CITY ON FIRE
The news broke before sunrise.
"SHOCKING REVELATION: SERENA VALE NOT THE REAL HEIRESS."
"DNA CONFIRMS ELARA WYNN IS TRUE DAUGHTER."
Elara stared at her phone, hands trembling.
Her face was everywhere.
News channels. Blogs. Social media.
Strangers judged her.
Praised her.
Hated her.
I never asked for this…
---
Vale Mansion
Chaos erupted.
Mrs. Vale threw her tablet across the room.
"This is a lie!" she cried.
"Serena is my daughter!"
Mr. Vale sat in silence, face pale.
"The DNA doesn't lie," he whispered.
Serena stood frozen.
"So you're just going to believe this?" she snapped.
"After everything I've done for this family?"
Mrs. Vale burst into tears.
"My real child…" she sobbed.
"I abandoned my real child…"
Serena screamed.
"I'm right here!"
No one answered.
Her world crumbled.
---
Lucien Protects
Lucien watched the media frenzy from his office.
"Get security on Elara," he ordered.
"Now."
"Yes, sir."
He picked up his phone.
"Stay inside," he said when she answered.
"The city is cruel today."
She laughed bitterly.
"It always was."
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"For everything."
She closed her eyes.
"So am I."
---
Elara Steps Forward
That night, she stood before reporters.
Flashes blinded her.
"I'm not here to take anything," she said firmly.
"I only want the truth."
"Will you join the Vale family?" someone shouted.
She paused.
"No," she answered.
"I'll build my own name."
The crowd murmured.
Lucien watched from a distance.
Pride filled his eyes.