118
Only a few schools had the privilege to recommend students to Tagaytay University at the age of fifteen, and Eloise was among those accepted. Because of this, she became known as the “genius beauty.”
But people quickly forget the past, especially when new gossip comes along. Soon, she was forgotten, and the praise that once surrounded her faded away.
At eighteen, her fate shifted again when it was revealed that she was not truly a Lopez. Instead of admiring her intelligence, people became more fascinated by the scandals between families. The label “fake daughter” became a stain on her name. As expected, many found satisfaction in that flaw in her life.
“There’s no such thing as a perfect person,” some would say. No matter how smart she was, being discovered as not the real daughter made her worth seem meaningless. People couldn’t erase the thought that she was only an adopted child who didn’t even know who her real parents were.
Those who once admired her now mocked her behind her back. When the Montes family canceled her engagement, her reputation fell even further.
But who would have thought she’d make a comeback after two years of being away? When she returned from abroad, the once “fake daughter” had become Mrs. Dominguez. Everyone was silenced. No one could say anything against her.
The ladies at the party remembered Tania’s words, that she had admired Eloise for a long time. In truth, many of them had been envious of her before. Some even wondered to themselves, “Why couldn’t my daughter have been like her?”
When they looked at Eloise again, their eyes no longer held only arrogance or ridicule. Now, there was a mix of admiration and respect.
“In that case, Cosmo must have been very good at keeping secrets back then,” one woman remarked, her tone sharp and cold.
Eloise turned toward her. It was obvious this lady did not approve of her.
“Wasn’t there gossip that Miss Baylon was romantically involved with Cosmo?” the woman added with a sly smile.
“That was fake news,” Tania immediately replied. “We shouldn’t believe in gossip so easily. Some people prefer stirring trouble over telling the truth.”
It was clear that Tania’s words carried a hidden message. Mrs. Pelayo didn’t respond further, only smiled. “Well, Cosmo’s with his wife now. We don’t really have the right to comment. Whoever he chooses to be with, that’s where his happiness should be.”
“Exactly,” Tania cut in. “So if I were you, I wouldn’t keep staring at Cosmo too much. Otherwise, I might think you’re trying to steal him from my daughter-in-law.”
Mrs. Pelayo raised an eyebrow. “You’re too much. If others overhear, they might twist your words.”
Eloise stayed quiet, but inside she was impressed. Tania was calm yet fearless, able to stand her ground without flinching at sly remarks.
After the party, Tania spoke to her privately. “Did you know that Mrs. Pelayo’s daughter was once head over heels for Cosmo? She chased after him for about two years, but he never gave her the time of day. And when Cosmo had his accident, their family decided not to force the matter anymore. They just sent her abroad.”
Eloise frowned slightly. “So that’s why she was making hints earlier.”
“Of course. It’s natural for mothers to think their child is the best. Now that she knows you and Cosmo have known each other for years and ended up together, she can’t help but compare you to her own daughter,” Tania explained.
Eloise didn’t respond, but she understood. If it had been her child who tried so hard only for another woman to end up with the man, it would sting too.
Tania continued, her tone edged with annoyance. “Do you know, I once tried to set Cosmo up with their daughter? But when they realized Cosmo wasn’t interested, they turned down the idea. They didn’t want him back then. Now, after your father secured the Bay Project through Cosmo, suddenly they all want to be friends again.”
Eloise looked at her in surprise. “So now they want to reconnect because of the project?”
Tania nodded. “News spreads fast. And when it’s a project worth two billion… who wouldn’t want a piece of that? Regret is real, hija.”
Eloise knew people envied her now that she was wealthy. But in truth, the opportunity had been offered to them before, they were the ones who refused it.
Before news of her marriage to Cosmo spread, most people saw him as a man no one paid attention to, someone nobody wanted to marry. That was why the revelation shocked everyone.
Eloise smiled. “Back then, they weren’t thinking about benefits. But now, it only shows how much they really love their children. And as for Arellano, my father got close to Dominguez for one reason, money,” she added.
Afterward, they went to Cosmo’s company to pick him up from work, then ate dinner together at a restaurant.
While waiting for their order, Eloise excused herself to the restroom. On her way back to their private room, she accidentally bumped into Elaine.
“When did you come back, Eloise?” Elaine asked, a little surprised but still smiling.
“Just last night,” Eloise replied, casually eyeing Elaine’s outfit. Everything she wore was designer. Even her bag alone was worth nearly a hundred thousand.
“Aren’t you Sasha’s assistant? I thought you didn’t want that anymore. Did you just come here for vacation?” Elaine pressed, clearly eager to pry.
“Are you really that interested in my life?” Eloise smiled faintly. “If you’ve got time, use it to fix yourself. Don’t waste it on me.”
Elaine’s smile stiffened. “What are you saying? We’re family.”
“Didn’t they already tell you I cut ties with the Lopez family? I’m no longer part of your family.” Eloise’s voice was flat, emotionless.
Elaine already knew the truth. The whole family did, but they would never admit it publicly.
“Eloise, don’t say things like that so carelessly. If someone overhears, they’ll say you’re ungrateful.”
Eloise only smiled, completely unbothered. “I don’t care. Are you done? Because I’m leaving.”
Elaine bit her lip, irritated by Eloise’s confidence, as if she was the one who owed her. Yet in truth, it was Eloise who had stolen her identity for eighteen years.
When Eloise returned to the room, Tania was busy chatting with Cosmo. She was telling him about what happened earlier, especially the incident with Mrs. Pelayo. She even mimicked her voice and mannerisms, which made Cosmo laugh.
After dinner, Tania’s driver came to pick her up, while Eloise and Cosmo went home together.
“Arellano… that project isn’t enough to satisfy his ambition. Now that everyone knows he’s your father-in-law, he’ll probably use that to get closer to your name,” Eloise complained, still annoyed at his greed.
He had already agreed to the deal before, yet now it seemed like he wanted to take even more.
“The project will run for another two to three years. As long as it’s ongoing, he won’t make any sudden moves,” Cosmo said, trying to calm his wife.
Eloise only wished the problem would end soon, but for now, all she could do was trust Cosmo.
Later that night, after getting ready for bed, Eloise remembered Miss Pelayo. While lying down, she asked, “You probably don’t even remember her anymore, do you? Was she pretty? She chased after you for years, and you never gave in?”
“She just made things difficult for me,” Cosmo replied, looking at her. “Mrs. Dominguez, you’re really nosy tonight. Do you want to know everything?”
“Can’t I ask?” Eloise raised a brow. “Everyone else asks me about it. Do you expect me to just act like I know nothing?”
“Alright, fine,” Cosmo sighed. “So what if she went after me? Does that mean I had to like her back? That’s not how it works.”
“Right, because back then, you only had eyes for Miss Baylon. You couldn’t see anyone else,” Eloise teased, her tone carrying a hint of sulkiness.
Cosmo laughed and pinched her cheek. “I didn’t know you could be this jealous.”
Her eyes sparkled. “I’m only human. And I’m a woman.”
“Really?” Cosmo teased. “Is it because your heart isn’t big enough… or because your heart only gets small when it comes to your man?”