Chapter 5

He said quietly, "You're the Wellington family's one and only true princess, the rightful heiress."

My mind went blank again.

That sentence hit harder than the news about the thirty percent shares.

I was still in shock.

I could not believe that he was calling me the rightful princess of the Wellington family.

How was that even possible?

My mom told me herself that she was just the mistress, and I was nothing but an illegitimate child.

Victoria noticed the confusion in my eyes.

She slid over to sit beside me, gently taking my hand in hers.

Victoria said softly, "Anna, things aren't what you think.

"It's a long story."

The car rolled smoothly down the road.

Outside the window, the city lights began to come on, one after another.

Inside, Victoria started telling me a story I'd never heard before.

It was a story about my mom, and the dad I'd never even met.

My mother's name was Helen Grant.

She wasn't a mistress.

She was Richard's first wife.

She was the Wellington family's officially recognized madam.

Helen and Richard met in college and fell in love on their own terms, no family arrangements, just pure romance.

Their bond was legendary, and in the business world, everyone knew them as the ultimate power couple, so perfect together, it was almost unreal.

As for Charles, Edward, and Victoria, their mother, the so-called Mrs. Wellington, was the real mistress all along.

She was the kind of woman who clawed her way to the top with dirty tricks and the backing of the family, manipulating her way into power.

Back then, my mom, Helen, was eight months pregnant with me.

She, together with her powerful family, started putting serious pressure on the Wellingtons.

They threatened Jacob Wellington, my grandfather, Richard's father, using the entire future of Wellington Holdings as leverage, forcing him to choose.

They pushed Richard to divorce my mom, even though she was pregnant.

And later, he was forced to marry the mother of Charles, Edward and Victoria.

It was nothing but a dirty deal, a twisted exchange that ruined everything.

The Wellington family got the business backing they needed and survived the crisis.

But my mother lost everything.

When she was kicked out of Wellington Manor, she left with nothing.

Jacob handed her a wad of cash, told her to get rid of me, and disappear forever.

But she didn't do it.

She carried all her pain and resentment, and brought me into this world on her own.

She named me Anna Wellington.

All she wanted was for me to live a safe, peaceful life.

And she never told me the truth because she didn't want me to grow up consumed by hatred.

She took all the pain on herself, never letting me bear any of it.

Victoria's eyes were shining with unshed tears as she finished her story.

Victoria said, "My mom... After she forced her way into the family, she wasted no time and had the three of us.

"But Dad never loved her, not even for a moment.

"They slept in separate rooms for twenty years."

Edward pushed up his glasses, his voice low and somber.

Edward said quietly, "Dad was always searching for you and your mom.

"He never stopped, not for a second.

"But your mother erased every trace, made sure no one could find you.

"She hated the Wellington family far too much."

Charles took over the story, his voice steady but tinged with regret.

He continued, "It wasn't until six months ago that Dad finally managed to track you and your mom down.

"But by then, his health had already taken a turn for the worse.

"He didn't dare to see you, afraid it would upset your mother.

"So he wrote the will, leaving you the largest share of the company, hoping it could make up for everything you'd lost.

"He knew the three of us would take care of you, Anna. That's what he wanted most."

As I listened to everything, tears kept flowing uncontrollably down my cheeks. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't hold them back.

So... That was what really happened.

I was not some shameful secret, not an illegitimate child forced to live in the shadows.

And my mother wasn't the mistress who wrecked someone else's family.

We were the ones who truly suffered.

We were just sacrifices in that dirty business alliance.

I always thought my mom didn't love me.

She barely ever smiled at me, and she was always so strict.

But I realized, she just kept all the pain to herself.

She protected me in her own way.

My chest felt tight, like all my emotions were fighting to burst out.

There was grievance, heartache, and a burning anger tangled up inside me.

"Where is she? Where's your mom?" I demanded, my jaw clenched tight with anger.

Victoria's eyes went icy cold as she answered, "She's dead.

"Cancer. Five years ago.

"Guess that's karma."

I just sat there, quiet, letting it all sink in.

For the first time, I believed that karma might really exist.

The Rolls-Royce glided slowly through the gates and into the estate.

This was Wellington Manor, the legendary home of the Wellington family.

It was even more luxurious and massive than I ever imagined.

Honestly, it looked just like a real-life castle.

The butler stood at the grand entrance, a line of staff behind him, all waiting respectfully for us to arrive.

"Welcome home, Mr. Charles Wellington, Mr. Edward Wellington, and Ms. Victoria Wellington," he greeted, his voice warm and formal.

When the staff saw me, they all froze for a moment, clearly surprised.

The butler was the first to snap out of it.

"And who might this young lady be?" he asked, looking at me with polite curiosity.

Charles' voice rang out, clear and commanding, echoing across the entire courtyard.

He said firmly, "Her name is Anna Wellington.

"From today on, she's the only one who gets to be called Ms. Wellington around here.

"Her status in this family is equal to mine.

"Everyone here is to show her the same respect you show me."

"Yes!" all the staff echoed back in perfect unison.

Their voices boomed through the courtyard, loud and clear.

Their tone was full of reverence and awe.

I was ushered into the main building of Wellington Manor, surrounded by staff who treated me like royalty.

The interior was breathtaking, gold and marble everywhere, yet somehow it felt elegant rather than gaudy.

Every single piece of furniture looked like it belonged in a museum, each one a masterpiece in its own right.

Victoria grabbed my hand and led me straight upstairs to the third floor.

"Anna, come on! Let me show you your room!" Victoria said, practically bouncing with excitement.

"I decorated it myself, every single detail!" she added, grinning proudly.

She pushed open a white door.

Inside was a massive, dreamy princess room.

The walls were pink, the bed was draped in white lace, and the room had enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.

And there was a walk-in closet bigger than my entire apartment.

It was overflowing with gorgeous dresses and designer bags.

"Do you like it?" Victoria asked, her eyes full of hope.

She watched me eagerly, waiting for my answer.

I nodded.

"I really do," I replied, my voice soft.

Honestly, what girl wouldn't fall for a room like this?

Edward walked in right after.

He pointed to a desk tucked away in the corner of the room.

He said, "That's your study area.

"I've lined up the top tutors in the country for you, starting tomorrow, you'll get one-on-one coaching in every subject.

"Your goal is the best university in the country."

Charles was the last to walk in.

He slipped a Black Centurion Card into my palm.

He said, "The PIN is your birthday.

"Get anything you like.

"Don't bother pinching pennies for me."

The three of them crowded around me, like I was the center of their world.

The way they looked at me was full of spoiling and genuine care.

It all felt so unreal, almost like a dream.

I gripped the cold card in my hand.

But one thought kept rising louder and louder inside me.

This was always rightfully mine.

Their mother stole the life that belonged to my mother and me.

Now I was back.

I was going to reclaim everything I lost, one by one, until it was all mine again.

Just then, my phone started ringing.

The call was from the hospital.

The nurse sounded like she was about to cry.

She pleaded, her voice shaky, "Ms. Anna Wellington? Please, you need to come to the hospital right away!

"Your mom... She's not going to make it!"