Chapter 530


    The storm outside seemed to be brewing, with the snow falling more heavily by the minute, but inside


    the room was a haven of warmth and tranquility. The old man cast a few nces at Cordelia before he


    began his tale in earnest.


    Back in the swinging sixties, there was a prominent family, the head of which was a financier, with vast


    estates to his name—a true pir of the localmunity. But as times changed, he moved overseas,


    got married, and had children. Despite being well-educated, he held on to his old-fashioned beliefs. He


    married ady who was his equal in social standing, a woman of grace and poise, the very picture of


    an affluent society wife, a role model for aspiring debutantes.


    Their marriage was a loving one, but after a year, tragedy struck. When thedy of the house gave


    birth, she suffered a fatalplication and passed away, leaving behind her newborn.


    The world knew that she had given birth to a daughter, but only the family knew the truth—they were


    twins. This secret was closely guarded by all.


    "Twins?" Cordelia couldn''t hide her surprise, perhaps because she herself had once carried twins. Her


    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    curiosity was piqued.


    The old man seemed not to notice Cordelia''s interjection as he continued.


    The reason the public believed there was only one child was that the second-born twin, the younger


    daughter, had been stricken with polio at birth. After a series of treatments, her legs were left immobile,


    and she was confined to the attic. Her father, a man very much concerned with appearances, chose not


    to reveal the existence of the second twin. As time passed, the healthy daughter grew into a


    blossoming beauty, much sought after by the young men of the area. She caught the eye of a major


    film studio.


    "A film studio?" With a hint of astonishment, Cordelia interjected again—na worked for a film studio.


    Could this be some sort of coincidence?


    Unperturbed by Cordelia''s reaction, the old man plowed on.


    Gradually, the memory of her sister lying in the attic faded from the healthy daughter’s mind, for it was


    only the old housekeeper who attended to the invalid twin. The healthy daughter had always believed


    herself to be an only child, doted upon by her father, who never spoke of the forgotten child. We often


    it''s as if they never existed at all.


    Cordelia sighed, feeling a pang of sorrow for the daughter confined to the attic. "Is this the plot of a


    novel?" she couldn''t help but ask.


    The old man didn''t look at her but continued his story.


    On the day the healthy daughter finished her exams. It coincided with her eighteenth birthday, so her


    father arranged avish party. Friends and family congregated, filling the house with joy and


    celebration. The healthy daughter was radiant, like a blooming flower. For a moment, the existence of


    the other twin waspletely forgotten—or ignored, as the unfortunate sibling could not be presented


    to the guests. When the housekeeper went to the attic to deliver a meal, the younger daughter asked,


    "What''s happening downstairs? Why is it so lively?" The housekeeper replied, "Today is your sister''s


    birthday," and then she hurried back to the festivities.


    Once alone, the forgotten twin''s tears began to fall. She clenched her fists tightly, her tears tracing


    paths down her cheeks. It was her birthday too, but she was now a stranger in her own home, where


    the only ''Miss'' was her sister.


    She remembered, yet she could not rise. For eighteen years, her onlypanions had been books—


    biographies of great figures, mystery novels, and many tales of revenge…