?Chapter 577:


    Keeping her tone steady, Elliana answered, “I need to talk to Darin.”


    Wasting no time, Kiara pointed upstairs. “Your father’s in the study. He’s been up there all evening.”


    Without responding, Elliana walked straight toward the staircase and disappeared upstairs.


    As soon as Elliana was gone, Paige muttered through clenched teeth, “That woman. Someday I’ll bring her down!”


    Meanwhile, Darin was surprised to see Elliana walk into the study, forcing an awkward smile as she entered. “Elliana, is something wrong? What brings you here thiste?”


    Lowering herself into the chair across from him, Elliana stared at him, her face unreadable. “I have some questions for you, and I want the truth.”


    Nervousness flickered across Darin’s face. “Go ahead, Elliana. I promise I’ll tell you the truth.”


    Elliana’s voice was direct. “Are you actually my biological father?”


    The question seemed to hit Darin hard. “Why would you suddenly ask that?”


    Elliana’s steady eyes never wavered. “Just answer me!”


    A long moment of silence passed as Darin struggled for words. Elliana grew impatient. “If you won’t answer, I’ll just pull some of your hair and do a DNA test myself.”


    As soon as she reached out, Darin blurted out, “You are indeed not my biological daughter.”


    Elliana withdrew her hand, which had been poised to pull Darin’s hair, waiting for him to continue speaking.


    Darin looked at Elliana in silence for a while and let out a deep sigh. “I should have figured it out sooner. There’s no way someone as smart and remarkable as Rita could have a foolish daughter. Now you’re finally stepping out of the shadow I tried to keep over you.”


    Elliana’s voice was sharp and without warmth as she said, “Cut the nonsense.”


    Darin took a moment to collect his thoughts before he went on about his history with Rita. “Back when I finished college, twenty years ago to be exact, I had gone through my first heartbreak. My first love, Kiara, had chosen a wealthy older man over me because I had no money. I’d searched everywhere for work and ended up in a cramped space where I started a small clinic. Myck of experience meant the clinic soon faced closure, and I found myself at the lowest point in my life. Out of the blue, a gorgeous woman appeared at my rundown clinic and said she wanted to strike a deal.”


    Elliana chimed in, “That gorgeous woman was my mom?”


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    “That’s right.” Darin gave a nod. “Rita had offered me her knowledge of ancient remedies and medical techniques, promising that I could turn my life around and build a real career. Her only condition was that I had to marry her, so the baby she was carrying would have a proper name and family. Back then, I had been so desperate that I could barely afford food, so I took the offer. I used some favors to get Rita new identity papers and married her. After the marriage, she helped me set up Jones Pharmaceuticals. With her support, the business took off and became what it is now.”


    There were still a few truths Darin kept to himself. Even though Rita hadn’t loved him, he had genuinely cared for her and never once minded that she was pregnant with another man’s child. He admired her beauty and talent. But Rita had never shared his feelings. She had married him only because she needed a husband to give her child a proper identity. After marriage, they had behaved more like strangers living in the same house. She always kept her bedroom to herself, never letting him cross that boundary, and she seemedpletely unfazed by his rtionships with other women.


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