Chapter 203 She Deserves to Spend the Rest of Her Life in Prison
Milan stepped forward quickly, adjusting his glasses as he leaned in close to examine Emma's face with intense scrutiny.
"It's... it's really her..."
He murmured to himself, his eyes shining with excitement.
"She looks just like my daughter... This is my precious granddaughter..."
His voice was filled with tender affection as he asked, "Olivia, do you remember Grandpa?"
Emma's lips moved, but no words came out. Her eyes simply turned red with unshed tears.
"No!"
Zoe finally snapped out of her shock, letting out a piercing scream.
"This is impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
She turned to Nicholas, shrieking like a madwoman.
"I'm Ms. White! Nicholas, what the hell are you talking about?"
"My name is Olivia! I'm the real Olivia!"
"It could never be Emma!"
Just as tensions reached a breaking point, Charlie entered from outside.
He walked straight through the crowd, pulling a report from his briefcase and placing it squarely in front of Luna and Oliver.
"Mr. White, Mrs. White."
Charlie's voice was clear and steady, carrying absolute authority.
"This is the DNA test report comparing Ms. Rodriguez and Mrs. White."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Zoe's now-pale face.
"As for the previous report that showed a match, that was only possible because someone substituted Ms. Rodriguez's blood sample and gave it to Karen. It was an elaborate shell game."
He then pointed decisively at the gold pendant around Zoe's neck, carved with angel wings.
"And this family heirloom also belongs to Ms. Rodriguez."
"Karen had fostered Ms. Rodriguez for four years before heartlessly abandoning her, but she kept this pendant because she thought it was invaluable. She never dreamed it was a White family heirloom."
Charlie's words exploded like thunder in every guest's ear.
He immediately pulled out his phone and played a video.
Karen's weathered, calculating face appeared on the screen, her timid voice echoing through the hall.
"Yes, Emma wore this pendant as a child. I saw the quality was good, so I... I kept it..."
The truth was finally out.
The hall fell into stunned silence, followed by an eruption of murmurs.
No one was more shaken than Louis, whose body trembled uncontrollably with excitement.
So Emma really was Olivia!
His Olivia!
He spunned around and whispered urgently to his assistant, who immediately understood and hurried away.
"No! That's not true!"
Zoe completely lost it, rushing to Luna's side like a madwoman, grabbing her arm desperately as she sobbed hysterically.
"Mother! I'm Olivia! I'm your daughter! Don't let them fool you! I'm the real one!"
But Luna's entire attention was now fixed on Emma across the room.
Her gaze couldn't move away—all she wanted was to rush over and hold that child tight in her arms.
"His DNA is fake!" Zoe shrieked, seeing that no one was listening. "She can't possibly be Olivia! It's absolutely impossible!"
"Even if his is fake, I have another one."
A cold male voice cut through the chaos as Luke stepped forward from nowhere.
He looked down at Zoe with eyes devoid of any warmth.
"I had it done personally. Emma and I do share a blood relationship."
"But you and I? We're not related at all."
Luke nodded to his assistant, who immediately presented two fresh DNA reports to Luna and Oliver.
This settled any remaining doubt.
If Luke himself confirmed it, how could it be false?
Luke's gaze was as cold as ice picks as he stared at Zoe.
"You probably didn't know this, but the White family has a genetic condition that makes us unable to tolerate anesthetic drugs safely. You had quite a bit of anesthesia during your stitches the other day."
Zoe's mind went completely blank.
All color drained from her face, her lips trembling as she couldn't squeeze out a single word in her defense.
"Olivia..."
Luna's eyes instantly filled with tears, and she could no longer hold back. She stumbled toward Emma.
"You're my Olivia..."
She reached out with trembling hands, wanting to embrace her.
But Emma instinctively stepped back, avoiding her touch.
That small movement pierced Luna's heart like a knife, causing her such pain that she could barely breathe.
Her heart filled with self-blame and regret.
This child looked so much like her—how could she have been deceived? How could she not have trusted her instincts and failed to recognize her own daughter?
Emma didn't look at Luna. Her gaze shot straight to Nicholas, her eyes also reddening and filling with tears.
Her voice was as cold as winter ice.
"So you knew all along. You discovered my identity, but you said nothing."
Nicholas's tall frame stiffened, his throat working as his voice came out dry.
"Emma, I'm sorry. I didn't tell you immediately because I was afraid you'd be in danger."
"Danger?" Zoe's scalp prickled at those words.
She whirled toward Nicholas, screaming frantically, "So you sacrificed me instead? You let me take her place, let me fall into those kidnappers' hands! Nicholas, you actually made me suffer like that for her!"
Her world completely crumbled in that moment.
Nicholas glanced at her coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"You impersonated her as my savior and enjoyed four years of affection that rightfully belonged to her. This is what you owe her."
"What I owe her?" Zoe laughed maniacally, as if she'd heard the biggest joke in the world.
"I was the one who saved you! I pulled you out of the water!"
But Nicholas no longer looked at her. He turned his head and gazed deeply at Emma, his eyes filled with unmeltable tenderness.
"It was Emma."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire hall.
"She was the one who desperately pulled me up from 130 feet underwater. The person who truly saved me was her."
These words sent shock waves through the entire gathering.
So this newly recognized White family heiress was also Mr. Harrison's actual savior!
Emma looked at him, and tears finally spilled from her red-rimmed eyes.
So he knew.
He knew everything.
Evelyn's eyes widened in amazement—this bastard CEO had finally come to his senses.
"No! That's not true!" Zoe completely broke down, collapsing on the floor in tears.
"I was the one who saved you! I'm the White family heiress! You're supposed to marry me! How could it be her... how could it be her..."
"Security." Oliver finally spoke, his voice ice-cold. "Throw this woman out."
Two burly bodyguards immediately stepped forward, flanking Zoe from both sides.
"She's not going anywhere."
Nicholas suddenly spoke up. He released Emma and turned around, each word dripping with poison.
"She and I have some unfinished business."
"She was the one who orchestrated Emma's kidnapping, and she also stole classified information from my company and sold it to our competitors."
"So she'll be spending the rest of her life behind bars, where she belongs."
The crowd gasped again in shock.
This woman was absolutely vicious! Kidnapping, corporate espionage—she'd committed every evil act imaginable.
Indeed, Nicholas had left so abruptly at noon because his secretary had rushed over in a panic with a flash drive.
While cleaning out old items from the CEO's office, the secretary had accidentally discovered this drive. After viewing its contents and realizing the severity of the situation, she'd immediately flown to Empire City personally.
When Nicholas saw what was on it, his rage nearly made him crush his phone on the spot.
All the suffering Emma had endured was orchestrated by Zoe behind the scenes. She'd even had the audacity to steal FD data and give it to Matthew.
And he'd ended up suspecting Emma instead.
"It wasn't me!"
Zoe shook her head frantically, making one last desperate struggle.
"It was Matthew! He did it! I didn't steal anything!"
She then collapsed to her knees and crawled toward Nicholas, clutching at his trouser leg as she begged pitifully.
"Nicholas, please forgive me. I can't go to prison... please, help me..."
Nicholas looked down at her pathetic state and coldly removed the jade butterfly pendant from her neck, uttering just two words.
"Take her away."
Two bodyguards dragged Zoe away without mercy.
She screamed and struggled, even losing one of her high heels in the process, utterly disheveled.
The higher she'd been lifted before, the harder her fall now.
Such an ending could only inspire pity.
This recognition ceremony had turned into the most unexpected dramatic reversal of the year.
Nicholas walked back to Emma's side and said quietly.
"Emma, this is the justice I promised you. I won't let anyone who hurt you get away with it."
But Emma felt no joy at seeing her enemies punished.
She looked at him, those beautiful eyes now cold as ice.
On stage, Oliver's voice rang out again. He'd regained his composure and was trying to salvage the situation.
"Tonight's drama has been quite a spectacle for you all. But the result is good—the White family has finally found our true precious daughter."
He wore a fatherly smile as he extended his hand toward Emma.
"Olivia, come here, come to Daddy."
But Emma didn't even spare him a glance.
She simply stood there, making no move to approach, and said coolly, "I'm sorry."
With that, she turned and walked toward the ballroom exit without looking back.
"Emma!" Nicholas immediately followed.
"Olivia!" Luke pursued as well.
After a moment's hesitation, Evelyn hurried after them.
Oliver stood frozen on stage, his smile stuck awkwardly at the corners of his mouth.
He'd never imagined she would simply run away in front of all these people.
But he quickly regained his composure and spoke into the microphone to smooth things over.
"Olivia is probably just overwhelmed with emotion. Please don't mind her reaction. She's going to change clothes now, and the formal ball will begin in thirty minutes. Please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable."
After stepping down from the stage, Mr. Johnson immediately confronted Luna with a stern lecture.
"Look what you've done! You couldn't even recognize your own biological daughter! How could you not break that child's heart? I don't care what it takes—you must win back my granddaughter!"
Luna kept wiping away tears, sobbing as she nodded.
"Yes... I understand, Dad. I'll... I'll definitely bring her back."
The ballroom's commotion was shut out by the heavy doors.
Emma burst outside and leaned against an icy pillar, her stomach churning violently.
She bent over and retched severely, her throat burning as tears sprang to her eyes from the discomfort.
The scene inside had been too intense.
Those repeated calls of "Olivia" and "Ms. White" had hammered at her heart like heavy blows.
Nicholas followed her out and turned pale with fear at her condition.
He quickly removed his suit jacket and draped it over her trembling shoulders, still warm with his body heat.
"Emma, are you alright?"
His voice was full of anxiety.
"What's wrong?"
Emma violently pushed his hands away, and the jacket fell to the ground.
Her eyes were red as she stared at him fiercely.
"Nicholas, you promised you wouldn't hide anything from me anymore. Why did you stage this whole performance?"
Nicholas was completely stunned.
He'd imagined countless scenarios—she might be surprised, delighted, throw herself into his arms.
He'd never expected such a strong, painful reaction.
His throat worked as he finally managed, "I'm sorry."
Emma turned away, another wave of nausea overwhelming her as she covered her mouth and retched again.
Just then, a figure rushed over like a whirlwind.
"Don't touch her!"
Evelyn pushed Nicholas away with surprising force.
"Emma, it's me, it's me."
She held Emma tightly, supporting her with her own body.
Emma's tears burst forth like a dam breaking, unable to hold back any longer. Whether from anger at being deceived, shock at the truth about her identity, or some inexplicable sense of grievance, she felt miserable beyond words.
Nicholas stood to the side, watching the two girls embrace, feeling like his heart was blocked.
He spoke again, his voice hoarse.
"I'm sorry. I should have prepared you mentally. Tonight was too sudden."
Emma looked up at him through her tears, and the cold night wind made her shiver uncontrollably.
Her stomach churned again.
Seeing her distress, Nicholas's heart ached terribly, and he instinctively moved to embrace her.
But Evelyn glared at him like a protective mother hen, freezing him in place with just one look.
She quickly pulled something wrapped in candy paper from her small bag, unwrapped it, and popped it into Emma's mouth.
"Suck on this—it'll help."
The sweet and sour taste dissolved on her tongue, actually suppressing that nauseating feeling somewhat.
Luke, watching from nearby, took in this entire scene.
His pupils contracted slightly.
The candy Evelyn had given her was anti-nausea medication specifically for pregnant women.
Could Olivia also be...?
"Are you having stomach problems? Let me take you to the hospital." Nicholas looked frantic, still trying to move closer.
Luke glanced at this helplessly anxious man and mentally cursed, 'Idiot.'
He collected himself and stepped forward, making his voice extremely gentle.
"Evelyn, could you let me talk to her alone?"
Evelyn immediately bristled, pushing him away directly.
She shouted angrily, "Luke, let me tell you something—whether or not she becomes Ms. White is her decision, and no one can force her!"
"You people lost her in the first place. She wandered Emerald City for a whole year, in rags and starving. I was the one who took her in. She's a member of the Jackson family now!"
As she spoke, Evelyn's eyes also reddened.
Luke immediately softened his approach, hurrying to placate her.
"Don't get upset, don't get upset—be careful or you'll start throwing up too."
He used the word "too," but Nicholas completely missed the implication.
The wind was strong outside, and he instinctively took off his own jacket to put around her.
Evelyn twisted away to avoid it, stubbornly refusing.
Luke sighed helplessly and turned to Emma, his gaze filled with earnestness and gentleness.
"Olivia, could I speak with you privately?"
Eventually, Nicholas and Evelyn were pulled aside.
Luke was about to reveal to her the shocking truth about how she'd been lost...