Her heart turned to ash. Even if she couldn’t believe it, the truth was undeniable. The young woman standing before her was the legendary genius, the youngest professor in Stanford’s history.
At this point, everyone understood. They all recognized Leo. It seemed the eldest Song son wasn’t the disgr ace after all. They hadn’t recognized a diamond in the rough; they had mistaken a diamond for a worthless
pebble.
Hugo looked at me, his eyes pleading. “Brother, I know you don’t like me, but we are still family.”
“They’re just kids, brother. If you’re angry, take it out on me.” He forced a gentle smile and turned to my child-
ren. “It’s all a misunderstanding.”
“It’s cold outside, everyone, please, come in and rest. Now that my brother is finally home, we should celebr
ate as a family.”
“Yes, Dad, it’s all just a big misunderstanding,” Lara and Isaac echoed hastily.
My father looked at the pile of expensive gifts, his eyes filled with a mixture of greed and regret. “You haven’t been home in so long. Your mother misses you. Stay and eat before you go.”
I looked at them and let out a cold, hard laugh.
“Since Mr. Song has already disowned me, I’m sure these gifts are beneath his notice.”
“As for dinner… I’ll leave you to enjoy it.”
I never expected the first person to try and make peace would be Bianca.
Her eyes were a swirling vortex of greed and some other, unreadable emotion. “Victor, I know I wronged you. You’ve suffered all these years.”
3
“I just want to make it right. Anything you want, as compensation, it’s yours.”
Chapter 2
1 just smiled. I knew exactly what she was after.
17:02
Before she could finish, Hugo rushed out from behind her, his eyes wild with desperation and resentment. He glanced at the watching guests, gritted his teeth, and cried out.
“Brother, for years I took care of this family for you! I raised your children for you! Even if there was no merit, there was effort!”
“I know you hate me for taking your place!”
“You can hate me, that’s fine! But Mom, Dad, the children… they’re innocent! Why are you destroying them?”
“They are your own flesh and blood!”
I looked at him, my expression unreadable, a mocking smile playing on my lips at his shameless performan
“Hugo, are you sure?”
“Are you really sure you were raising my children for me? Are you sure they are my flesh and blood?”
A collective gasp went through the room. The guests clutched their pearls, having stumbled upon the scan dal of the century.
“Dad, what are you talking about…?” Lara cried out, her face deathly pale.
Claire, Leo, and Talia exchanged grim glances.
“I thought we agreed not to tell Dad about this,” Talia whispered to Leo.
“It wasn’t us,” Leo murmured back. “He’s been looking at old photos for days… I thought he was just being
nostalgic.”
A bitter irony twisted inside me. If Talia hadn’t dragged me for a full physical a few months ago, I would have never known. Never known that my dear wife had secretly arranged for me to have a vasectomy years ago. was physically incapable of having children.
Pulling on that thread unraveled the whole truth.
I had originally come today simply to fulfill a final duty to my parents, to cut ties quietly. They had, after all raised me.
But now? Now, there was no need for quiet.
My father stepped forward. “Victor, have you lost your mind? You say one more crazy thing, and I swear I’ll-‘
