Honey, You're a Billionaire?

As Rose spoke up, Elijah also confirmed, "Yes, we've met before."

"You've met before?" Clover was puzzled. Elijah had just arrived in Regalia yesterday, so he couldn't understand how they could have known each other.

His curiosity deepened, but Elijah had no interest in explaining. His gaze was fixed on Rose, his eyes burning with intensity as if trying to take in every detail of her once more. Even Rose couldn't help but notice the unusual look in his eyes. "Rosie... This is good. I should have recognized you earlier. But luckily, it's not too late..." Elijah said, his voice tinged with emotion.

This side of Elijah was something Clover had never seen before. In his mind, Elijah had always been calm and reserved, never one to show his emotions so openly.

Upon seeing Elijah reaching for Rose's hand, Clover instinctively stepped between them, blocking his uncle.

"Uncle Elijah, Rosie is my sister!" he declared protectively. He couldn't help but think that Elijah was being a little too emotional.

Elijah frowned, displeased, but Clover paid him no mind. Pulling Rose closer, he addressed the crowd.

"Although Rose and I recently became siblings, that ceremony was too simple.

"Today, with the presence of a Xanth family elder and all of you as witnesses, I formally declare Rose as the eldest daughter of the Xanth family. I hope you'll all support her from now on." Clover's humble smile accompanied his announcement.

With those words, Rose's position as the heirres of Lerain Group was solidified. The room was filled with astonishment as people looked at Rose with newfound awe.

"Of course, she'll have our full support!"

"We'll rely on you in the future, Ms. Shaffer!"

"Ms. Shaffer, I attended the charity auction hosted by the Young family. This is our second meeting, and it's an honor to be here today."

"Ms. Shaffer..."

"Ms. Shaffer..."

Before long, the room buzzed with eagerness as countless guests vied for the chance to engage with Rose. However, someone suddenly sneered, their voice cutting through the chatter.

"This Ms. Shaffer sure has her ways. Not only was she adopted as Mr. Young Senior's granddaughter, but she was also recognized as a sister by the head of Lerain Group. Where did she learn these tricks, I wonder?"

The speaker was none other than Yara, who had somehow managed to infiltrate the event.

She was already irked when Rose stole the spotlight at the Young family's charity auction, so when she learned that Lerain Group would host a banquet in Rose's honor, she was pushed over the edge, leading her to wreak havoc on her own room. She had hoped to disrupt the banquet, but even sneaking in to the event proved difficult. Now, all she could do was mock Rose to vent her frustration.

A few noticed her low voice, and Yara felt several piercing gazes on her. One in particular sent a chill down her spine, freezing her in place. She followed the gaze and met a pair of eyes that made her breath catch. "That man... If I remember correctly, Clover called him uncle earlier..." she thought.

Having spent years in the overseas entertainment industry, Yara was no stranger to the legendary figure who had helped the Xanth family transform its business from a shadowy past to a legitimate empire. Elijah Xanth was known for his quiet and understated presence, and many seemed to have forgotten his once-fearsome power.

Under his scrutiny, Yara instinctively took a step back as an overwhelming urge to flee washed over her. Luckily for her, Elijah's attention only lingered for a moment before he turned away as if nothing had happened. His expression remained calm and composed, but then he spoke. "You've all got it wrong."

His deep and commanding voice immediately drew everyone's attention. They turned to him, confused about what they had gotten wrong.

Elijah turned his gaze to Clover and added, "You're also mistaken."

Clover was taken aback and wondered if his uncle did not approve of Rose.

Regardless, he had already embraced Rose as his sister. Even if his family disapproved, he wouldn't waver.

Determined to shield her from anyone who dared underestimate her, he began, "Uncle Elijah, Rosie is—"

However, before he could finish, Elijah had turned to look at Rose.

"Rosie..." Elijah murmured her name, his gaze softening. "Yesterday in Aurora Crest, I think I mentioned that if I ever had a daughter, her name would be Rose, didn't I?"

Rose remembered it clearly. He had even spoken about his wife.

"As it turns out, she has indeed named you Rose." Elijah seemed lost in thought as if recalling someone he had loved dearly. However, his words only deepened the confusion among everyone present. Even Rose and Clover struggled to understand what he was implying.

"Uncle Elijah, who are you talking about?" Clover inquired anxiously. His uncle's peculiar remarks to Rose made it evident that something was amiss.

Elijah paid no heed to Clover's

question. His gaze remained fixedNôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

on Rose, unwavering. Then,

addressing the crowd, he said,

"Everyone, this is Rose. Although her last name is Shaffer, she is my biological daughter."

The words "biological daughter" echoed in the air, leaving everyone in stunned silence. They had assumed Rose was Clover's adopted sister, so it made no sense that she was now revealed as the daughter of Efijah Xanth, one of the most influential figures in the Xanth family.

Confusion spread through the crowd. Even Rose herself stood bewildered.

"Mr. Xanth, I'm not..." Rose began, but Elijah gently interrupted her.

"You are."

Rose was indeed his daughter, and he declared it with unwavering conviction. Even though there wasn't any definitive proof yet, he was confident that Rose was the daughter he shared with Henrietta. Elijah's gaze remained fixed on Rose, its intensity causing her to hesitate. She had seen this look in Jamie's eyes before, but it had always been directed toward Kelly, not her.

Despite her long-standing suspicion

that Jamie might not be her biological father, Rose couldn't help but wonder if the man before her could indeed be her actual father. Her mind swirled with too many questions, none of which she could make sense of.

Whispers began to spread among the crowd as they overcame their initial shock.

"Mr. Xanth seems so sure about it... He must be right."

"If you look closely, there's really some resemblance between Ms. Shaffer and Mr. Xanth, especially in their features..."

"You're right... the more I look, the more similar they seem..."

Clover snapped out of his shock and recalled the mission Elijah had previously entrusted him with. During his visit to Aquastead, he had discreetly searched for someone, but his efforts had yielded no results.

He never would have expected that Rose, his sworn sister, could be the cousin his uncle had asked him to find all along.

Still in disbelief, Clover looked at Elijah with a grave expression and asked, "Uncle Elijah, are you sure that Rosie is..."

"She is indeed your cousin and my one and only daughter!" Elijah affirmed again with unwavering conviction.

His words sent ripples of shock through the crowd, but no one was more shaken than Harriette. She could hardly believe what was happening.

"Rose... how could she possibly be the daughter of the Xanth family? This is impossible. It simply can't be true!" she exclaimed inwardly. Suppressing her frustration, Harriette abruptly stepped forward and grabbed Rose's arm.