As the first rays of sunlight slipped into her room, Kate’s eyes fluttered open. Her morning began like it did every day—with purpose, precision, and order.

She quickly got out of bed and made it perfectly, smoothing each corner and fluffing each pillow until it looked flawless.

In her pristine room, every item was in its rightful place, from her books aligned on the shelf to the shoes organized by color and size.

Today, she opted for a tailored navy-blue blazer and skirt with a crisp white blouse.

She pinned back her hair, making sure not a strand was out of place. She looked at herself in the mirror, assessing her reflection critically.

Her parents would approve. Today, of all days, she needed to look her best.

When she entered the kitchen, her parents, Julia and Charles, were already seated, their backs straight and their expressions as calm and composed as ever.

They were already halfway through their breakfast, everything laid out in precise order—scrambled eggs, toast, fruit, and coffee.

The Longstaff family didn’t do anything halfway. They lived by schedules, routines, and perfection.

As Kate joined them, her mother, Julia, cast a quick glance at her.

“Kate, after breakfast, check for stains on your clothes and adjust your makeup,” Julia said smoothly, her eyes barely lifting from her plate. “It’s a bit… bold for today.”

“Yes, Mother,” Kate replied, not daring to argue. She picked up her fork, though her stomach was tight with nerves.

Today, she would be meeting with the board of directors.

She could feel the pressure of her family’s expectations weighing on her, as if their gazes were on her every step. Everything she did would reflect on the Longstaff family.

“Katherine,” her father, Charles, spoke up, his tone controlled and steady.

“Today is not only important for your future but for the entire family. I expect you to make us proud, not to embarrass the Longstaff name in front of the board.”

Kate nodded, her throat tight.

Her parents expected her to be perfect at all times, and for the most part, she’d managed. But today was different.

She couldn’t shake the feeling of dread building up in her chest, a feeling she couldn’t ignore.

Charles noticed her hesitation, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Is something wrong, Kate? You’ve barely touched your breakfast,” he commented, his voice cool.

She looked down at her plate, pushing the food around a little.

“Dad… I… I’ve been thinking. Maybe I should reschedule my interview. I don’t feel ready…”

“Nonsense,” Charles replied firmly, his voice growing colder.

“Everything has been planned down to the last detail. You’re an adult now, and it’s time you learn the responsibilities of this family. One day, you’ll run this company. You need to start preparing now.”

Kate felt her heart sink. The path her parents had laid out for her felt like a wall closing in on all sides. She took a shaky breath.

“But… what if I don’t want to do this?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and yet, in the silent dining room, it felt loud and bold.

Her father’s hand slammed against the table, making the plates rattle.

“Don’t start this again,” he snapped, his face stern.

“I don’t want to hear it. We’re a family, Kate. You were born into this family, and you will do what’s best for it. If you can’t accept that, you can pack your things and leave.”

Kate flinched at his words, feeling a sting of shame mixed with anger. She wanted so badly to say something, to speak up for herself, but she knew how it would end.

She’d learned long ago that challenging her parents led nowhere.

Her voice was steady but soft as she replied, “I’m sorry, Dad. I won’t mention it again.”

Kate stood outside the towering office building, her heart thumping in her chest. Her fingers were wrapped tightly around her phone, almost as if it was her lifeline, something steady to hold onto.

But today, that confidence just wasn’t there. Instead, she was overwhelmed by a wave of doubt and guilt that wouldn’t go away.

She felt torn between the person her parents wanted her to be and the person she felt she was—someone she wasn’t even sure she understood yet.

Sometimes, she thought she was just going through the motions, living a life for them, not for her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice, hoarse and filled with disbelief. “Rosa? Is that you? My dear Rosa!”

Kate turned to see a man, unkempt and dressed in shabby clothes, standing just a few feet away.

Without warning, he stepped closer and wrapped her in a hug, his rough hands clutching her tightly.

Stunned, Kate pulled away, staring at the stranger.

“Who… who are you? I’m not Rosa! You must have me mixed up with someone else.”

“No, it’s you. I would know you anywhere, Rosa! I would recognize that birthmark on your neck. I remember the first time I saw it.”

Kate’s hand instinctively went to her neck, feeling the familiar mark there. It was small, something she rarely thought about.

But this stranger—a man she had never seen—knew about it. She felt a chill run through her as she demanded, “How do you know that? Who are you?”

The man took a shaky breath, his voice softening.

“Rosa, my dear, I know this must sound strange, but… I’m Eric. I’m your father.”

There was no way this man could be her father. It had to be some kind of mistake.

“That’s impossible,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “My parents are Charles and Julia Longstaff. They’ve always been my parents.”

A look of sadness crossed the man’s face.

“Charles and Julia… they’re thieves, that’s who they are. Your mother Lily and I… we both worked for them. I was their gardener, and Lily was their cook. If we hadn’t accepted their offer… none of this would have happened.”

Kate watched in stunned silence as the man’s voice broke, tears now streaming down his face.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “What offer?”

Eric looked at her, his eyes pleading.

“They offered us money—money to buy you. It was something like a surrogacy agreement. They knew we were desperate, that we needed the money, and they offered us a way out. We were such fools to believe it would be simple.”

Kate’s mind raced. “But… if that was the plan, why am I here? Why didn’t you keep me?”

“Everything seemed fine at first,” he explained, his voice thick with regret.

“They took care of Lily during the pregnancy, made sure she had everything she needed. But as her due date got closer, she changed her mind. She didn’t want to give you up anymore. She loved you too much, and so did I. We wanted to be a family.”

“No one has the right to take a child from their mother,” Kate said, her voice filled with conviction.

“No contract can make someone give up their baby.”

Eric nodded sadly.

“That’s what we believed too. But during childbirth… Lily died. And they took you. I tried to see you, to hold onto you, but they pushed me away. They told me I had no right, and then… they made sure I stayed out of your life.”

Kate’s heart ached as she watched this man—her supposed father—break down before her. She had so many questions, so much confusion.

Could this really be true? Her mind screamed that it couldn’t be, that it was impossible. Yet something in the man’s voice, in the pain she saw in his eyes, felt real.

“I… I don’t know if I believe you, but I want to hear more. Let me… let me talk to them first.”

They exchanged phone numbers, and with a promise to call him soon, Kate walked away, her heart and mind in turmoil.

As soon as Kate stepped into the office building, her parents, Charles and Julia, were already striding toward her with stern expressions.

“Where have you been?” Charles’s voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing as he checked his watch. “You’re almost half an hour late!”

Kate steadied herself, the weight of everything she’d learned crashing over her again. “Dad, Mom, I need to talk to you… This is important.”

Julia shook her head, waving her hand as if to brush Kate’s words away.

“If this is another one of your whims, Kate, don’t start. You’re going to that interview, and that’s final!”

“Am I… am I even your real daughter?”

After a stunned silence, Julia tried to keep her composure.

“What are you talking about, dear?” Her voice was controlled, but Kate could see the flicker of fear in her eyes. “Of course, you’re our daughter!”

“Then who are Eric and Lily?”

At the mention of those names, Charles’s face hardened.

“Where did you hear about them?” he demanded, his tone suddenly colder.

Kate took a step back. “So it’s true? They worked for you? And… and they’re my real parents?”

“It’s not that simple,” Charles replied, a trace of defensiveness slipping into his voice. “Yes, Lily was your biological mother. But we had an agreement.”

“I know!” Kate shouted. “She changed her mind. The agreement should’ve been canceled.”

Charles’s tone grew dismissive.

“And you think we should have given you back to that poor man? What kind of life could he have given you?”

Kate shook her head, hurt flashing in her eyes.

“But he was family. Couldn’t you have helped him instead of… just taking me?”

“So he could ruin you?” Charles replied, his voice rising. “No. You’re our daughter! Our daughter! We raised you. We gave you a future! And now you want to throw it all away?”

“I always felt like something was missing, that I didn’t truly belong. And now I know why. I was never meant to be here.”

Julia reached out, her face softening. “Dear, please…”

“I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me, and I’ll never forget it,” Kate said, her eyes filling with tears. “But I have to make my own choices now. Right now, I choose to help Eric, the man who should’ve been my father.”

It was time for her to find out who she truly was.

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