Chapter 9

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."