"What is your full name?"
The question caught Stephanie completely off guard.
She blinked in surprise, her eyes shifting briefly to Adrian before looking back at the elderly man.
For a moment, she wondered if she had heard him correctly.
My full name?
Countless thoughts rushed through her mind.
Why would he ask me that?
Did I say something wrong?
Was there a problem?
Meeting Adrian's grandparents had already made her nervous.
Although Adrian had never treated her any differently, she couldn't help feeling insecure sometimes. His family was wealthy and respected, while she had grown up with very little and had never truly felt like she belonged anywhere.
A small voice inside her whispered...
Maybe they're trying to find out who I really am.
Her name had never seemed important to her.
It was simply the name her mother had given her.
She knew almost nothing about the man whose surname she carried, and her mother had never been willing to talk about him.
After years of asking without getting answers, Stephanie had eventually stopped asking altogether.
Taking a quiet breath, she answered politely.
"My name is Stephanie Louis Larento."
The words had barely left her lips when the atmosphere around the table changed completely.
——
The words had barely left her lips when the atmosphere around the table changed completely.
"My name is Stephanie Louis Larento."
Silence.
It wasn't the ordinary kind of silence.
It was the kind that carried years of unanswered questions, grief, hope, and disbelief.
Stephanie looked around, suddenly uneasy.
She had expected a polite smile.
Perhaps another compliment.
Instead...
Everyone was staring at her.
Her grandparents could barely breathe.
Adrian's grandfather slowly lowered the glass in his hand.
His wife instinctively reached for his arm.
The Larentos sat frozen.
Neither of them dared to speak.
Tears welled in Madeleine's eyes as she searched Stephanie's face once more.
There was no denying it now.
The resemblance.
The name.
Everything pointed to the same impossible truth.
Henri finally found his voice.
"...Louis."
It was barely a whisper.
A father's whisper.
A name he had spoken countless times in his heart over the years.
Stephanie shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm... sorry."
"Did I say something wrong?"
Madeleine quickly shook her head.
"No, my dear."
Her voice trembled.
"You've done nothing wrong."
Adrian looked from his grandparents to the Larentos.
His heart began to race.
The name echoed in his mind.
Stephanie Louis Larento.
It couldn't be...
His thoughts drifted back to the stories he had heard growing up.
The Larento family's only son.
Louis.
His tragic death.
His wife, Evelyn.
And their little daughter who disappeared shortly afterward.
The story had shaken everyone in their social circle.
People talked about it for years.
Some believed the child had died.
Others believed Evelyn had taken her away.
But no one had ever known the truth.
Adrian slowly turned toward Stephanie.
His chest tightened.
No...
Please tell me this isn't what I'm thinking...
Beside him, Maya stood speechless.
Her eyes moved between Stephanie and the elderly couple.
Wait...
The Larentos?
As in the Larentos?
She had heard the name many times.
One of France's most respected and influential families.
Her gaze returned to Stephanie.
So all this time...
Stephanie wasn't just anyone.
She belonged to one of the wealthiest families in the country...
Yet she grew up without knowing any of them.
A lump formed in Maya's throat.
She couldn't imagine how lonely that must have been.
Madeleine slowly reached for Stephanie's hand once again.
This time, she held it with both of hers.
"My dear..."
she said gently,
"May I ask you something?"
Stephanie nodded.
"Yes."
"Your mother..."
Madeleine paused, struggling to steady her voice.
"Is her name Evelyn?"
Stephanie's eyes widened.
"...Yes."
The answer came almost automatically.
"My mother's name is Evelyn."
Henri closed his eyes.
A tear escaped before he could stop it.
Adrian's grandmother covered her mouth in shock.
"Oh, my goodness..."
Stephanie looked around the table, completely confused.
"How..."
"How do you know my mother's name?"
No one answered immediately.
Henri opened his eyes again.
"Is she..."
He swallowed hard.
"Is she still alive?"
Stephanie nodded slowly.
"Yes."
A faint smile appeared on her lips before fading just as quickly.
"She's alive."
"But..."
Her voice softened.
"We've never really had a close relationship."
The words broke something inside Madeleine.
She lowered her head, silently wiping away her tears.
Henri spoke carefully.
"Did your mother ever tell you about Louis?"
Stephanie shook her head.
"No."
"I only knew his name."
"Whenever I asked about him, she always changed the subject."
"Eventually..."
She forced a small smile.
"I stopped asking."
"I thought maybe remembering him was too painful for her."
The four elderly people exchanged stunned looks.
Questions flooded their minds.
If Evelyn was alive...
Why had she never come back?
Why had she hidden Stephanie for all these years?
Why had she allowed the little girl Louis adored to grow up without knowing her family?
Stephanie looked from one face to another.
Her confusion was turning into fear.
"Please..."
she whispered.
"Someone tell me what's happening."
Henri stepped closer.
His hands trembled as he gently held hers.
His eyes were filled with tears.
"My dear..."
"My name is Henri Larento."
He glanced at the woman beside him.
"And this is my wife, Madeleine."
Stephanie frowned slightly.
The surname...
It was the same as hers.
Henri's voice broke.
"Louis M. Larento..."
"He was our only son."
Stephanie's breath caught.
Madeleine could no longer hold back.
With tears streaming down her face, she gently cupped Stephanie's cheeks.
"My precious girl..."
she whispered.
"We've searched for you for so many years."
"We never stopped hoping."
Stephanie felt the room begin to spin.
Her heart pounded against her chest.
She looked at Adrian.
He was just as stunned as she was.
He hadn't simply introduced his girlfriend to his grandparents.
Without realizing it...
He had reunited two generations of the Larento family.
Around them, whispers spread through the hall.
"Did you hear what they said?"
"Could she really be Louis Larento's daughter?"
"The missing Larento child..."
"I thought she was gone forever..."
But Stephanie heard none of it.
She stared at Henri and Madeleine, tears gathering in her own eyes.
Her voice came out as little more than a whisper.
"If what you're saying is true..."
"...why did my mother keep me away from all of you?"