Chapter 12: The Mother Who Never Loved Us
By 9:00 a.m. the following morning, every financial news network was reporting that Hayes Industrial Group had entered a disputed ownership transition.
The headline appeared across the television in my office.
*NORTHBRIDGE CAPITAL CLAIMS CONTROL OF HAYES INDUSTRIAL GROUP.*
I watched it without speaking.
Patricia stood beside the television.
Daniel was on the phone with corporate counsel.
And my mother sat in a chair near the window, looking as though she had aged ten years overnight.
She had been brought to the office under police protection.
“Marcus,” she said quietly.
I turned.
“What?””
“Claire is dangerous.””
I almost laughed.
“I'm beginning to notice a pattern.””
She looked down.
“Your father knew.””
“Then why didn't he stop her?””
“Because he loved her.””
I stared at my mother.
“Loved whom?””
“Claire.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Daniel.
He slowly lowered his phone.
My mother continued.
“Before Richard became your father's business partner, Claire was the woman he loved.””
I felt something cold move through me.
“Adrian's mother?””
“Yes.””
“And Ethan's?””
“Yes.””
I sat down.
“So Father had a relationship with Claire before he met you?””
My mother shook her head.
“No. He was involved with Claire while he was married to me.””
I stared at her.
“You were married?””
She nodded.
“Your father and I had been married for three years when Claire came into his life.””
I rubbed my face.
“And Adrian?””
“Was born while your father and Claire were together.””
“Ethan?””
“Born several years later.””
I looked at the photographs on the desk.
Two brothers.
Two mothers.
One company.
And a family history built on lies.
“Why did Father stay with you?””
My mother looked toward the window.
“Because he wanted to protect you.””
I shook my head.
“From what?””
“From Claire. From Richard. From everything that was happening.””
I stood.
“Mother, I was a child. You could have told me the truth when I grew up.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you would choose them over me.””
I stared at her.
“You spent seventeen years protecting a secret that nearly destroyed my life.””
She began crying.
“I know.””
Before I could respond, Daniel entered the room.
“Marcus, we have a problem.””
I turned.
“What now?””
“Claire has filed an emergency petition claiming that the ownership transfer is valid under the original partnership agreement.””
“Can she do that?””
“She's arguing that your father transferred his voting rights into a family trust before his death. The signatures from Adrian and Ethan activate the transfer.””
I looked at Patricia.
“What about your shares?””
“Mine are separate,” she replied.
Daniel nodded.
“That's the complication. Patricia holds 51 percent of the voting rights, but the trust claims that her shares are subject to an old contractual obligation.””
Patricia frowned.
“What obligation?””
Daniel opened a document.
“Your father signed an agreement stating that the shares would revert to the family trust if the company became subject to a control dispute.””
I looked at him.
“Did he?””
Daniel nodded.
“Unfortunately, yes.””
Patricia sat down.
“So I could lose everything?””
“Not necessarily. We need to examine the original agreement.””
I turned toward my mother.
“Where is it?””
She looked at me.
“Claire has it.””
At 11:30 a.m., Claire Bennett arrived at the Hayes headquarters.
She wore a cream-colored suit and carried a black leather handbag.
She looked elegant.
Calm.
Completely unbothered.
Two attorneys walked behind her.
When she entered the conference room, she looked directly at me.
“Marcus.””
I stood.
“Claire.””
She smiled.
“You look so much like your father.””
I didn't return the smile.
“You look nothing like the woman in his photographs.””
Her expression tightened.
“Your father always had a talent for making people believe whatever suited him.””
She placed a folder on the table.
“Let's not waste time.””
Daniel remained standing.
“Mrs. Bennett, we're challenging the validity of the transfer.””
“Of course you are.””
She opened the folder.
Inside were copies of the ownership agreement, the trust documents, and Ethan's signature.
“Your brothers have agreed to the transfer,” she said.
“The legal process is already underway.””
I looked at the signature.
“Ethan told me you forced him.””
Claire smiled.
“Ethan has always been unstable.””
My hands tightened.
“Don't call him that.””
“Why? Because he's your brother?””
She leaned back.
“Marcus, you have spent your entire life believing you were the center of this family. Your father gave you the company, the house, the money, and the reputation. Adrian received promises. Ethan received medical bills.””
She paused.
“Do you think that was fair?””
“No.””
“Then perhaps you understand why I'm correcting it.””
I stared at her.
“By stealing a company?””
“By restoring what belonged to my children.””
“Your children?””
She smiled.
“Adrian and Ethan.””
“And what about me?””
Her expression turned cold.
“You were your father's favorite mistake.””
The words struck harder than I expected.
My mother stood.
“Claire, that's enough.””
Claire turned toward her.
“Eleanor. Still pretending you're the victim?””
My mother stepped forward.
“You used my husband's death to steal his company.””
Claire laughed.
“Your husband was already dying when I met him.””
“You poisoned him!””
Claire's smile vanished.
For the first time, I saw genuine anger in her face.
“Be careful, Eleanor.””
My mother pointed at her.
“You paid Harrison to administer the medication. I saw the invoices.””
Claire looked toward Daniel.
Then back at my mother.
“You have no proof.””
My mother reached into her handbag.
“I kept the original records.””
Claire's face changed.
“What?””
My mother removed a small envelope.
“I took them from Richard's office before he disappeared.””
She placed it on the table.
Daniel immediately picked it up.
Inside were copies of medical invoices, bank transfers, and a handwritten note.
The note was signed by Claire.
Ensure Harold receives the correct dosage before the final meeting. His refusal cannot continue.
My father's name.
Harold Hayes.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Claire stared at the document.
Then she slowly smiled.
“You really think that's enough?””
Daniel looked up.
“It's certainly enough to justify an investigation.””
Claire stood.
“Then investigate.””
She gathered her handbag.
“But before you do, Marcus, I think you should know something.””
She looked directly at me.
“Your father didn't just leave you the company. He left you something much more valuable.””
“What?””
“The original ownership certificate.””
I frowned.
“Where is it?””
Claire smiled.
“With me.””
She reached into her handbag and placed a small photograph on the table.
It showed a young woman holding a baby outside a hospital.
I recognized the woman.
Claire.
But the baby wasn't Adrian or Ethan.
The photograph was dated three years before Adrian's birth.
I looked up.
“Who is that child?””
Claire's eyes glistened.
“Your father had another child before you were born.””
I stared at her.
“Another?””
She nodded.
“And that child is the only person who can legally overturn everything.””
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
Then Claire leaned closer.
“Marcus, you have spent your whole life believing you were Harold Hayes's firstborn son.””
She placed one finger on the photograph.
“But you weren't.””
The conference room door opened.
A young man stepped inside.
He was wearing a dark blue suit and carrying a sealed legal envelope.
He looked at me.
Then at Claire.
“Mother,” he said quietly.
“It's time.””
I couldn't move.
Claire smiled.
“Marcus, meet your oldest brother.””
The young man placed the envelope on the table.
And the name printed across the legal document was not Adrian.
May you like
It was not Ethan.
It was *Daniel Hayes*.
