“According to the test results, Raymond Aldridge is not Celeste Aldridge’s biological father…”

The hand holding the paternity report shook slightly in Celeste’s grip. Her eyes were wide, full of disbelief.

The man she had called Dad for twenty years… wasn’t her real father at all.

“Mom, this isn’t real.”

She turned to Helena Aldridge beside her, almost begging for help with her eyes.

A flash of pain crossed Helena’s face. “It is real. The DNA report is right here, so how could it be fake? Every time I think about my actual daughter suffering out there all these years, living God knows what kind of life, my heart just…”

Raymond pulled Helena into his arms, then looked at Celeste with a cold, flat expression. “From now on, don’t call us Mom and Dad anymore. We’re bringing our biological daughter home right away. If she hears you, it won’t be appropriate.”

“And you need to move out of the Aldridge house.” Raymond pointed at the suitcase not far away. “That’s your stuff. Take it and leave.”

“Dad! You’re throwing me out?” Celeste’s lips trembled. She still hadn’t recovered from the shock of the DNA report, and Raymond’s words hit her like another brutal blow.

“Dad, Mom, none of this is true, right? You’re messing with me, aren’t you? I have to be dreaming. How could I not be your real daughter?”

Her heart felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand needles, the pain sharp and suffocating.

But what hurt even more was this—

They had accepted the result so easily. Just like that, they were done with her.

“I said, don’t call us that anymore.” Raymond’s brows drew tight, his face dark with annoyance. “Preston already went to pick up Vivienne. They’ll be here any minute. Do you still think this is some kind of joke?”

Celeste froze, stunned.

Preston?

Why would her fiancé go pick up Vivienne Hartwell?

“No… no way.”

A terrible feeling crashed through her mind. In an instant, all the strength drained from her body. She staggered backward several steps, almost unable to stay on her feet.

Only when her back hit the icy wall did she barely steady herself.

“Sir, ma’am, I’ve brought Vivienne home.”

She had barely steadied herself when a familiar voice rang out from the front entrance.

It was Preston Whitfield.

Celeste Aldridge forced herself to look toward the door.

Preston was striding into the hall in a fitted black suit, polished from head to toe, looking ridiculously handsome like he’d stepped straight out of some magazine spread.

And behind him came a girl in a white puff-sleeve dress.

It was Vivienne Hartwell.

Of course Celeste knew Vivienne. They went to the same university and had even shared a dorm.

Vivienne’s family had been poor. After finding out, Celeste had helped her more than once, openly and behind the scenes.

And now, looking back, it all felt like a bad joke. No, worse. She was the joke.

"Vivienne, come here."

Preston didn’t even glance at Celeste. He simply lifted a hand and beckoned Vivienne over. When Vivienne walked up shyly, cheeks pink and head lowered, he reached out and took her hand.

The way they stood together was way too intimate.

No. No way.

Celeste’s eyes turned red as she rushed forward.

"Preston Whitfield, what are you doing?"

Her gaze locked onto their clasped hands, and she moved as if to pull them apart.

Vivienne had already taken her parents from her. Was she really going to steal her fiancé too?

"Celeste Aldridge, what the hell are you doing?!"

Preston shoved her away without hesitation, his voice sharp with annoyance and anger. "Why are you still here? This isn’t your home anymore."

Celeste went stiff all over. She stared at Preston in disbelief, her lips trembling.

"Preston… you knew too?"

“Of course I know. Vivienne Hartwell is my fiancée. You? You’re just a fake. Get out right now, or I’ll have security throw you out.”

Preston Whitfield didn’t hold back at all.

Vivienne, tucked against his chest, quickly wrapped her arms around his waist. “Preston, I’m scared. Why does Celeste look so terrifying all of a sudden?”

“She just can’t accept dropping to the bottom,” Preston said coldly. “She seriously thinks clinging to me will let her stay? She should really take a look at what she is.”

He shot Celeste Aldridge a disgusted glare, then took Vivienne’s hand and walked around her.

Celeste slowly closed her eyes, despair washing over her.

Even Preston didn’t want her anymore.

But the two of them had clearly slept together.

Was he really going to deny that too?

“Vivienne is my real fiancée.”

Preston’s voice came again from behind her. The way he looked at Vivienne was full of tenderness and pity.

Just like the way he used to look at her.

“Preston Whitfield, last week at KL Hotel, you and I already…”

Celeste spoke with difficulty, like she was trying to grab onto the last shred of hope.

But before she could finish, Preston let out a mocking laugh. “Don’t tell me you’re about to say I slept with you? I was at the hospital with Vivienne all last week. When exactly would I have had time for you? If you want to make up some excuse to stay, at least come up with one that makes sense.”

What?

Celeste’s face went pale in an instant.

Preston had been with Vivienne the whole time last week?

Then who on earth was the man who had been with her?

“Celeste, don’t tell me you messed around with some random guy, lost your virginity, and now want to pin it on Preston?” Vivienne suddenly said, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “Seriously, that was close. If Preston hadn’t been with me the whole time, I might’ve actually believed your nonsense.”

“How shameless.”

"What kind of life makes a kid like that? With parents like hers, of course they’d raise someone like her."

"Vivienne, don’t bother with her."

"Security. Get her out."

Preston Whitfield flicked a hand, and the guards outside rushed in at once. They grabbed Celeste Aldridge by the arms and dragged her straight out.

She stood by the roadside for what felt like forever before her mind finally caught up.

The sun above was so harsh she could barely keep her eyes open. Her head buzzed nonstop, like something was about to split inside it.

In just one single day, she had lost her parents.

Lost her fiancé.

She didn’t even know which stranger had taken her innocence.

"How... how did it end up like this?"

The world went black in front of Celeste Aldridge’s eyes, and she collapsed to the ground.

Four years later.

St. Grace Private Hospital, A City. Operating room.

Dressed in surgical scrubs, Serena Hartwell walked in slowly.

The doctor assisting in the operation immediately stepped forward, face full of admiration, and began reporting the patient’s condition.

"Dr. Hartwell, the patient has a primum atrial septal defect along with a cleft in the anterior mitral leaflet. She’s already showing exertional dyspnea."

Dr. Hartwell was a specially appointed chief physician at the hospital. For someone that young to hold a position like this? Basically unheard of.

And her medical skills were the real deal. No joke.

Even the hospital director was full of respect for her.

While listening to the assistant’s report, Serena Hartwell walked to the operating table.

She lowered her eyes to check the patient, but the second she saw that familiar face, a flash of shock swept through her eyes.

“Vivienne Hartwell?”

Talk about a plot twist. On her very first surgery back, she ran straight into an old acquaintance.

Four years ago, because of that woman, she had lost everything.

If her senior hadn’t taken her in back then and practically dragged her onto the path of studying medicine, who knew what kind of mess her life would still be in.

Now that she was back, she only wanted one thing—to find the man from that hotel night and give her children an answer.

Whether he acknowledged them or not didn’t matter.

At the very least, she needed to know if their biological father was dead or alive, what his name was, who he really was.

Pulling herself out of those thoughts, Serena Hartwell curved her lips into a faint smile.

Her face was already stunning to begin with, but that smile made her even more dangerously captivating.

The assistant doctor froze for a second before snapping back to attention.

“Dr. Hartwell, this patient is Camille Aldridge, the eldest daughter of the Aldridge family.”

“Mm. Let’s begin.”

Serena Hartwell gave a small nod and spoke in a calm, flat tone.

The medical staff around her instantly switched into full work mode, and the surgical lights flared on.

But halfway through the procedure, Camille Aldridge’s heart rate suddenly dropped.