Chapter 448: Chapter 448: Perry Family

Her sobs grew louder, more dramatic.

Then, as if gathering strength, she wiped her tears and said softly, “It’s alright… I understand.”

She stepped closer again, her hand reaching out as if to gently pat Lana’s head.

“As long as I can see you… I’m happy.”

Her eyes glistened, filled with what appeared to be motherly affection.

Lana, however, only rolled her eyes slightly.

’Enough of this performance,’ she thought coldly.

“How much money do you want?” Lana asked bluntly.

The words cut through the act like a blade.

Beatrice froze. So did Gill.

For a brief moment, silence fell.

Then Harold, standing beside them, smiled casually and said, “Not much. Just two hundred million dollars.”

Both Beatrice and Gill immediately shot him sharp glances.

Harold only chuckled lightly, completely unfazed.

Lana studied him carefully.

He looked exactly the same as he had in her previous life: dark brown hair, blue eyes, and that same shameless confidence.

Her gaze shifted briefly across the others before returning to Beatrice.

“Two hundred million?” Lana repeated calmly.

Inside, however, Beatrice sneered.

’That’s just the beginning,’ she thought greedily. ’With time, we’ll get far more.’

After all, she had already heard rumors Lana supposedly possessed eight billion dollars in assets.

Two hundred million was nothing in comparison.

Even as such thoughts filled her mind, she continued her act flawlessly.

Tears streamed down her face as she said, “I’m so sorry you had to go through so much.” …”

Gill’s expression softened and he said,

“I can pick you up and drop you off at the university… anything to make you feel better.”

Lana’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’They’re not here for me,’ she realized instantly. ’They want access, to the house, the cars… everything.’

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Beatrice stepping forward.

“I can stay here and cook for her,” Beatrice added quickly, smiling sweetly. “That way, she won’t feel alone.”

Lana remained silent, her gaze turning colder.

Then Harold spoke again, as if everything had already been decided.

“There’s a school nearby,” he said casually. “I can stay here too. That way, I can help you if you face any problems at university.”

The audacity and the entitlement were almost laughable.

Lana let out a soft chuckle.

“I can give you twenty dollars,” she said casually, her lips curling into a faint smile, “so you can go back to your real house right now.”

She paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping across their stiffened faces before continuing, her tone turning colder.

“And if you don’t… then I’ll have to do a paternity test,” she added, her voice calm yet threatening. “I’m sure that would completely ruin whatever plan you’re trying to run here.”

The moment those words left her lips, Beatrice and Gill froze.

A flicker of panic flashed across their eyes.

In truth, when Brenda had returned to the Almond family, they had already secretly conducted a paternity test.

With the help of Mr. Almond and Mrs. Almond, they had confirmed something shocking… Lana was not their biological daughter.

Even so, that truth had not stopped their greed. But now…

Now Lana stood before them as if she already knew everything.

A chill crept up their spines.

They exchanged a quick glance before turning back to her, their expressions shifting into forced indignation.

“What do you mean by that?” Beatrice snapped, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt to sound angry.

“Just because we didn’t raise you, you think you can question whether you’re our daughter or not?”

Gill immediately chimed in, trying to maintain the act. “We carried you for ten months,” he said firmly. “You were born into this world because of us.”

Lana simply nodded, her expression indifferent, almost amused.

“From what I know,” she replied slowly, her voice laced with quiet mockery, “you hated your own daughter so much that you swapped her with another child when she was born.”

Her eyes darkened as she continued.

“And after raising the wrong child, you planned to retrieve the original one later… just so you could squeeze money out of her.”

She tilted her head slightly. “Truly impressive.”

The moment she laid out their scheme so plainly, both Beatrice’s and Gill’s faces turned pale.

Lana exhaled softly before speaking again.

“If you don’t leave now,” she said, “and if you continue to irritate me… I might just have you locked up somewhere so remote that no one will ever find you.”

Her eyes met theirs directly.

“And trust me, I’m not joking.”

Seeing the seriousness in her gaze, Beatrice and Gill felt their confidence crumble.

Without another word, they turned and began to walk away, their steps hurried and unsteady.

But Harold… he was not willing to let it go so easily.

His eyes drifted toward the grand mansion behind Lana, its sheer size and luxury reflecting in his pupils.

’She’s my sister,’ he thought bitterly. ’Everything she has should be mine too.’

Without hesitation, he raised his hand, aiming to slap her.

But before his hand could reach her… Snap.

Lana flicked her finger lightly.

In the next instant, Harold’s body was thrown backward as if struck by an invisible force.

He crashed onto the ground with a heavy thud, the impact knocking the breath out of him.

He stared at Lana in disbelief, his chest heaving.

“What… what did you just do?” he stammered, his voice shaking. “Did you just hit me? How dare you… how dare you lay a hand on me!”

Lana smiled faintly.

There was no surprise in her eyes.

’Still the same,’ she thought coldly. ’A master at playing the victim.’

In her previous life, Harold had often acted like this… pretending to be innocent, twisting every situation to his advantage.

And now, he did not even need to pretend.

He had already started his performance.

“Pathetic,” she murmured softly. “Guards.”

Just as Harold opened his mouth to continue shouting, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed nearby.

Within seconds, security guards rushed in from both directions, their presence firm and imposing.

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