Chapter 571: Chapter 571: Identity Exposed
As the last two words settled, the entire council hall fell silent.
Though her mouth was gagged, Laura Quinn refused to behave and struggled violently. Her eyes, looking at Cyrus Hawthorne, were full of jealousy upon closer inspection.
But when a name long forgotten by her and everyone else was brought up again—
That name, to "Laura Quinn," already seemed like something from a past life.
Yet, the moment she heard "Wanda Chamberlain," her body instinctively shuddered fiercely, with terror and panic rising from the depths of her soul.
Was "Laura Quinn" the only one shocked?
Compared to the bewildered members of The Hawthorne Family, Old Master Hawthorne was struggling to catch his breath. His hand holding the cane trembled uncontrollably, yet he insisted on standing up.
Seeing this, Ann Vaughn immediately stepped forward to support Old Master Hawthorne, pressing a pressure point on his hand to alleviate it, and softly reminded him, "Grandfather, take care of your health."
After supporting Old Master Hawthorne, Ann Vaughn didn’t speak again.
Because she was bewildered as well.
Wasn’t Wanda Chamberlain Laura Quinn’s already deceased sister?
Cyrus Hawthorne had just claimed that "Laura Quinn" had impersonated his mother’s identity for so many years... Could this "Laura Quinn" actually be a fake?!!
"Roll up her sleeves!" Old Master Hawthorne’s sharp eyes glanced at "Laura Quinn" without saying much else, directly ordering.
Those holding "Laura Quinn" immediately complied, causing the gag in "Laura Quinn’s" mouth to fall out.
If she was indeed an imposter, how could "Laura Quinn" have the natural birthmark that only the genuine one possessed on her arm?
Even without conducting a verification, Old Master Hawthorne could immediately confirm that the "Laura Quinn" who had stayed with The Hawthorne Family for decades was a complete impostor!
"Absurd! This is simply absurd!" Old Master Hawthorne’s cane heavily struck the floor. After his aggravated exclamation, he coughed.
Cyrus Hawthorne’s cold brow furrowed slightly. Raising a hand, he gently patted Old Master Hawthorne’s back, speaking in a low, calm voice, full of reassurance: "I will handle this matter, you should rest."
But how could Old Master Hawthorne rest assured?
It’s not that he worried Cyrus Hawthorne couldn’t handle it, but his mind full of doubts couldn’t be settled without answers.
"No need." Old Master Hawthorne waved his hand, coughed again, and said, "Since everyone’s here today, let’s resolve this in front of everyone as witnesses."
Old Master Hawthorne genuinely felt indebted and guilty towards Laura Quinn. When her shares were taken, he transferred several properties and companies to her as compensation.
But towards Wanda Chamberlain... Old Master Hawthorne only felt heartbroken.
Laura Quinn, or rather, Wanda Chamberlain.
When the glamorous shell worn for too long is stripped away, it must be torn with flesh.
Wanda Chamberlain relished decades of prosperity that wasn’t hers. She felt inherently superior, unable to tolerate the disdainful eyes directed at her by so many.
"I am Laura Quinn! How can you claim I’m not?" Wanda Chamberlain gritted her teeth, making one last struggle, "If you don’t believe, take me for verification!"
"You and Laura Quinn are identical twins, similar in appearance, even with matching DNA; you must have banked on this to deceive everyone." Old Master Hawthorne shook his head, "Yet you didn’t know Laura Quinn had a birthmark on her arm."
Wanda Chamberlain’s face froze, filled with disbelief, "That’s impossible!"
Wanda Chamberlain knew every mole on Laura Quinn, it couldn’t be possible for her to have a birthmark and yet she hadn’t discovered it!
What Wanda Chamberlain didn’t know was that Laura Quinn disliked that birthmark, often covering it with foundation, so very few people knew about it.
Old Master Hawthorne had only discovered it by happenstance when he saw Laura Quinn’s uncovered arm and casually asked about it.
Otherwise, if Wanda Chamberlain insisted she was Laura Quinn today, Old Master Hawthorne felt helpless against her...
No.
Suddenly, Old Master Hawthorne recalled something, his eyes probingly glancing at the tall, stately Cyrus Hawthorne standing beside him with a stern expression.
Cian didn’t know about this birthmark, so how had he uncovered Wanda Chamberlain’s true identity?
"Oh... I remember now." After a moment of panic, Wanda Chamberlain instantly regained her composure, arguing, "I did have a birthmark on my arm, but I found it unsightly and had it removed through surgery!"
"If you’re going to stubbornly claim I’m not Laura Quinn, then provide concrete evidence to prove it instead of mere verbal slander here!"
In Cyrus Hawthorne’s deep and narrow eyes flashed a trace of mockery. His lips barely curved into a subtle smile, yet he remained silent.
Alas...
Even Ann Vaughn was somewhat impressed by Wanda Chamberlain’s psychological resilience, refusing to face reality at this point and firmly claiming herself as Laura Quinn.
Back then, the reported deceased was "Wanda Chamberlain" in name, yet it was truly Laura Quinn.
The real Laura Quinn was dead; Wanda Chamberlain banked on the impossibility of Laura Quinn confronting her face-to-face, hence her confidence.
Seeing no one refute her, Wanda Chamberlain’s eyes brimmed with arrogance and ferocity. Her entire face appeared increasingly eerie: "If you have the capability, let Laura Chamberlain resurrect from death to confront me; if not, then shut up—"
"Since you’re so eager to confront me face-to-face, how could I deny you the opportunity?"
Just then, a gentle yet commanding female voice echoed from the council hall entrance.
Everyone turned towards the sound and saw a woman of extraordinary temperament wearing a modest outfit, being supported by Mark Joyce as she walked in.
Undoubtedly more astonishing was her face, extremely akin to Wanda Chamberlain’s, yet with a utterly different grace.
This woman’s identity... was almost unmistakably apparent!
"It’s been a long time, Wanda," Laura Quinn confronted Wanda Chamberlain with a slight chill in her Phoenix eyes, "I bet you didn’t expect me to survive after you pushed me into the sea, did you?"
"You... why...?" When the person considered dead for years suddenly appeared in front of her, Wanda Chamberlain trembled in fear, her eyes glazed.
Laura Quinn understood exactly what she wanted to ask, "I couldn’t simply die; otherwise, how would I witness this day when you face retribution?"
She had waited years for this day, years plagued by adversity, self-abandonment.
Reflecting upon the second half of her life marred with grief and despair, wrought by her own sister who had replaced her, seized her children and family, leaving her existing prospersously—
Who could not hate?
"Years ago, you couldn’t beguile Sudia, so you used my name to send him abroad, actually arranging his murder, later deceiving me onto the yacht and pushing me into the sea, never considering I might survive?"
Upon hearing Laura Quinn’s words, Old Master Hawthorne’s eyes filled with deep sorrow, gazing at Wanda Chamberlain with only loathing, "Sudia was killed because of you!?"