Chapter 424


    Zoey was sitting by her bed in her bedroom at the Shurmer residence when her phone slipped from her


    palm.


    Her head rang as if the world hade to a standstill as she stared at the overwhelming news online.


    It''s all over. The world now knows that Bailey and Waverly look alike and that Bailey is not the daughter


    of the Jefferson family. With their skills, those reporters must have found out as soon as they heard that


    that b*tch, Bailey, was born on the same day and in the same hospital as me.


    With the appearance of both those bombshells online, a DNA test proved unnecessary to ascertain


    Bailey''s true identity.


    Who was it who exposed this? Only the women in the Jefferson family and I were aware of the matter.


    That b*tch, Rhonda, must have revealed this secret to drag me down.


    Anger shed across her face. She leaned over, picked up her phone, and dialed Beatrice''s number.


    “Were you the one who exposed that stuff online?” she asked through gritted teeth as soon as the call


    went through. “What do you mean by this? Are you trying to drag me down?”


    “You should refrain from false usations, Ms. Shurmer,” Beatrice said. “What good would it do me if I


    revealed this secret? Do you think I would expose the matter, have Bailey reconcile with her family, and


    gain another backer?”


    Zoey bit her lip and only managed to suppress her tumultuous emotions after a moment''s pause.


    “Who else could it be if not you? Only you two and I knew of Bailey''s identity. It must have been me if it


    was neither of you, then?”


    Beatrice sighed softly. “I''m expecting your help to destroy Bailey, Ms. Shurmer. Why would I shoot


    myself in the foot? I think the news online is started by scandalmongers who noticed the resemnce


    between Bailey and your mother and have too much time on their hands. Don''t be hasty. Let''s first think


    about how best to appease the Shurmers.”


    Zoey''s grip tightened around her phone. “It''s all over the media now. How exactly should I appease the


    Shurmers? As I said, the seeds of doubt have been nted, and things could backfire at any moment,”


    she fumed.


    Beatrice gave a faint smile. “Let them doubt. It wasn''t you who switched ces with Bailey, anyway.


    After all, you have been calling each other family for the past twenty-odd years. They''re not going to


    cast you out upon finding the truth. What you need to do now is to implore Waverly with tears. The


    more devastated you sound, the more you gain their sympathy. Do you understand?”


    Zoey''s eyes flickered. Her mind instantly cleared up.


    That''s right. I couldn''t control the babies switching. So what if it''s exposed? The Shurmers aren''t going


    to kick me out because of this! No. I refuse to believe my parents and siblings would be heartless


    enough to drive me out after being family for years.


    “All right, I know what to do. I''ll find a way to ruin that b*tch. Our pact remains unchanged. Bailey is still


    ourmon enemy.”


    In the living room on the first floor, Waverly was looking at the news on her phone. She then looked at


    her husband beside her. “What do you think, Steven?”


    Steven massaged his brow. “They''re just rumors, and baseless ones at that. We cannot assume from


    them that Zozo isn''t ours!”


    Waverly thought about it and asked, “Is it possible the hospital brought us the wrong child during her


    birth? Could Bailey be our daughter instead?”


    The thud of something heavy falling onto the ground sounded from thending.


    The couple turned around in unison and saw Zoey standing at the top of the stairs. Her phone was


    smashed to pieces beneath her heel.


    Waverly stood up hastily from the couch. “Zozo...”


    Zoey began to bawl. “Mom, Dad, is the news on the inte true? I''m not your daughter, am I?”


    Waverly hastened over to hug her. “Hush, girl. We were only wondering aloud. Your father is right.


    They''re only baseless rumors.”


    Despite those words, a seed of doubt had been imnted in Waverly''s mind.


    I must get to the bottom of this instead of letting somebody y me for a fool by allowing my birth


    N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    daughter to be left out there all alone.


    “What if it''s true, Mom? What if somebody else took your daughter back then and had a reject like


    myself rece her? Will you resent me? Will you cast me out?”


    “Hey!” Waverly smacked her back severely. “What nonsense are you talking about? We have raised


    you with all our hearts. How could we cast you out? Don''t overthink, Zozo. You are always my daughter


    and the pride of the Shurmer family.”


    Zoey snuggled against Waverly''s bosom with a satisfied smile on her lips.


    There''s still a chance. As long as the Shurmers don''t cast me out, I still have a chance.


    “What about Dad? They said that a daughter is a father''s lover in his past life. If I''m not Dad''s daughter,


    then I''m not his lover! Would he still love me like he used to?”