Chapter 4: The Father I Never Knew
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at Damien.
Then at Vincent.
Then back at Damien.
"You're saying he's my father?""
Vincent nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
"No. My mother raised me alone. She never mentioned this family.
Never mentioned you. Never mentioned him.""
I pointed at Damien.
"She told me my father died before I was born.""
Vincent's expression hardened.
"She lied to protect you.""
"From what?""
He glanced toward Corbin.
"From us.""
Corbin laughed bitterly.
"That's convenient, Father. Blame everything on the dead woman.""
Damien stepped between us.
"Explain yourself.""
Vincent adjusted his gold ring.
"Not here.""
"You're going to explain it now.""
Vincent looked at his eldest son.
"Your mother and Elena were best friends. When Elena became pregnant, she discovered that her child would inherit more than money. She would inherit the control of several companies and properties that legally belonged to our family.""
I frowned.
"Why would that matter?""
"Because your mother discovered that I had been moving money through those companies for years. She threatened to expose me.""
I looked at Damien.
He seemed as confused as I was.
"You're telling me Elena was pregnant with my child?""
Vincent nodded.
"She was.""
Damien stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you were twenty-three, reckless, and already involved in things you couldn't understand.""
Damien stepped closer.
"You had no right.""
Vincent ignored him.
"Elena gave birth to twins. Briar and Corbin. She took Briar and disappeared. Corbin remained with the family.""
I looked toward Corbin.
"So we're twins?""
He smiled without warmth.
"Surprise, sister.""
My stomach turned.
"Why did you stalk me?""
Corbin shrugged.
"Because you were supposed to stay hidden.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
He looked at Vincent.
"Tell her what happened to the inheritance.""
Vincent's jaw tightened.
Damien turned sharply.
"What inheritance?""
Vincent sighed.
"Elena placed everything in a private trust. The trust was divided between her children. Neither of them could access it until their twenty-fifth birthday.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"I'm twenty-four.""
"Exactly.""
Corbin smiled.
"And your birthday is in three weeks.""
I suddenly understood why he'd followed me.
Why he'd threatened me.
Why he'd wanted me frightened and isolated.
He wasn't simply trying to silence me.
He wanted something I possessed.
"What's in the trust?"" I asked.
Vincent hesitated.
"Control of the Ashworth estate, several properties, and the majority voting shares in the legitimate businesses.""
Damien's face darkened.
"Father, you told me those shares belonged to the family.""
"They do.""
"Then why are they in Elena's trust?""
"Because she was smarter than you think.""
A low growl interrupted them.
Shadow was standing beside the table, watching Vincent.
His body trembled.
I crouched and touched his head.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?""
The dog pressed against my shoulder.
Vincent stared at him.
"That animal should be put down.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"He's old, sick, and dangerous.""
Damien's expression became murderous.
"Finish that sentence.""
Vincent calmly adjusted his cuffs.
"You heard me.""
I placed myself between him and Shadow.
"No one is putting him down.""
Vincent looked at me with something close to disgust.
"You have no idea what you're getting involved in.""
I stood.
"Then perhaps someone should stop keeping secrets.""
For the first time, Vincent seemed genuinely unsettled.
He reached into his jacket and placed a small brass key on the table.
"Your mother left something behind. A safety deposit box. I believe it contains the rest of the truth.""
"Where?""
"An old bank in Brooklyn.""
Damien picked up the key.
"Why didn't you retrieve it?""
Vincent looked toward the window.
"Because the bank requires both beneficiaries to be present.""
Corbin stopped smiling.
I noticed.
"Both?""
Vincent nodded.
"Briar and Corbin.""
Corbin immediately stepped forward.
"Then we're going tomorrow.""
Damien blocked him.
"You're not going anywhere near her.""
Corbin laughed.
"You can't stop this. She's my sister. Half of what's inside belongs to me.""
I looked at him.
"After everything you've done, you expect me to trust you?""
"No," he replied.
"I expect you to understand that you have no choice.""
Then he walked toward the elevator.
Before the doors closed, he turned around.
"Happy early birthday, Briar.""
The doors shut.
Damien stared after him.
I looked down at the brass key.
"Are you going to tell me the truth?""
He turned toward me.
"Which truth?""
I swallowed.
"Why did my mother choose you to protect me?""
Damien looked at Shadow.
Then he said something that made my heart ache.
"Because six years ago, when Elena was dying, she made me promise that if you ever came back, I would give you something she had hidden.""
"What?""
Damien walked to the old wooden cabinet and removed a small photograph.
It showed my mother holding a newborn baby.
May you like
On the back, in her handwriting, were six words:
Damien, forgive yourself for that night.
