Chapter 67
Sloane's POV
Back at the estate, I immediately looked at Juan, hoping he'd throw Victoria and Scarlett out.
"Father, please get these two people out of here," I said, my voice carrying just the right amount of indignation. "I don't want to be bothered by these baseless rumors."
Juan nodded immediately, his face dark with irritation. "Of course. This is completely ridiculous."
But before Juan could have the guards remove Victoria and them, Eloise suddenly stepped forward with a smile on her face. "Wait," she said, raising one delicate hand. "I think we need to clear this up properly. Otherwise, it won't be good for Sophia's reputation. We can't let these people keep making these accusations against her."
Damn it. I watched Juan's expression as he considered her words, and I could see he was swayed.
"You're right," he said slowly. "Sophia is the Moon Goddess representative now. Her reputation is extremely important."
I really want to strangle Eloise right now. But I forced myself to agree. "I understand your concern, Eloise. But I think these people shouldn't be able to affect my reputation at all."
Eloise insisted, "We need to protect your image. There can't be any flaws."
Juan nodded in agreement and gestured to the servants. "Bring them in. Let's hear what they have to say."
Victoria and Scarlett were escorted into the sitting room, both of them wide-eyed at the luxury surrounding them. Victoria immediately started crying and complaining the moment she saw me, with Scarlett joining in beside her.
"Sloane!" Victoria cried loudly. "You not only ran away from your wedding and left me with debt, but now you've become a noble lady and won't even acknowledge us!"
I stayed calm. "We don't know each other. Why are you slandering me? Did someone put you up to this? If you have real evidence, show it. Don't just make wild accusations."
Juan's face darkened with anger. "If you can't provide proof, I'll make sure you learn what happens when you slander my daughter!"
Victoria flinched at Juan's threat, her confidence shaking. But Scarlett pulled out a crumpled photograph from her bag, holding it up with trembling hands.
"This is Sloane's photo!" she declared. "Look at it! She looks exactly the same!"
My heart skipped a beat as I quickly thought about what photos I might have left at that home, but I couldn't recall leaving any photos behind at all. So I glanced at the photo and almost laughed with relief. This is it? This is their most important evidence?
The photo was so blurry and faded you could barely make out any features. It looked like it had been through a washing machine.
"Dad, I've been away for ten years," I said, letting hurt and grievance fill my voice. "This is the treatment I get? A photo this unclear could be anyone who vaguely resembles me. They could find a dozen people who look similar and claim they're me."
Juan stepped closer to examine the photo, then scoffed. "This proves nothing. Completely useless."
Just as Juan was about to order the guards to remove them, one of the maids who had been standing by the wall suddenly spoke up.
"Master," she hesitated, "I also have doubts about Miss Sophia's identity! Miss Sophia was just a child when she was sent away, and she never went to school after that. She doesn't know medicine, but when she went shopping with Madam last time, she actually saved someone's life!"
Eloise also feigned surprise and said, "Oh right, there was something like that! That nurse even said Sophia seemed like a medical student!"
My heart rate spiked. I knew this would be a problem, but at least I wasn't performing surgery in front of them. "That wasn't medical skill," I said, trying to stay calm. "Just basic first aid knowledge. Anyone who's watched TV would learn these things. It's common sense."
I turned to Juan, expressing my impatience. "Father, I'm tired of these unreasonable accusations. If you believe them, you can go directly to the couple who raised me and ask them. Why listen to these people's nonsense?"
Right then, Eloise replied.
"Actually," she said with a face full of regret, "that couple has disappeared. Someone took them."
Juan's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How do you know this?"
Eloise looked completely innocent. "After Sophia became the Moon Goddess representative, I wanted to send them some gifts to thank them for raising Sophia all these years. But when I sent people to find them, they discovered the couple was gone."
She called over Max, who stepped forward with a concerned expression. "The couple appears to have been kidnapped," he reported.
Eloise shot me a meaningful look. "The timing is very suspicious."
What the hell? I was genuinely shocked. I hadn't had a chance to do anything to that couple yet. Who took them?
I acted even more surprised. "Dad," I said, "I've been busy preparing for the Moon Goddess blessing ceremony recently. You know I had nothing to do with this."
Juan looked frustrated, then looked at Victoria and the others. "None of this is sufficient evidence for me to believe anything. If there's no stronger proof, all of these people are going to pay for wasting my time."
That's when Zaid stepped forward with what could only be called a malicious look in his eyes.
"Since everyone has doubts," he said, "why don't we have Sophia and father test their blood relationship? We have a bloodline stone in the house. If they're really family, their blood will merge when placed on the stone."
But then I remembered something from my medical studies. There was a type of white stone powder that could interfere with blood scent recognition. And I'd seen decorative stones in my room made of exactly that material.
If I could sprinkle some of that powder on the bloodline stone... The scent characteristics of the blood would be masked, and even if Juan and I aren't blood-related, the stone wouldn't be able to detect it. I tried to maintain surface calm while my mind went into overdrive planning. The key is timing, sprinkle the powder on the stone's surface when no one's watching. If I do it right, our blood would appear to merge because of the interference.
This was my only chance. If the bloodline stone showed we were related, all the doubts would vanish. Victoria and Scarlett's accusations would be completely refuted, and my identity would be confirmed. But if it fails... I didn't dare think about the consequences.
I can only gamble now. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. I need Anna's help, but that means putting her at risk. If we're discovered... My heart pounded wildly. No, I can't think like that. There's no choice now, either succeed in proving my identity, or face the dungeon or worse after being exposed.
I had to trust Anna. She'd always served Sophia loyally, and she was clever enough to complete the task without being noticed. Let's do this.
Anna. I linked to Anna standing in the crowd. I need you to go to my room immediately. Find the white decorative stone on my dresser and scrape some powder from it. Bring it here in your palm without anyone noticing.
I thought Anna would ask questions, but she said nothing, just nodded subtly and slipped out of the room.
After I'd done this, I looked angrily at Zaid. "This is insulting! I'm Father's biological daughter. Why should I submit to this humiliation?"
Eloise immediately jumped in. "I think it's the best way to prove Sophia's innocence. Sophia, we can't let you continue to be slandered like this."
I could see Juan hesitating.
Anna returned a few minutes later, moving quietly along the edge of the room. I held my breath as she approached.
"Fine!" I said suddenly, throwing up my hands. "I'll take the test! But when it proves I'm real, I want these people severely punished for their lies!"
Juan nodded. "Agreed. If the test confirms you're my daughter, these accusers will face serious consequences."
Juan ordered a servant to fetch the bloodline stone. Nia returned carrying a milky white, semi-transparent stone about the size of my palm. According to tradition, it could detect blood relationships between family members.
"Anna," I called out, pretending to be dizzy from too much anger. "Come support me. I feel a bit faint."
Anna rushed to my side, and I gripped her hand tightly, feeling the stone powder she'd collected transfer to my palm.
Then Juan and I each pricked our fingers with a silver needle. I gripped Anna's hand tightly, feeling the stone powder in my palm, desperately searching for any chance to use it.
The room fell completely silent. Everyone held their breath, watching our every move. I scanned frantically, but Zaid was right there beside me, and Eloise's eyes never left my face. There was no way to sprinkle the powder without being caught.
We let our blood drop onto the stone. Two separate droplets hit the surface and just... sat there. No merging. No reaction. Nothing.
It's over. My heart plummeted as I stared at the separated blood. Of course it didn't work, I wasn't Juan's daughter. And now, with everyone watching me like hawks, I couldn't use the powder or fix this disaster.
I looked toward Juan, my heart heavy.
"Guards!" Juan's face went completely white, then flushed red with fury as he roared. "Arrest this impostor! Throw her in the dungeon! How dare she masquerade as my daughter!"
I suddenly felt ridiculous. Ever since I came back as Sophia, Juan seemed to treat me well, but apparently he never trusted me, or rather, never trusted Sophia. At Juan's command, the servants immediately rushed toward me, but I dodged them. I need to buy time. Maybe there's still a chance to turn this around. I feigned shock and disbelief as I lunged toward the bloodline stone.
"This can't be right!" I shouted, reaching for the stone. "Let me see—"
Zaid stepped forward with a triumphant sneer, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. "I knew you were fake! Now you'll pay for deceiving our family!"
He raised his hand, clearly intending to grab me and drag me away for punishment.
I dodged his hand and grabbed the stone, quickly trying to sprinkle the powder from my palm onto its surface. Just then, I noticed something strange. There was already a thin, almost invisible powdery substance on the stone's surface.
Wait... this powder... I paused, staring at the stone. Someone already sprinkled something on the stone!
A new plan formed in my mind. I didn't need to use my powder anymore, someone else had already done the work for me. This was actually perfect.
If someone had deliberately tampered with the bloodline stone, then this test itself was rigged! I could use this discovery to my advantage, claiming the test was invalid because of sabotage.
Might as well make the most of this. My brain raced frantically. Instead of trying to cheat, I could expose the cheating that had already been done.
"Wait!" I shouted, renewed fighting spirit and hope rising in my heart. "There's something wrong with this bloodline stone!"