Chapter 12 - THE MAN WHO WAS NEVER MY FATHER
My father sat alone in the study.
I stood across from him.
Claire was beside me.
My mother had been taken into another room by the police.
Michael was cooperating.
Richard was still missing.
And Lily was being protected upstairs.
But none of that mattered.
Not anymore.
I needed one answer.
“Who is my biological father?”
Robert looked at me for a long time.
Then he finally said:
“Your grandfather.”
I felt sick.
“I already heard that.”
“There is more.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather wasn't the man you think he was.”
I waited.
“He wasn't your biological grandfather.”
I stared.
“What?”
Robert looked at Claire.
“Your mother had another child before she married me.”
I didn't understand.
“Another child?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Robert's voice became quiet.
“Your biological father was Daniel Bennett.”
I froze.
“That name…”
“He was a businessman.”
“Bennett.”
“Yes.”
I looked at Claire.
She looked confused.
“My father's name was Carter.”
“Your legal father.”
Robert nodded.
“Daniel Bennett was your mother's first husband.”
I felt dizzy.
“My mother was married before?”
“Yes.”
“Why did nobody tell me?”
“Because he disappeared.”
“How?”
“He was murdered.”
The room became silent.
“By whom?”
Robert looked down.
“Your grandfather.”
I stepped backward.
“Why?”
“Because Bennett discovered the trust.”
I felt my entire childhood collapsing.
The family name.
The company.
The trust.
The money.
All of it had been built around secrets.
Robert continued.
“Your mother was pregnant with you when Bennett died.”
“What happened to me?”
“She married me.”
“And told everyone I was your son.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps using that word.”
Robert looked at me.
“I know.”
“Protect me from what?”
“From the people who killed your biological father.”
“Who?”
“Your grandfather's network.”
I looked toward the window.
Outside, rain had begun falling.
Claire touched my arm.
“You didn't choose any of this.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
But I didn't.
I felt like every memory of my childhood had been rewritten.
My father had raised me.
He had taught me to ride a bicycle.
He had attended my graduation.
He had held Lily when she was born.
Blood suddenly felt meaningless.
Then I asked:
“Did my mother love him?”
Robert looked away.
“Yes.”
That hurt more than expected.
“Did she love you?”
He nodded.
“But differently.”
I sat down.
“Why did she build the trust?”
“To protect your inheritance.”
“What inheritance?”
“Bennett's shares.”
I looked at Claire.
Her eyes widened.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“The Carter trust.”
“What about it?”
“It wasn't originally a Carter trust.”
I stared.
Claire continued.
“It was a Bennett trust.”
Everything clicked.
My biological father had owned controlling shares in several companies.
After his death, those shares were placed in a trust.
My mother had renamed it.
Robert had become the public heir.
I had become the legal beneficiary.
But Claire had discovered the original documents.
That's why everyone wanted the trust.
Not because of Carter money.
Because of the original Bennett ownership.
The controlling shares were worth far more than anyone realized.
Richard had known.
My mother had known.
Robert had known.
Claire had found out.
And Lily was now the next legal heir.
I looked at my father.
“Who else knows?”
“Richard.”
“Michael?”
“Yes.”
“Rachel?”
“No.”
I thought about Rachel.
She had been recruited.
She had been manipulated.
But she had still hurt Lily.
She would have to answer for that.
Then Officer Miller entered.
“We found Richard.”
“Where?”
“An abandoned office downtown.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Take me there.”
Officer Miller shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he specifically asked for you.”
I stared.
“He has the recording.”
“What recording?”
“The one from the night of the crash.”
I felt my pulse rise.
“Then I need to hear it.”
“You will.”
She paused.
“But there's something else.”
“What?”
“Richard says your mother ordered the crash.”
“I know.”
“He says Robert helped arrange it.”
I looked at my father.
He closed his eyes.
“But Richard also says he didn't cause the crash.”
“Then who did?”
Officer Miller looked at Claire.
“Your mother.”
Claire went pale.
“She said she didn't want me dead.”
“She didn't.”
“What?”
Officer Miller continued.
“She wanted you taken.”
I stared.
“Taken where?”
“Out of the country.”
“Why?”
“To protect the trust.”
I didn't understand.
“Then why was there a crash?”
“Because Richard changed the plan.”
My mother had ordered Claire kidnapped.
Richard had decided killing her was easier.
Robert discovered the plan too late.
He arrived after the crash.
He rescued Claire.
Then he hid her.
That was the truth.
But there was one missing piece.
Who had actually driven the second vehicle?
Officer Miller placed a photograph on the table.
A man stood beside the vehicle.
I recognized him.
My uncle.
My mother's brother.
Someone I hadn't seen since childhood.
He was supposed to be dead.
But he was alive.
And he had been working for Richard.
I stared at the photograph.
“Where is he?”
Officer Miller answered:
“He's at the hospital.”
“Why?”
“He was injured last night.”
“How?”
“He tried to destroy the evidence.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Did he say anything?”
Officer Miller nodded.
“Before surgery, he gave us one sentence.”
“What?”
“He said the crash wasn't meant for Claire.”
I froze.
“Then who was it meant for?”
May you like
She looked at me.
“You.”
