Urban Romance

Benedict and Sapphire froze, the blood draining from their faces.

"How is that possible? We did a second DNA test on the spot!"

The officer's expression remained impassive. "She hid strands of Natalie's hair in advance to slip through."

Benedict's hands began to shake. "That's impossible! We even verified it with the old nurse from the hospital back then! She said she personally saw the nanny switch the two babies!"

The officer let out a quiet sigh. "Lilian Cole, Zia's biological mother, did intend to switch the infants, but she was caught in time by the doctor on duty. She never succeeded.

"The old nurse only passed by the doorway. She saw Lilian put a baby down, but didn't see the full situation. Before you found her, Zia visited her first. She's old, and her memory is easily distorted."

Zia's legs went weak.

How could the police have uncovered even this?

She had assumed the po

The officer didn't say another word. With a sharp click, the cuffs locked, and Zia was led out of the banquet hall, her body slumping like a rag doll.

Benedict and Sapphire stood frozen, their faces drained of color, chills crawling their spines.

If Natalie really was their biological daughter…

What on earth had they done to her?

They'd believed Zia's lies, ignored Natalie's pleas, beaten her a hundred times in punishment, cruelly cast her out, handed over the fruits of her decade-long efforts to Zia, and even forced her toward prison!

Looking at the banquet hall in chaos, Lucas swallowed hard as the truth hit him.

Under the harsh, pale lights, his face was ghostly white.

It was over. The alliance with the Shaw family was ruined.

Natalie was the true heir, and what had he done?

He'd been the first to hurt her. He had helped Zia track down the old nurse for false testimony and lo

The birthday banquet for the Shaw family's heiress was held at the most luxurious hotel in the entire Juville.

Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow across the ballroom, and the air buzzed with the mingling of high society elites.

Zia appeared in a white dress, linking arms with Benedict and Sapphire. They emerged amid a sea of adoring attention.

Reporters surged forward, and cameras were flashing nonstop. All were desperate to capture the face of the Shaw family's sole heir.

"So this is Zia, the Shaw family's successor? She looks so angelic!"

"I heard she's a genius researcher at Juville Medical School and is about to further her studies at Hansford!"

"The Shaw family has built their empire on medical technology. Looks like they're about to dominate the entire market!"

Suddenly, a reporter forced their way through the crowd and asked, "Ms. Shaw! Your recently published research has already appeared abroad under the name Natalie Shaw. Why is that?"

Zia's expression froze.

Benedict's face darkened. "Natalie is a fraud who stole my daughter's life. It's no surprise she would plagiarize her research as well."

"But this morning, we contacted Hansford University. They said Ms. Shaw has already given up her placement and is departing to join the Doctors Without Borders project in Middleton. If that's the case, why are you still here?" the reporter questioned.

Wasn't Natalie supposed to be escorted to prison today? Since when did she go to Middleton?

"We suspect academic fraud. Ms. Shaw, could you explain the research you published last month on Nature?" the reporter pressed.

Zia's face turned deathly pale. She hadn't even been attending classes. How could she possibly explain any research? Her fingers clenched the fabric of her dress as she shot Benedict and Sapphire a desperate look.

Benedict's face turned grim, and he raised his hand sharply.

"This isn't an academic forum. Security, please remove any reporters asking irrelevant questions!"

"So she won't answer? Then it must be true!"

"A rich heiress faking medical research, too? Who would dare trust doctors like that?"

"I heard Lucas used to be engaged to Natalie, and now he's with Zia instead. She's really bold!"

Gritting her teeth, Zia ignored Benedict's attempt to stop her and shouted back, "You're all talking nonsense! Natalie is the fraud! She's immoral, a liar, and a woman who seduces men.

"Today, for the sake of the Shaw family's reputation, I'm exposing her true colors and cutting ties with her completely!"

Smugly, she clapped her hands and looked back toward the wings.

Lucas nodded and clicked open Natalie's private video.

Nelson grabbed his wrist just before he hit play, his voice urgent. "Do we really have to do this? What will Natalie do afterward?

"If you want revenge, there are other ways—"

Lucas shoved him away. "Get lost. Don't forget that Zia is the Shaw family's only heir now!"

Nelson shut his eyes tightly.

But what filled his ears wasn't Natalie's moans but Zia's vicious voice.

"Those two bastards from the Moore family..."

Lucas and Nelson's pupils contracted violently as they froze in place.

Lucas snapped back to his senses and tried to shut the video down, but the computer was completely unresponsive, as if infected by a virus.

The room erupted into chaos.

Zia stood there in sheer panic, her hands shaking. "That's not my voice! Don't listen to it!"

One by one, the villagers of Cedar Ridge gave their statements on tape.

Finally, the screen froze on a black-and-white image of a barren grave.

Just as the video ended, the police stormed in, holding an arrest warrant.

"Regarding the murder of the Sinclairs, the investigation has produced conclusive evidence. Zia Shaw, you're under arrest. Please come with us."

Benedict and Sapphire panicked.

Wasn't this all supposed to be settled? How could this be happening?

"You can't take her! Zia is our only daughter!"

The officer's expression remained cold as he pulled out another document. "There's one more thing you have the right to know. Zia's DNA test was fabricated. Your biological daughter… is Natalie Shaw."


Benedict and Sapphire froze, the blood draining from their faces.

"How is that possible? We did a second DNA test on the spot!"

The officer's expression remained impassive. "She hid strands of Natalie's hair in advance to slip through."

Benedict's hands began to shake. "That's impossible! We even verified it with the old nurse from the hospital back then! She said she personally saw the nanny switch the two babies!"

The officer let out a quiet sigh. "Lilian Cole, Zia's biological mother, did intend to switch the infants, but she was caught in time by the doctor on duty. She never succeeded.

"The old nurse only passed by the doorway. She saw Lilian put a baby down, but didn't see the full situation. Before you found her, Zia visited her first. She's old, and her memory is easily distorted."

Zia's legs went weak.

How could the police have uncovered even this?

She had assumed the police would at most trace her parents' deaths. As long as she carried the Shaw name, she believed she

Chapter 10