The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In

She Took 869 Summary

Victor immediately recognized Stella’s voice over the phone, confirming a deep and bitter history between him and the Morris family. Tessa, witnessing Victor’s coldness toward the Morris family during her time in Redwood, felt the weight of this “blood feud” heavily. She was relieved to realize that, since she was not Dale’s daughter, she was not entangled in this dangerous conflict. Her fear of Victor’s potential wrath had diminished, and she found courage in facing him without hesitation.

Tessa sought clarity about her mother’s involvement during the feud, nervously asking Victor where her mother had been when the conflict with Dale unfolded. Victor calmly revealed that by then, Dale was already married to Artemis, which brought Tessa a great sense of relief. She understood that the bitter feud had nothing to do with her or her mother, lifting a heavy burden from her heart. Victor’s gentle gesture of stroking her head showed a rare moment of tenderness amidst the tension.

Meanwhile, at Black Mountain, the atmosphere was tense as DNA testing was underway. Manny, once arrogant, now sat subdued, while Artemis was overwhelmed with emotion, crying and recounting years of pain caused by rumors and accusations. She expressed her anguish over being labeled a homewrecker and accused of destroying Dale’s family. Artemis accused Dale of destroying their family and questioned whether he still believed in the rumors or held on to feelings for another woman.

Artemis’s anger exploded as she confronted Dale, declaring that despite their daughters Lina and Lana not being conventionally pretty, they were still his children and that he was responsible for their family’s ruin. Dale remained silent, while Dan cynically remarked that Dale had already believed Artemis for years, suggesting it was time to move on. Artemis then lashed out at Dan and Tessa, accusing them of siding with Victor and fueling the conflict. The tension grew as Artemis’s composure shattered completely, her desperation and fury making her unpredictable as the DNA results loomed. Dan coldly dismissed the shifting blame, emphasizing that the true issue was uncovering the identity of the real illegitimate child at Black Mountain.

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869 The Truth

Victor’s tone over the phone left no doubt—he had already recognized Stella’s voice the moment she spoke.

Finished

Tessa locked eyes with him. His gaze was steady and composed, yet beneath that calm surface lay something she couldn’t quite decipher. The phrase “blood feud” echoed relentlessly in her mind, tightening her chest with unease.

During her stay in Redwood, she had witnessed firsthand just how merciless Victor could be when it came to the Morris family. She was aware there was history between them, but she hadn’t grasped the full extent of it—how deep and bitter the animosity ran.

A feud so intense that it had wiped out an entire family? That was something far more severe than she’d ever imagined.

Thank goodness she wasn’t Dale’s daughter. If she had been, how could she ever face Victor again without fear or hesitation?

Tessa instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek softly against his stomach. “It doesn’t matter,” she whispered. “Those people have nothing to do with me.”

Back when she still believed Dale was her father, she had been terrified of this side of Victor—afraid of what he might do once he discovered the truth. But that fear had faded.

Since her mother’s call, she found herself able to meet Victor’s gaze without flinching, no longer held hostage by uncertainty.

A new question suddenly surfaced in her mind.

and Dale… where was my mom?” Her voice trembled slightly,

mother hadn’t still been married to Dale

resigned. “By

a long breath, relief washing over her

that despicable Dale had nothing to do

Thank God.

endured enough pain being tied

tension in her voice easing. “It has

that had been pressing down on her chest

glanced down at her, noticing the flicker of relief that softened her

warm and gentle as it stroked the

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Turn

Finished

the DNA testing was

room was thick and oppressive. Manny, who had been brash and cocky before his blood

tears streaming down her face without pause. She poured out years of pent-up pain—the gossip, the humiliation, the whispered accusations behind her

voice quivered as she spoke, each

wives left because of me. They called me a homewrecker, accused me of destroying your family. They said Lina and Lana were so ugly, they couldn’t possibly be yours. I never told you any of this—I kept it all inside. I thought that as long as you believed in me, nothing else mattered. None of their words

looked up at

say something to you? Or

shout, her anger finally spilling over the dam she had

glared at Dale, her entire body

Lina and Lana may not be pretty, but they’re still our daughters! Dale, you’re the one who destroyed everything! Do you even realize that?

darkened, but he

a cold chuckle. “Enough. He’s believed you for years already. Don’t you think that’s

into a

his eyes blazing as if daring him to say

all your fault—and Tessa’s! Don’t think I