Chapter Six:

“Say that again.” Adrian’s voice was calm, but something dangerous moved under it. Lucas swallowed. “The registry was updated ten minutes ago. Seraphina Vale. Deceased. Cause pending review.”

I didn’t feel dead, I felt erased.

I grabbed the tablet from Lucas and stared at the screen. My name. My birth date. A small red mark beside it. Deceased.

No explanation, no ceremony, just gone. “That’s not possible,” I said quietly. “It is,” Adrian replied. “If someone has full biometric override.” My chest felt tight, but my mind was strangely clear. She killed me on paper, I said. “Yes,” “why?”

Adrian looked at me like I should already understand, “so she can live.”

The meaning settled slowly.

If Seraphina Vale were dead, Elena Vale would become the only daughter. The only heir. The only identity that mattered, “and if I’m legally dead,” I whispered, “our marriage never existed.” Lucas nodded once. “It becomes void.” My stomach twisted. Adrian stepped closer to me. Not touching. Just near enough that I could feel his presence.

“Look at me,” he said.

I did.

“You are not disappearing,” he continued. “Not from this house. Not from this fight.” “You don’t control national databases,” I replied. “No,” he said. “But I control what happens next.”

His certainty steadied something inside me. Lucas’ phone buzzed again. He checked it, and his expression shifted. “There’s already a statement,” he said, “From who?” Adrian asked.

“Victor.”

Of course. Lucas read it aloud.

“Victor Vale confirms the tragic loss of his estranged daughter, Seraphina, following prolonged mental instability. He asks for privacy during this difficult time.” Mental instability, I felt anger rise fast, sharp, and hot. “He’s burying me with lies,” I said. Adrian’s eyes darkened. “He’s closing every legal door.”

“He can’t prove I’m dead.”

“He doesn’t need to,” Lucas replied. “The system reflects it. Financial institutions will freeze your assets. Your passport is void. Your signature is invalid.” I felt something close to panic now. “I have nothing,” I said quietly.

Adrian’s voice softened just a fraction. “You have me,” the words landed heavily. I didn’t know whether to feel grateful or exposed. A sudden knock at the door broke the moment, and Lucas checked the security feed.

“Elena,” he said.

My pulse jumped.

“She’s alone,” Lucas added. Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Let her in.” “What?” I snapped. I want to see her, he said calmly. “That’s reckless.”

“No,” he replied. “It’s direct.” Lucas hesitated but opened the gate remotely; minutes later, she walked into the living room like she owned it.

Elena looked exactly like me, the same height. Same hair. Same eyes, but her smile was different, soft, controlled, almost kind, “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said gently. The nerve, Adrian stood beside me, unmoving.

“You’re not sorry,” I replied.

She tilted her head slightly. “You were always dramatic.” My stomach twisted. You don’t know me. I know enough, she said. Her eyes flicked to Adrian for a second. Measuring him. “I see why Father thought this marriage was a mistake,” she added lightly. Jealousy flared unexpectedly in my chest; she was testing him.

Adrian didn’t react.

“Elena,” he said calmly, “you’re trespassing.”

She smiled faintly. “Am I? Legally, Seraphina doesn’t live here,” the words hit like a slap. “Your biometric confirmation cleared today,” she continued. “National systems updated. I’m officially the sole Vale heir.”

Lucas shifted slightly, tense.

“You forged it,” I said. She looked at me almost sadly. “You were always too emotional,” anger burned under my skin. You stole my identity. “No,” she corrected softly. “I inherited it.”

The arrogance in her tone made my hands curl into fists. Adrian stepped slightly forward, placing himself half in front of me without looking like he was, “Why come here?” he asked evenly. “To see if she’d break,” Elena replied honestly. I hated that answer, “And?” Adrian asked.

She studied me closely, “You’re shaking,” she said, “I’m not afraid of you.” “You should be.”

Her voice lost its softness for a second, “There’s no proof I’m alive,” I said. “I’m standing here,” she gave a small smile, “Legally, you’re an impersonator.” The word cut deeper than I expected. Impersonator, as if I were the fake, Adrian’s voice lowered.

“You’re overconfident.”

Elena’s gaze moved to him fully now, “You signed the agreement, Adrian.”

Silence fell hard.

“What agreement?” I demanded. He didn’t answer; Elena did. “The contingency clause,” she said calmly. “If Seraphina proved unstable, the marriage would be dissolved without financial consequence.”

My stomach dropped.

“That’s not true,” I said, turning to Adrian. His jaw tightened, “It was a safeguard,” he said quietly. “For who?” I whispered, “For both sides.” “Don’t lie,” Elena cut in softly. “It protected him.”

The room felt like it was tilting, “You planned an exit,” I said, “It was a precaution.” You didn’t tell me, you didn’t tell me you were investigating my systems. The old argument surfaced again, but it felt sharper now. Elena watched us with interest.

“This is why Father said you were sentimental,” she said to Adrian. “You let emotions blur strategy.”

That hit his pride.

“You assume too much,” he replied coldly. She smiled faintly. “Do I?” Then she looked at me again, “You could come home,” she said gently. The offer stunned me. “What?” “Father is willing to forgive. Publicly. You admit instability. Step away quietly, and live as what?” I asked, and she shrugged lightly. “A private citizen.”

So that was it, Erasure, Complete.

“And if I refuse?” I asked, her expression cooled, “Then you remain dead.” The finality in her tone chilled me. Adrian’s voice cut in. You underestimate her. Elena looked at him again. “Do you?” she asked softly.

For a brief second, something unreadable passed between them. And jealousy hit me again, unexpected and sharp.

She saw it.

Her eyes flicked back to me. “You really don’t see it,” she said quietly. “See what?” I snapped. You were never the primary daughter. The words hit hard, “You were the experiment.”

Silence.

“What does that mean?” Adrian asked, sharper now, Elena tilted her head slightly. “Father built her,” she said softly. “Educated her. Controlled her. Tested her loyalty.”

“And you?” I demanded, and I was kept clean.

The difference landed. “You were the prototype,” she continued gently. “I was the final version.” Rage surged through me. You think you’re better? “No,” she said calmly. “Just more obedient.”

Before I could respond, Lucas’ phone buzzed loudly.

He looked at it and went pale. “Adrian,” he said. “What now?” Lucas swallowed. The biotech firm just filed emergency documentation, “For what?” Adrian asked sharply, and Lucas looked at me. “They registered a new identity.”

My pulse pounded. What identity? I whispered.

Lucas held my gaze's

“Seraphina Vale.”

Silence exploded in the room. Elena’s smile didn’t fade. “They just certified her birth,” Lucas continued slowly. “Different mother. Different records.” I stared at Elena. You weren’t adopted, I whispered. She didn’t answer.

Adrian’s voice dropped into something deadly calm. “Victor had two daughters.” Elena finally spoke. “No,” she said softly, she looked straight at me, “He had one.” The meaning hit like a gunshot. I felt the world shift under my feet. “You’re lying,” I said, but my voice sounded distant. Elena’s eyes softened for the first time. “You really don’t remember, do you?” “Remember what?” Adrian demanded. Elena stepped back toward the door.

“Ask him,” she said quietly.

“Ask who?” I shouted.

She smiled faintly. “Ask your father why your blood type doesn’t match his.” The door closed behind her, and silence filled the room. Slowly, very slowly, Adrian turned to look at me, “Is that true?” he asked quietly.

My mouth felt dry, and I searched my memory for hospital forms. School records. Medical files.

One detail I had never questioned, one detail I had never checked.

And suddenly. I wasn’t sure.