The question took them by surprise.
Albert belatedly realized what a grave mistake he had made just now. He forgot his father would hear his words in the reception hall. It wouldn't have been a problem if the things he had just said were uttered privately, but it happened during an important day!
Turning around, Albert fearfully looked at his father. He and the old man shared the same appearance, and many have told Albert that inheriting his father's genes was his blessing as he easily received Russo's and his grandparent's favor and approval to become the next patriarch.
But the truth is, Albert paled in comparison to his father.
Even now, Albert couldn't achieve what his father achieved at a young age, riding on the old man's coattail until he was in his middle age.
Thus, facing that fearsome look on his father's face, Albert's previous violent outburst filled with aggression towards his daughter, vanished. He became like a flower that suddenly got shy and closed its petals.
"What do I think?" Russo repeated Rosalie's question with intrigue.
This was the first time someone asked him a question so straightforwardly.
Under everyone's gaze, Russo smiled and said, "I think your father is right. Although Emma isn't your real mother, she's still your father's wife. You should be more obedient and respectful towards her."
At once, Emma's face lit up as she barely controlled her glee.
"When she saw Russo standing behind them, she felt her soul flying away. The old man was not the same as Albert; he wouldn't be easy to fool. But seeing that he did not side with Rosalie and even helped them scold her on their behalf, she was instantly elated.
Emma returned her gaze to Rosalie, eagerly anticipating her reaction to what had just happened. Unfortunately, Rosalie's response was completely unexpected, surpassing everyone's expectations.
After being reprimanded in front of everyone, instead of looking sad and helpless, Rosalie beamed even more brightly. She appeared as if she had just won the lottery and became an instant billionaire, which confused Emma and Albert. Even Russo, who wanted to test Rosalie, was shocked.
Rosalie smiled gracefully and said, "Grandfather is right. I should respect my elders." Unexpectedly, she agreed immediately. Before Russo had a chance to acknowledge her quick thinking in backing down, Rosalie spoke again, "Unfortunately, that's not the case."
She paused and looked at Albert. "You're not my elder."
Then she met Russo's dazed look and continued, "You're also not it."
Finally, she looked at Emma, who tensed up. "And you're definitely not my elder."
Sensing that something was wrong, Russo stepped forward unconsciously. He didn't know why he did that, but his several years of experience told him that whatever Rosalie was about to say was not good and he needed to stop her.
But the distance between them made it difficult for him to reach her. In addition, he had been using the cane to support his body for quite a while now.
And so, before he could get a step towards her, the words had already left Rosalie's seductive mouth.
"Because I am not a real Ameratti."
...
Her revelation brought forth chaos that had never happened before.
Did she say she's not a real Ameratti?
What does that even mean?
No, could it be...
Many people who had heard Rosalie turned to look at each other's faces, exchanging knowing looks.
This could only mean one thing. Rosalie was a fake daughter!
While people were making speculations about what Rosalie had just revealed, the members of the said Ameratti family took this discussion somewhere else.
Looking at their anxious and grim expression, Rosalie finds it hard not to laugh.
When Richard was making a commotion, it was not dealt with immediately.
When Emma and Albert scornfully reproached her for not respecting them, no one reacted.
And when Russo stepped in, everyone was waiting for her to lower her head and apologize to Emma and Albert.
As soon as it was Rosalie's turn, the Ameratti took immediate action and dragged her into a private room behind the stage.
Wasn't this a blatant discrimination? Rosalie hummed inwardly.
She wasn't really surprised by their reaction. She had known long ago that the Ameratti family had already known before that she was not Albert's daughter.
In her previous life, she couldn't understand why the Ameratti family, with whom she had lived for such a long time, would suddenly turn their backs on her as soon as it was revealed that she wasn't Albert's daughter. For a long time, she agonized over and pondered this mystery. She even thought that maybe she was the one who had been wrong all along and that she deserved every punishment and harsh treatment they had thrown at her.
But when she finally died, Rosalie found the truth that she didn't want to learn.
It was that Ameratti had long known that she was not Albert's child. But they couldn't toss her away because Albert's real child was not found yet. They must have searched and searched, and finally, when they found his daughter, they decided to make use of the founding party to reveal that she didn't belong to the Ameratti family because she was a fake!
With this, not only will Rosalie be unable to raise her head publicly as she had before when she still considered herself as a wealthy family's child, Elise's return will become the talk in town and of course, the attention of everyone will turn to her. Finally, Rosalie will be forgotten and buried under Elise's light.
As for the reason why the old patriarch agreed to let her stay in the family as an adoptive child...
Rosalie coldly chuckled.
Would Russo really let go of a child nurtured by the Ameratti family without reaping any benefits?
"Do you even realize the situation you've put everyone in, Rosalie?" Russo couldn't contain his anger any longer. He banged the cane he was holding on the floor to express his dissatisfaction.
Rosalie didn't make a sound, making her way to a nearby sit and sat down.
She appeared very relaxed and composed, even in the midst of the chaos she created.