Chapter 58 Chapter 58
Chapter 58 Chapter 58
Before everyone present, it was impossible to challenge Levie on why he had chosen to betray her. He knew the gravity of what was at stake and yet, went against her to help Averie. Sabrina planned to humiliate Averie and snatch every form of trust she’d managed to build with her new family, also to gauge their reaction to Felicia. Felicia had mentioned something about the Grahams taking her baby during her trance and she hoped to expose everything; hopefully to cause separation between her sister and Darian but unfortunately, none is working in her favor.
Dr. Levie cleared his throat, holding the mid air and tightly in his hand.
“The DNA result…” he began, his voice echoing in the hall and creating a suspense-filled effect “It shows no genetic match between Ms.Averie and the woman brought to this dinner.”
Low murmurs rippled around the table at the announcement. Sabrina staggered, eyes blinking as her face turned pale.
Her mother pressed her fingers to her lips in disbelief and Carmine’s mocking smirk evaporated.
Dr. Levie stepped forward and handed the result to Darian who scanned it with a controlled expression, his eyes flickering from the document to the fake woman and then to Averie, trying to piece everything together. With a measured breath, he passed the paper to his grandfather.
The old man’s jaw tightened as he read.
Darian leaned back in his chair, pinning Averie with a calm but firm gaze.
“Averie,” he said, voice deep and steady, “Explain yourself. Why does it feel like you and your family are on opposite sides of this?”
As if on cue, Averie’s throat tightened. Tears blurred her vision as she slowly walked toward the old man, her heels echoing gently across the marble, in preparation for her big acting.
She knelt beside him and held his hand.
“Grandfather…” she whispered, voice trembling. “I have been searching for my real mother for years. And all this time, I thought my foster parents were supporting me.”
She paused, letting a tear roll down her cheek.
“But instead… they were hiding a strange woman in the house. A woman they insisted was my mother. They never told me anything concrete. They kept her locked away, and I was confused… scared.”
Her foster parents stiffened in their seats, bewildered and caught off guard.
Averie continued, her voice breaking beautifully.
“I wanted to verify who she really was before bringing her into my life. Before bringing her to this family. That’s why I asked Dr. Levie for help. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone… especially you.” She sniffed, wiping a tear.
“And now this happens. Sabrina knew what she was doing. She wants to sabotage me.”
Her voice cracked, perfectly timed. “She’s always wanted to tear me down and I don’t know why” Averie began to sob softly.
Sabrina jumped from her seat.
“That’s a lie! I…you…she’s twisting everything!”
But the Quinns? They were beyond stunned. They didn’t even know when the lie shattered from truth. Averie was acting so convincingly, they even looked guilty.
The old man squeezed Averie’s hand, face softening with sorrow and frustration.
“Enough,” he said coldly. “Averie is distressed, and this dinner is ruined.”
He straightened himself on the seat, his brows setting in a hard line;
“I’m politely asking the Quinns to leave. This is a family dinner, not a circus.”
Sabrina’s mother gasped and her father flushed red with humiliation.
Averie lowered her head, as if apologizing on their behalf.
The Quinss rose in shame and left the mansion dripping with humiliation. Sabrina felt everyone’s judgment like knives in her skin, she couldn’t bring herself to look anyone in the eye before walking away.
The moment they drove off the estate, Sabrina’s father exploded.
“What the hell were you thinking? You embarrassed us in front of the Grahams! Do you have any idea what this means for our funding?!”
Her mother chimed in bitterly, rubbing her temples.
“Averie promised me weekly designer bags and accessories. Now that is gone! All because of your stupidity!”
Sabrina clenched the steering wheel, her vision blurring with rage.
Her father continued,
“And now she’s turned against us. Do you know what that means? That money…”
“STOP!” Sabrina screamed.
The car swerved violently to the side of the road as she slammed the brakes.
Her parents froze—shocked.
Sabrina gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles were white.
“All you ever care about,” she shouted, trembling, “are MATERIAL THINGS! Bags! Funding! Clothes! Money!”
Her voice cracked with long-suppressed emotion.
“You don’t care about me. You don’t care about anyone unless the person benefits you!”
Her parents stared at her, genuinely taken aback.
She laughed, a broken, exhausted laugh.
“I made a mess, yes. But not once have either of you asked me if I’m okay. If I’m hurting. If I feel alone. You just blame and demand.”
Before either could respond, Sabrina grabbed her bag, pushed the door open, and stepped out into the night.
“Sabrina! Get back here!” her father barked.
“Sabrina…please!” her mother called.
But Sabrina didn’t turn back. Instead, she flagged down a taxi, eyes red, makeup streaking down her cheeks, and climbed in.
Sabrina’s tears fell the moment she slid into the backseat of the taxi. She covered her mouth, sobbing quietly until her throat burned. The humiliation, betrayal, and her huge loss.
She felt like she was falling apart.
^
Sabrina ended up at a dim, smoky bar, not caring where the taxi dropped her. By the time she entered the bar, she was shaking. She sat at the counter and ordered shot after shot.
She drank until her fingers grew numb and her vision blurred.
Nine, ten shots without any care in the world. But as she lifted the eleventh shot, a hand closed around her wrist. It was firm.
She blinked, disoriented. And there he was— Tyler.
Tyler stood tall with an expression so unreadable but eyes full of storm. He gently pried the glass from her fingers.
“That’s enough, Sabrina,” he said, voice low and steady. “You’re done.”
She opened her mouth to protest, half drunk but instead, she broke. Her hand shaking as she whispered, voice cracking:
“Why does everything keep falling apart?”
Tyler didn’t answer.
He just pulled the stool next to her and placed himself firmly by her side.