Chapter 5

"Aaron, apologize to your sister!" Richard Maxwell glared at his son.

Over forty and being told by his own father to apologize to someone else, this heir to a prominent family seemed to lose face.

"What did I say wrong? All of this is someone else's fault! Aren't we victims here?" Aaron said coldly, "If she's so full of resentment, why even come back?"

Why come back?

Good question.

I didn't bother with whether Aaron would apologize or not. Instead, I looked at my so-called parents and asked very seriously, "What kind of compensation were you referring to earlier?"

Upon hearing this, Aaron revealed a "just as I expected" expression, and the contempt in his eyes reappeared.

My elderly but distinguished parents, however, remained relatively calm.

Evelyn took out two cards.

"Seraphina, this card has five million dollars, which you can use as you wish. The other is my supplementary card; you can use it for your daily expenses. Also, if you're willing, you can move back into the house, or we can arrange a place for you."

Five million, a supplementary card, a house.

For an average working-class family, this might indeed be a sincere offer of compensation.

But from Aaron’s expression, it was clear he didn’t think much of these offerings.

Five million was less than the luxury car that brought me here.

Not to mention, it paled in comparison to the money they had spent on their other two children.

They didn't see a hint of joy on my face, nor the expected reaction on my twin daughters' faces.

I smiled. "I thought compensation, at the very least, should be comparable to what your other children received. Like company shares, for example."

Aaron immediately became agitated. "Seraphina Hayes, don't be so greedy! You just got back and you're already demanding shares?"

"Isn't this what I should rightfully receive?" I retorted, "I heard Eleanor also has 5%. Shouldn't I have at least as much as her?"

"Dad, Mom, you see? I told you! She only came back for the Maxwells' money!"

I found it amusing. "If you don't care about money, why are you so agitated?"

"You—"

According to what I'd gathered, the Maxwell Group was still largely under Richard Maxwell's control; he hadn't fully transferred his shares and equity to his son.

Eleanor was never the elders' preferred heir. Although she held a position in the Maxwell Group, it was mostly honorary. Everyone assumed the succession would primarily fall to Aaron.

My recognition as a biological daughter meant one more person to divide things among.

Eleanor had no standing to object, but Aaron did.

Clearly, when it came to their own interests, no one could sit still.

"Enough," Richard Maxwell finally spoke. "Seraphina, take these for now. The other things can't be sorted out immediately. Let's just have the welcome dinner for you and the children first."

It was his way of ending the discussion.

He didn't say yes, nor did he say no, dangling a carrot to keep us intrigued.

The Maxwell family's welcome dinner was merely a family affair.

As they had said, they didn't intend to make my identity public, nor would they publicly reveal Eleanor's true identity.

As people age, the reunion with their biological child brings a certain sentimentality.

Moreover, the appearance of my daughters and me wasn't exactly embarrassing.

But wanting both their biological daughter and grandchildren close, *and* wanting peace and prosperity for the family? Such a perfect scenario was impossible.