As Caryn and Natalie walked down the hallway, Caryn spoke. "You must be wondering who your father is, so let tell you—that’s not even worth knowing. Just focus on what’s coming your way and take those people down before they even think about harming you again."
Natalie understood Caryn was talking about the Belvorn family. Since the woman was unwilling to answer who her father was, Natalie knew it was useless to ask her.
Caryn continued, "If not for them coming after you even after I showed we have no interest in royalty, I would not have asked you to do anything. But those people simply can’t let us be. You have to pay for being of royal blood, though you never asked for it. I believe you are capable enough to protect yourself and then teach them a lesson."
What could Natalie say now when her mother had already said everything before she could even ask a simple question? Her mother was simply domineering, and Natalie found herself obeying her.
"Understood?" Caryn asked.
"I get it," Natalie replied, sounding distant. "I will take my leave now. Please take care of yourself, Ms. Shaw." Natalie offered a curt bow and left as if she had just finished talking business and had nothing to do with the person before her.
Caryn and Eric watched her leave.
"Caryn, you could be a little gentler—like a mother," Eric said. "She just found out her mother is alive and must have so expectations from you, but all you do is treat her formally like an outsider and instruct her on what to do. She even called you ’Ms. Shaw,’ not ’Mother.’ She’s drawing a boundary with you now. Why are you like this? Did you protect her all these years just for this—to have your daughter treat you like a stranger?"
"It is better this way. She won’t have any weaknesses and can do things without considering others," Caryn replied as her wheelchair moved forward. "She didn’t allow Clara to blackmail her and didn’t care if her mother was declared a promiscuous woman. That ans Natalie is going the right way. If she had gotten emotional about her mother and allowed herself to be blackmailed, that would have been the worst thing I could ever allow. My daughter can’t afford to have any weaknesses."
"I understand, Caryn, but maybe at this mont, what she wants is her mother...."
"Is it not my care toward her?" Caryn interrupted him. "Now stop talking, and let’s head back."
Eric sighed, knowing the stubborn woman would not listen, but he couldn’t help but say, "I just feel like after so many years, you yourself don’t know how to show motherly affection to your daughter. That’s why you co across as so formal—like a stranger."
Caryn didn’t comnt on it.
"Or are you afraid she will ask about her real father and you won’t be able to answer her?" Eric asked.
Caryn frowned. "Just because I stayed silent doesn’t an you can keep spouting nonsense. No more words now."
Eric had no choice but to keep quiet, while thinking, I wonder how Jas Harper would react to knowing Caryn is alive? Will he co to her?
------
anwhile, not just two but three topics were trending in the news that day.
Natalie Ford was not Jay Ford’s daughter. Jay Ford was not Sephina and Albert Ford’s biological son. And Caryn Ford, who everyone thought was dead, was, in fact, alive.
It created chaos, with so many speculations and whatnot. The entire dia and people watching the news were shocked by these revelations and had so many questions.
Natalie, who had stepped out of the office, was surrounded by reporters and flooded with countless questions at once.
"Ms. Natalie, what do you have to say about today’s revelations? Were you always aware that Jay Ford is not your biological father? Then who is your biological father? Were you aware your mother was alive? Where was she all these years? What’s going to happen in the Ford Group now? Who will be the CEO?..."
The questions continued nonstop for a while. Natalie stood there quietly as John and Ryan protected her well.
Finally, when they stopped asking questions and there was silence, Natalie spoke. "To all your questions, all I have to say is that I am glad Jay Ford is not my biological father. As for the Ford Group, you can ask Sephina Ford about it. And about my mother, you can go ask her yourself. Now, excuse ."
Natalie walked away and got into her car.
At the sa ti, Caryn headed out, but the nurous bodyguards she had brought with her didn’t allow any reporters to even approach her. They managed to capture her pictures only.
-----
In Bayford City, at the Harper family villa...
Julia was watching the news along with Jas, whom she had intentionally forced to stay ho, claiming she wasn’t feeling well and wanted her son to accompany her.
Initially, Jas was reluctant to watch any news about the Fords, but after Julia insisted a lot with various excuses, Jas had to give up in front of her.
"Jas, their eting result must be out already. Let see if Caryn’s daughter is CEO or not," Julia insisted.
The mont Jas turned on the news, three shocking news filled the TV screen.
First news that unfolded shocked Jas, though Julia was already aware of the truth.
"I knew it. Such a wonderful girl couldn’t be that mutt-faced Jay Ford’s daughter," Julia comnted as she observed her son’s conflicted expression.
Jas just sat there, stunned, his gaze fixed on the TV screen where random pictures of Natalie, Jay Ford, and Caryn were shown from the old collections that new channel had.
"I am sure they released this news to trouble that poor girl and keep her away from any inheritance," Julia comnted. "If Caryn was alive, she wouldn’t let anything unfair happen to her daughter. I wonder what her father has been doing all this ti, not knowing how his daughter has been suffering."
Jas quietly listened to his mother’s remarks, lost in his own thoughts.
Second news about Jay Ford was equally shocking for the mother and son.
"What’s going on with these Fords?" Julia exclaid in shock. "It seems like soone is finally there to support that girl and reveal the truth. Looks like there won’t be any resolution to today’s eting."
Julia looked at her son, wondering what was going through his mind. "Jas, who do you think must be Natalie’s father? Back then, before Caryn married Jay, she was close to you. Is she your daughter?"
Jas snapped out of his thoughts and looked at his mother. "We had been separated months before she married Jay. I had nothing to do with her."
"Think about it. Maybe you forgot about an encounter you had with her...."
"Mother, stop relating her to ," Jas said, standing up, ready to leave. But...
The news of Caryn being alive popped up on the screen.
"What?" Julia exclaid in disbelief. "Caryn is alive?"
Jas turned to the screen as well, his face covered in utter shock.
"Jas, they’re saying Caryn is alive," Julia exclaid again.
Jas ca back to his senses as he looked at the picture of the woman in the wheelchair. She had a mask covering her nose, but even after so many years, Jas could recognise her easily.
It was truly her. Caryn.
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