The ballroom exploded into chaos.
Guests began whispering.
Phones appeared from every direction.
Daniel lunged toward the attorney.
“Be quiet!”
But it was too late.
The old man looked at the crowd and took a deep breath.
“The woman standing there is Olivia Reed.”
Everyone stared at the maid.
The attorney continued.
“She is Oliver’s biological mother.”
A wave of shock swept through the room.
Olivia’s tears fell freely now.
“For two years,” she said, “I watched my son grow up from a distance.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
The truth was finally coming out.
Years earlier, Olivia and Daniel had fallen in love.
When she became pregnant, Daniel’s powerful family refused to accept her.
She wasn’t rich.
She wasn’t famous.
She wasn’t one of them.
After Oliver was born, Daniel’s parents offered Olivia millions to disappear.
When she refused, they used their influence to take the child away.
Daniel had stayed silent.
And Olivia had been forced to work inside the mansion just to remain close to her son.
The guests watched in horror.
Oliver clung tightly to her neck.
“I don’t want another mommy,” he cried.
“I want my real mommy.”
Several guests wiped away tears.
Daniel finally stepped forward.
His voice broke.
“I’m sorry.”
Olivia looked at him silently.
Then Daniel dropped to his knees in front of the entire ballroom.
Not as a billionaire.
Not as a Sterling.
Just as a father who had failed.
“Take him home,” he whispered.
Olivia stared at him in disbelief.
Daniel kissed Oliver’s forehead.
Then he looked up at the woman he had once loved.
“This time… nobody will take him from you.”
The room remained silent as Olivia carried Oliver toward the exit.
But just before she reached the door, the family attorney received a phone call.
His face turned white.
“What is it?” Daniel asked.
The attorney lowered the phone slowly.
“There is one more problem…”
Everyone stared.
The old man swallowed hard.
“According to newly discovered DNA records…”
He pointed toward Oliver.
“…Daniel Sterling isn’t his father.”
