I Took the Fortune, She Took the Slums

In that instant, after the car door closed, isolating that absurd farce, the awkward atmosphere inside the car became impossible to mask.

My mother, Elizabeth Turner, remained silent by my side after the car set off. Meanwhile, my father, Isaac Sherwood, kept his hands on the wheel as he stole a glance at me through the rearview mirror, a swirl of conflicting emotions visible in that glance.

"Rosalyn…" Dad began, but trailed off, finding himself at a loss for words.

I raised my head and met his gaze. "I'm fine, Dad."

I figured they probably thought that someone who had just learned she'd been switched at birth 18 years ago and was meeting her biological parents under such circumstances should have broken down or caused a scene, rather than remaining as calm as I was.

It wasn't long before the car pulled smoothly into the hillside villa area and stopped in front of a brightly lit building. The butler, Liam Barton, was already waiting at the entrance. He respectfully opened the car door and said, "Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood, and Ms. Rosalyn."

He still addressed me the same way, but there was a hint of detachment in his voice.

Once more, I stepped into the home where I had lived for 18 years, where everything looked familiar but felt entirely foreign.

I noticed that dinner had already been laid out; the long dining table was filled with exquisite dishes. I had just instinctively taken my seat when Liam suddenly spoke in a calm, deliberate tone.

"Your seat is right over there, Ms. Rosalyn," Liam said, pointing to the far end of the dining table—a seat normally reserved for guests—near the kitchen entrance.

Dad's expression instantly hardened. "What do you think you're doing, Liam?"

Liam kept a respectful posture and bowed slightly. "You and Ms. Rosalyn are not related by blood, Mr. Sherwood; thus, the rules of the household should be gradually adjusted going forward.

"Your biological daughter, Ms. Phoebe, will return one day, so we couldn't possibly mistreat the true heiress of the Sherwood family, Mr. Sherwood."

Mom's breathing hitched for a moment, her fingertips turning white as she gripped her handkerchief tightly.

"How insolent of you!" Dad roared, slamming his hand on the table.

Liam remained composed, keeping his head lowered. "I'm doing this for the sake of the Sherwood family, Mr. Sherwood. If an adopted daughter of questionable or illegitimate standing holds the position of the heiress of the Sherwood family, it would reflect poorly on the family's reputation if it were made public."

I didn't look at Mom's and Dad's reactions and went straight to the seat at the far end. I pulled out the chair and sat, saying, "Liam is right."

I paused briefly, then echoed Liam's sentiment. "It's only right for someone to have a legitimate status."

In that instant, everyone was stunned. Liam clearly hadn't anticipated such a reaction, leaving him completely at a loss for words for a moment.

I took my seat before anyone else, picked up the cutlery, and took a bite of the food. "I'm hungry, so let's eat."

It was a meal that no one could properly enjoy.

I returned to my bedroom that evening, only to stop dead in my tracks the moment I pushed the door open.