Chapter 13: The Man Who Called Himself My Father
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The woman standing behind Victor Kane looked exactly like me.
Same eyes. Same mouth. Same small crescent-shaped mark behind her left ear.
But there was something in her expression that I didn't recognize.
Hatred.
“Olivia?”” I whispered.
She gave me a cold smile.
“You finally learned my name.””
I looked at Eleanor.
“Tell me that DNA report is fake.””
Eleanor's lips trembled.
“Sophia, I can explain.””
“Then explain!””
Victor stepped forward, holding his hands behind his back.
“Your mother has spent her entire life protecting a lie. I thought it was time someone told you the truth.””
“Don't call her my mother,” I snapped.
His smile widened.
“Interesting. You know, Richard used to say exactly the same thing about me.””
Daniel laughed softly.
“Can we get back to business? We're not here for a family reunion.””
Andrew moved toward Vanessa.
Martin immediately pulled a gun from his jacket.
“Don't.””
Andrew stopped.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“Put that away, Martin.””
“Give me the ownership certificates.””
I held the metal case tighter.
“Not until Vanessa is free.””
Daniel walked toward me.
“Still trying to negotiate? You really haven't learned anything.””
He reached for the case.
I stepped back.
“Touch me, and you'll regret it.””
He laughed.
“You used to say things like that when we were married. Then you'd go home and cry because I didn't come to bed.””
I looked at him.
“I didn't cry because you didn't come to bed.””
His smile faltered.
“I cried because I thought I had married someone who loved me.””
For the first time, Daniel had nothing to say.
Olivia approached Victor.
“Let's finish this.””
I looked at her.
“Why are you helping him?””
She turned toward me.
“Because while you grew up in a beautiful house with a loving family, I grew up believing I had been abandoned.””
“I didn't know you existed.””
“Exactly. You didn't know. You got everything, and I got nothing.””
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Olivia, sweetheart, I searched for you.””
Olivia's face twisted.
“You searched? For how long? A few months?
A year? I spent thirty-eight years wondering why my own mother didn't want me.””
Eleanor began to cry.
“I was told you were dead.””
“By him?””
She looked at Victor.
He didn't deny it.
Instead, he took a photograph from his pocket.
It showed two newborn babies in a hospital nursery.
One wore a pink bracelet.
The other wore a blue one.
“You were separated because Richard needed to protect his business,” Victor said.
“He kept Sophia and gave Olivia to me.””
Eleanor shook her head.
“That's not true.””
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Careful, Eleanor.””
I looked at him.
“You took a baby from her mother?””
“I raised that child.””
“You manipulated her.””
“I gave her a purpose.””
Olivia looked away.
I noticed her hand trembling.
“Olivia,” I said gently.
“You don't have to do this.””
She snapped her eyes toward me.
“Don't pretend you understand me.””
“I don't. But I know what it's like to discover your entire life was built on someone else's lies.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Enough. Sophia, sign the transfer.””
He placed a document on the table.
The original trust transfer.
The same document he had demanded before.
I glanced at the signature line.
“What happens if I sign?””
“Your shares move into Northbridge. You retain a generous allowance. Everyone walks away.””
“And Vanessa?””
“She's free.””
“And Andrew?””
Daniel smiled.
“He can disappear again.””
Andrew looked at him.
“You won't get away with this.””
Martin raised the gun slightly.
“Stop talking.””
I turned toward Victor.
“You don't need my signature if you're already my biological father, do you?””
Victor smiled.
“Blood is useful. But the trust was designed to protect Richard's children, not mine. Your signature is still necessary.””
“Then why did you tell me about the DNA?””
“To make you understand how powerless you've always been.””
I looked at Olivia.
“Is that what he told you?””
She didn't answer.
I continued.
“He told you I had everything. He told you Richard chose me over you. But did he tell you he used you as part of this plan?””
Olivia's jaw tightened.
Victor stepped between us.
“Don't listen to her.””
I noticed something then.
Olivia wasn't looking at me anymore.
She was staring at the metal case.
At the small silver clasp.
“What's inside?”” she asked.
“Original trust documents.””
Victor smiled.
“Exactly. Give them to me.””
But Olivia shook her head.
“No. Not those.””
Victor's expression changed.
“Olivia.””
She took a step backward.
I watched her carefully.
“What did he promise you?”” I asked.
Her voice cracked.
“That when the transfer was complete, he would give me my inheritance.””
“And did he tell you what your inheritance was?””
She hesitated.
Victor grabbed her arm.
“Enough.””
Olivia pulled away.
“He said I would become the controlling beneficiary.””
I opened the original trust folder.
“That's impossible.””
I found the relevant clause and turned it toward her.
“Read this.””
She looked down.
Her face slowly drained of color.
The trust named Sophia and Andrew as surviving children of Richard Bennett.
Renee was also included through a separate legal adoption provision.
Olivia was not listed.
Victor had never intended to give her anything.
He had needed her resemblance to me, her DNA connection, and her anger to make his story convincing.
“You lied to me,” Olivia whispered.
Victor's voice turned cold.
“I gave you a life.””
“You gave me a mission.””
Daniel moved toward the case.
I pulled it away.
At that exact moment, Vanessa kicked the chair behind her.
It crashed into Martin's legs.
The gun fired.
Andrew lunged.
The room erupted.
Eleanor grabbed Vanessa and pulled her behind the sofa.
I dropped the case.
Daniel seized my wrist.
“Sign it!””
I twisted away, but he caught my hair.
“Do you think anyone will believe you after tonight?””
Olivia rushed toward us.
“Let her go!””
Daniel shoved her aside.
She hit the floor.
Victor shouted, “Get the documents!””
But Olivia reached the metal case first.
She opened it and pulled out the sealed ownership ledger.
Then she looked directly at me.
“Run!””
I didn't hesitate.
Andrew grabbed my arm.
Vanessa was free.
Eleanor was moving toward the back door.
We escaped into the garden as sirens sounded in the distance.
Behind us, Victor screamed Olivia's name.
Then my phone rang.
It was Renee.
“Sophia, where are you?””
“Outside the estate. We need police.””
“Listen to me carefully. I've obtained the original trust registry.””
“Good. Bring it.””
“I can't.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Renee's voice shook.
“Because I found something in the registry that changes everything.””
“What?””
“The person who has legal authority to activate your father's final contingency isn't you.””
I looked toward the house.
“Who is it?””
May you like
Renee whispered:
“Daniel Carter.””
