Chapter 9: The Father Who Had Been Hiding for Ten Years
I didn't sleep.
I sat on the edge of my enormous bed, holding the photograph until the sky outside turned gray.
The man in the picture had dark hair, green eyes, and a small scar beneath his chin.
He was smiling at the baby in his arms.
I didn't recognize him.
But Elena's expression was unmistakable.
She was looking at him the way people look at someone they love more than life itself.
At the bottom of the photograph was a name.
*THOMAS WHITMORE.*
I walked straight to Adrian's study.
He was already awake, reviewing documents.
"What's wrong?""
I placed the photograph on his desk.
"Who is Thomas Whitmore?""
Adrian looked at it.
For a moment, he didn't speak.
Then he slowly sat down.
"Where did you get this?""
"Someone sent it to me last night.""
He examined the photograph.
"Thomas was your biological father.""
I stared at him.
"Was?""
Adrian rubbed his forehead.
"He disappeared shortly before the fire. Vincent claimed he had been involved in financial fraud and fled the country.""
"Did you believe him?""
"I was seventeen. Vincent controlled the family accounts. He showed me documents proving Thomas had stolen money.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Mother knew he was innocent.""
"I think so.""
"Then why didn't she tell me?""
Adrian didn't answer.
Marco entered carrying a tablet.
"Sir, we traced the message to a prepaid phone purchased in Queens. We also received confirmation that Victoria will attend tonight's meeting.""
Adrian nodded.
"Any news about Elena?""
"Nothing yet.""
I gripped the photograph.
"We're going to the hotel.""
Adrian studied my face.
"Are you certain?""
"Yes.""
He nodded.
"Then we're going together.""
At eight that evening, the Blackthorn Hotel glittered beneath the Manhattan lights.
Adrian and I entered through a private entrance.
Marco and two guards followed at a distance.
Victoria was waiting in the presidential suite.
She stood beside a floor-to-ceiling window, wearing a cream-colored dress.
When she turned around, I felt as if I were looking into a mirror.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, "Bella.""
My throat tightened.
"Victoria.""
She approached slowly.
Her eyes moved over my face, my clothes, and finally the crescent-shaped mark behind my ear.
She began crying.
"You still have it.""
I nodded.
"So do you.""
Victoria touched the mark behind her own ear.
"I used to think it made us special.""
She looked at Adrian.
"Hello, big brother.""
Adrian remained cold.
"Where's our mother?""
Victoria's expression hardened.
"Safe for now.""
"Where?""
"I'll tell you after you listen.""
She placed a folder on the table.
Inside were photographs, bank statements, and medical records.
I picked up the first document.
It was a hospital report from October 14.
The date I had been found.
The report described two newborn girls.
One had been discharged to Elena Kane.
The other had been transferred under a false identity.
My name appeared beside a note.
Subject A: original heir. Remove from Kane family records.
I felt nauseated.
"Who wrote this?""
Victoria pointed to the signature.
"Grandfather.""
Adrian took the paper.
"Charles?""
She nodded.
"He knew Vincent wanted the inheritance. But he was afraid of what would happen if both girls remained in the family.""
"Why did he give you to Vincent?""
"Because Vincent promised to raise me as his own daughter and keep me away from the business.""
She laughed bitterly.
"That lasted about five minutes.""
Victoria opened another folder.
Inside were photographs of her childhood.
In one, she stood beside Vincent at a birthday party.
In another, she sat alone at a dining table while adults argued behind her.
"Vincent never treated me like his daughter. I was an investment. He trained me to become the public face of the family.""
I looked at her.
"Why did you threaten me?""
She looked down.
"Because I was ordered to.""
My stomach tightened.
"By Vincent?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you warn me?""
Victoria raised her eyes.
"Because Dominic was watching me. Every phone call, every message, every movement. If I had contacted you directly, Vincent would have killed you.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"Then why are you marrying Dominic?""
Victoria looked at him.
"Because Vincent promised to release Mother if I agreed.""
I felt tears rising.
"Where is she?""
Victoria reached into her handbag.
She removed a small key.
"There's a private medical facility outside the city. Vincent has kept her there for years.""
Adrian's expression changed.
"Why?""
"Because she knows where Thomas is.""
I looked at the photograph in my hand.
"Is our father alive?""
Victoria nodded.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to disappear around me.
"Where?""
She hesitated.
Then she placed a final photograph on the table.
It showed an older man sitting in a wheelchair inside a hospital room.
His hair was gray.
His face was thinner.
But his eyes were the same as the man holding the baby in the old photograph.
I covered my mouth.
"That's him.""
Victoria nodded.
"He's been alive all these years.""
Adrian picked up the photograph.
"Where is he?""
Victoria whispered, "At the same facility as Mother.""
Before anyone could speak, the suite door opened.
Dominic Vale walked inside.
He wore a black suit and carried a glass of whiskey.
He looked at Adrian.
Then at me.
"Well, well. The missing princess finally came home.""
Adrian stepped in front of us.
"You're going to tell me where my mother and Thomas are.""
Dominic smiled.
"Why would I do that?""
Victoria moved toward him.
"Dominic, we had a deal.""
He laughed.
"Sweetheart, you really believed I was going to let you walk away?""
He pulled a small remote from his pocket.
A screen behind him flickered to life.
It showed a hospital room.
Elena was tied to a chair.
Thomas sat in a wheelchair beside her.
A man stood behind them holding a gun.
Dominic raised the remote.
"Your family reunion is going to be very short.""
Then he looked directly at me.
"Because one of you is going to tell me where the original inheritance documents are.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"Take me instead.""
Dominic shook his head.
"No, Mr. Kane. I want the girl.""
He pressed a button.
On the screen, the armed man raised his weapon toward Thomas.
Victoria screamed.
"STOP!""
Dominic smiled.
"Then perhaps your sister should tell us where she hid the original trust.""
I looked at Victoria.
She was crying.
And suddenly I understood why she'd been so desperate to meet me.
She hadn't invited me to the hotel to betray me.
She'd invited me because I was the only person who could save our parents.
Then Victoria whispered something only I could hear.
"The original trust isn't in the mansion, Bella.""
She slipped a tiny key into my palm.
"It's hidden inside the locket.""
I looked down at the gold heart I'd worn for ten years.
And for the first time, I understood why Vincent had spent so much time trying to take it from me.
The key was about to unlock something worth more than eight hundred million dollars.
Something that could destroy the entire Kane empire.
May you like
And Dominic had just ordered his men to take me alive.
The next move would determine whether my family finally came together—or whether the Kane name would bury us all.
Related Stories
