Chapter 162 - Just A Replacement
As her mind began wandering and wondering, her phone suddenly vibrated in the pocket of the hoody she wore on a pair of black jean shorts. When she pulled it out and saw the caller's ID, all the thoughts simply evaporated from her brain.
A smile slowly lifted the corners of her mouth as she stared at the screen of her phone for a while before picking the call. Finally, someone who isn't judging her as someone who is jealous and not being herself has called her.
"What do you think about eating lunch with me?" the male voice from the other end invited her over.
"Sure," she said blushing a little at the thought of having lunch with him despite the fact that she just filled her stomach up with brunch. She ran to her room to get changed.
Changed into the dress she wanted to wear out, she walked out of her room trying to hang her satchel on her shoulder. She paused in front of a door which has been closed from the moment she walked into this house as this family's adopted daughter. Shaking her head, she walked pass the door.
He was right, he was right that she was adopted to replace the little girl they lost. She was just a replacement for their perfect daughter who died before she was adopted. She has never felt offended by it but at this moment, she could not help but feel annoyed. She could still remember what the girl looked like in the picture she saw in Valerie's office.
Then, she was very cautious and did not say anything about the smiling girl in the picture. She was just a toddler in the picture but Anna could not help but notice a few resemblances. The girl had long black hair and a black beautiful set of eyes just like hers. She subconsciously raised her and touched her hair.
He was once again very right; it was time for her to go back to her roots. It was time for her to find her biological parents. Perhaps they were in a very tight situation that they had not option than to leave her at the orphanage home.
She met Rose who was walking out of the elevator and she could not help but frown. This was it, Rose too was just a substitute. She was also adopted just like he said to replace her if she never wakes up from the coma.
Rose looked very much like Valerie and no matter what anyone says, she refused to believe that Rose was not related to Valerie in any way. They looked so much and according to what she found out, most of the descendants of Valerie's grandmother look alike.
"Mara said mum and dad will be around for dinner. I think you should be back before dinner time," Rose informed her when she got close to her.
"Okay," Anna replied naturally and entered the elevator. She looked at Rose's departing back when she turned to press the button to close the elevator. Rose hair, her eyes too which was not totally green but it had a few traces of green that someone will hardly miss when looking at her hair, her comportment all pointed to the fact that Rose could actually be Valerie's biological daughter or even the lost princess like he suggested.
Rose felt someone's gaze was fixed on her back and she turned to look back. She saw Anna staring at her just before the door closed and she shook her head before walking into her room. Anna was not yet her full enemy and there was a chance that she could recreate the bond they had as sisters before it becomes too late.
She did not know Liam much but she knew very well that he was going to eliminate anything or anyone obstructing his way to becoming king. It was best for her to prevent her sister from becoming a stumbling block on his part by betraying her. She really liked Anna. Anna gave her the happiness she lost from the night her mother died. She was more or less the only family she had.
***
"About going to college," Anna began when she found the opportunity to speak while they were eating dinner.
"I was too busy to reply your text," Justin said. He only paused long enough for him to say that before taking a small piece of steak into his mouth to eat.
"It is okay," Anna said naturally. "I applied for a science and technology college here in B city and another in A city," Anna explained. She was accustomed to their usual excuse of them been busy especially her foster father.
She used to admire the fact that they were accomplished multibillionaires but now, she had no atom of admiration she only realized that her foster father was hardly around in their family home because he wanted to stay away from them as much as possible since they were nothing close to him in his heart as his late daughter.
He simply had them adopted because of his wife and for the sake of doing some good for the community by bringing some poor orphans into his luxury home and giving them the opportunity to live in luxury and have his great family's name.
"Why did you choose A city or B city?" Valerie asked with her face brightened up in interest. She placed her cutleries down gracefully and leaned back.
Anna really wanted to say it is so she could be away from Rose who thinks she is jealous of her but she bit back those words and swallowed them down along with the slice of the juicy steak she just swallowed. "I could not get into the Royal university," Anna simply with a carefree smile.
"You did not tell me early enough or I would have spoken to few people. They must have made a mistake because there is no reason you should not get accepted," Valerie said obviously displeased. "I know you are smart and you are very qualified to get accept. I will tell my secretary to investigate it. I want to know why."
"I had you were one of the best science students in B city from the examination. I saw the charts. You are clearly among the zero point thirty percent of top students with excellent IQ," Justin said unhappily. He also placed his cutleries down. "I came back because of this issue. I have somebody looking into it but the lead they got was very unreasonable. When they are done with the investigation, I will let you all know."
Rose took in a deep breath. She confirmed that Liam had nothing to do with it but a little part of her still feared that it might all lead to him although she knew very well that even if he did it, he will not leave any trace.
"Your dad and I will investigate this matter and find the reason behind it all. I don't think you should a school you don't like," Valerie advised her sincerely.
"No, I am fine. I got accepted by the two schools and I have the right to decide the school I want to go to. I will be leaving for A city soon for an acceptance test," Anna said trying hard to appear unbothered by both the situation she was in and the care and concern her foster parents showed about the issue. She thought they will immediately agree with her decision without caring about what led to it.
"I know you are fine with it but we are not going to let you get treated unfairly," Valerie said seriously. She smiled encouragingly at Anna before finally picking up her cutleries.
"Thank you," Anna found herself saying. She looked down and continued eating when she realized she was actually touched by the concern they showed her. She glanced at Rose who was busy eating her dinner and frowned slightly. She did not know what to feel out looking at her sister who looked very much left out in the family conversation. They did not even bother to ask her if she got accepted.
When her heart began to soften towards Anna, she snapped it back to it toughness. She convinced herself that they did not talk about Rose getting accepted because they wanted her to feel better and not intimidated by the fact that Rose hot accepted but she did not get accepted.
"Come here," Valerie called out to Anna after dinner with her hands spread out towards Anna.
Anna knew what that was for and without hesitation she hugged her foster mother who gave her gentle pats on her lower back soothingly. She reminded herself over and over while she was in foster mother's embrace that she shouldn't let it make her heart waver.
"It is going to be okay," Valerie promised her. "If you want to go to the Royal University, I will make them realize that they made a mistake by losing such a beautiful and talented girl," Valerie encouraged.. She pulled away from the embrace and placed a gentle kiss on Anna's forehead.