "You were never truly one of the Kensington's"

My jaw tightened, but I refused to show weakness.

I couldn't afford to be weak amid ravening wolves. "I was the one who carried their name all these years " I leaned forward. "Where were you, Serena? If you are their so-called real daughter, why did it take this long for you to appear."

Serena’s smirk faltered for a split second, but Mrs Riley quickly butt in. "It doesn't matter", she snapped "What matters now is that she's here now; you were nothing more than a mistake her parents made, and I am sure they are going to correct this mistake", she added, looking at me from head to toe.

I could hear sounds of laughter from behind me as Anna and Marco exchanged surprised glances "Let me get this straight, Diana, you thought you belonged here?" Anna sneered, "How pathetic."

I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth.

Their words were cruel. But I couldn't afford to let them see me break.

That will be one pleasurable sight for them.

If they think that I would crumble, then they were mistaken

******

Deep down I was happy someone was standing up for me. But I knew better than to make it obvious.