The Real Heiress Rules the World

Chapter 204 Who Is She Really?

Joanna stood frozen for a beat, her mother’s words hitting like a slap. Bitterness welled up inside her. She’d always known where her mother’s priorities lay- power, appearances, and most of all, profit. And nothing offered a higher return than marrying into the right family.

She lowered her gaze, her voice tinged with quiet frustration. “Mom… relationships don’t work that way. You can’t force feelings.”

Her mother scoffed, full of contempt. “Feelings? You think those rich boys actually care about love? They care about power and connections. Joanna, stop being so naive. That’s how they operate. Wake up. If you keep dragging your feet, you’ll be stuck picking from whatever’s left.”

Joanna bit her lip but didn’t argue. She knew better–pushing back would only make things worse. So she just said quietly, “I get it. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Her mother shot her a glare, full of disappointment. “Keeping it in mind‘ won’t get you anywhere. You need to act. I heard Larry from the Houston family just got back into the country–he’s running the Houston Group now. If you can get close to him, we’d finally have some real standing in the Rivers family.”

At the mention of Larry’s name, a subtle shiver ran down Joanna’s spine. She’d heard the stories–how calculating he was, how ruthless. Cold, unreadable, and dangerous in all the ways that mattered. That kind of man wasn’t someone you “got close” to. He was the kind you stayed far, far away from.

She nodded vaguely. “I get it. I’ll figure out a way to talk to him.”

And with that, she used work as an excuse and made a quick exit.

Her mother shouted after her, her voice ringing through the house. “Work, work, work! You act like that job’s going to secure your future. No matter how well you perform, it won’t land you a marriage!”

the meeting

1/3

already there waiting. As soon as she spotted Sloane, she walked up and handed over two folders. “Ms. Rivers, here are the DNA

took the documents, her fingers trembling slightly. She took a breath to steady herself, then opened the envelope containing the results for herself, Helen, and

and DNA analysis, Marshall is excluded as Sloane’s

the sentence. Her heart dropped–but she didn’t stop. She flipped

No biological relationship.

moment, Sloane just stood there, the pages in her hands, her mind blank. If ner Helen nor

quickly moved on to

DNA analysis,

grabbed the final envelope–Helen’s test. Just as she expected, Samantha was the biological child of both

Sloane had been right.

But now, thin

more tangled.

ago? Who switched

But who else knew the truth? they hiding? What deeper secret had been buried all this

all… who was she