NovelOnlineIn the cozy room of the Rosette Garden Estates, Raines was absorbed in a book.
The peace of the afternoon was gently disrupted by the arrival of Lisbeth, who carried in a steaming mug of blackberry oat milk, its sweet aroma wafting through the room.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"This is from the Stirling family. They sent over sblackberries freshly picked from their ancient brambles this morning. I've blended them into the oat milk. It's quite the tonic. Drink up while it's warm." Raines accepted the mug with a nod. "No wonder it smells heavenly. Jessica has been surprisingly generous lately, always sending over these nutrients." "Jessica is a kind soul. It's rare to find a woman who treats her husband's child, born from his escapades, with such warmth." After a sip of the aromatic brew, Raines hummed thoughtfully. "That's because you haven't seen her ruthlessness. All an act of benevolence. Without her shrewdness, would Leopold be the heir?" Lisbeth shrugged. "Well, he is Chad's only legitimate son. It's only natural for him to inherit." A flicker of anger danced in Raines' eyes. He snapped, "Legitimate, illegitimate... Those antiquated notions only matter to the old guard of the Stirling family. The firstborn should inherit. Primogeniture is the only justice." "Have you been in touch with the boss lately? Any new directives?" Lisbeth inquired, changing the subject.
Raines' voice was icy. "No. Focus on your tasks and don't ask too many questions." He paused, a thought clearly crossing his mind. "Do you want to rescue the real Raines of the Stirling family?" "Is he still alive?" Lisbeth struggled to keep her voice steady. Of course, she wanted to save Raines. If she could choose again, she would never deceive him, never let him fall into this trap.
"He is a valuable pawn. Our boss wouldn't let him die," This fake Raines said with a dark smirk. "But don't harbor any illusions. He knows who you are now and he will never love you again." Lisbeth shrugged nonchalantly. "That naive fool? | never cared for him. My loyalty is to the boss alone. For him, I'd do anything." Raines eyed her with a deep and unreadable look. "I hope you mean that." "Of course, | do. I'm even more devoted than you are." Lisbeth scoffed as she watched him finish the milk and left the room.
As Raines settled into the sofa for a nap, Lisbeth quietly entered, sensing it was tto act.
"Raines, cto bed. Raines!" She prodded the man on the sofa, who was in a deep slumber, unresponsive. A clear sign the drug had taken effect.
She frantically massaged his face, checking for a prosthetic mask.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmBut the face was all too real, born not of facial mask but of surgical craft.
A mask would have flaws. A new face was the perfect disguise.
Such a shame! Now his true identity would remain a mystery.
The next day, over afternoon tea with Aurelia, Lisbeth reported her findings. "He's not wearing a mask. It's his own face." Aurelia sipped her yogurt drink. "Then he must have had plastic surgery. It takes at least three years to look natural. This plot has been brewing for quite stime." The impostor Raines was not Geoffrey but bore the bloodline of the Stirling family. The possibility dawned on them that the assistant ousted by Jessica might have been pregnant too, giving birth to another secret child later adopted by Tanya and raised as part of the AK Group.
Whether this counterfeit knew his true origins was yet another enigma.
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
