?Chapter 605:


    Not only was Cole’s mother epted, but Cole himself was brought up as the rightful heir. Things were far less kind for Adah in her own family. When Adah’s mother was alive, both mother and daughter were always on the outside looking in. After her mother passed away, Adah had been sent off to live in some backwater vige. If the Shaw family hadn’t insisted on honoring the engagement promise, Adah might never have returned to the Norris house.


    At the root of it all, Adah’s father simply didn’t have the clout to protect his wife or his daughter. Everything in the Norris family revolved around Adah’s grandmother.


    Adah’s father worked hard for the family, but he never fought to seize power. Meanwhile, Adah’s uncle was smooth-talking and sly, always ttering Adah’s grandmother to win her favor, though he never did anything meaningful for the family. Adah’s uncle had a daughter, the same age as Adah, who was just as scheming and envious as anyone would expect. No way she’d tolerate Adah’s presence.


    In the end, Adah’s ce in the Norris family was hardly any better than the years Elliana spent with the Jones family.


    “Are you sad?” Elliana asked softly.


    Adah answered directly, “Yeah, a little. But not for myself. I’m not the same girl I used to be—I’m the Doomsday Rose now. I couldn’t care less about the Norris family’s fake affection. What really hurts is thinking about my parents. My mom gave everything to the Norris family, always showing respect to my grandmother, but never received any kindness in return. She endured everything in silence.”


    Sighing, she continued, “My dad is the definition of a dutiful son. Even though my grandmother was unfair and took advantage of him, handing all the perks to my uncle, my dad just kept working, neverining. I can see why my dad let it go. After all, that’s his mother. But what I’ll never understand is why my mom put up with it. She was a capable woman—she could have stood up for herself.”


    Elliana voiced her thoughts, “Adah, if your mother was strong enough to stand up for herself but chose not to, maybe she was running from some assassins. The Norris family was her shelter.”


    Adah sounded stunned, “Running from assassins? Why would anyone go after—”


    “I was just getting to that,” Elliana answered. “I’ve dug up some things recently. My mother fled overseas to Ublento back then. My biological father could have been some big shot from abroad—he’s the one who kept sending assassins after her. Considering how close our mothers were, I bet they escaped to Ublento together, and both were on the run. I just haven’t figured out exactly how they’re connected yet.”


    Adah raised an eyebrow, her words rushing out. “Hold on—are you saying Darin isn’t your biological father?”


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    Elliana nodded. “My mom was already pregnant when the threats started. She ran to Ublento, changed her name, and married Darin—just an ordinary guy—to keep herself safe.”


    Adah’s brow furrowed. “But why would your biological father want your mother dead if she was carrying his child?”


    “I wish I knew,” Elliana responded quietly. “But he never stopped hunting her. Wave after wave of killers came for her. Even the fire at the Jones estate back then was his doing.”


    Adah, always quick, put the pieces together. “So what we need is to lure your real father out. That’s the only way we’ll ever learn the truth about our moms.”


    “Exactly,” Elliana replied. “But we’ll have to hold off on that n for a bit. I have something more urgent to take care of first.”


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