Chapter 14: The Bloodline That Destroyed the Whitmores
Thomas stared at his brother.
"You're insane.""
Samuel smiled.
"Am I?""
He placed the syringe on a nearby table.
Then he pulled a document from his coat.
"Your first wife couldn't have children, Thomas. Everyone knew that. But Margaret wanted the Whitmore fortune, and I wanted control of the family business.""
He looked at me.
"So we arranged something.""
I shook my head.
"What?""
"Margaret carried the pregnancy. But the biological father was me.""
Thomas lunged toward him.
Adrian grabbed his arm.
"Wait.""
Samuel continued.
"Your grandfather discovered the truth before the fire. He changed his will so Isabella would inherit everything. He believed the child should be protected, even if the adults around her were monsters.""
I stared at Thomas.
"Is that true?""
My father looked devastated.
"I don't know.""
Samuel laughed.
"Of course you don't. You were never meant to know.""
He opened another file.
Inside were two DNA reports.
One listed Samuel Whitmore as the biological father of Isabella.
The other listed Thomas Whitmore as the biological father of Emily.
I looked at the documents.
Then at my father.
"Does that mean you're not my father?""
Thomas's eyes filled.
He stepped toward me.
"I raised you. I loved you. I searched for you every day.""
"But genetically...""
He shook his head.
"That doesn't change what you are to me.""
I wanted to believe him.
But the revelation felt like another piece of my childhood being stolen.
Samuel watched me carefully.
"Your grandfather knew about my affair with Margaret. He knew I had fathered you. That's why he left you the estate. He wanted to punish me.""
Adrian looked at the reports.
"Then why did you help Vincent fake her death?""
Samuel smiled.
"Because Margaret wanted to escape. She was going to tell everyone the truth.""
A voice came from behind the glass.
"He's lying.""
My mother stood with one hand against the door.
Samuel turned.
"Be quiet.""
She shook her head.
"Isabella, listen to me. Your grandfather didn't leave the estate because of Samuel. He left it because he knew I was the only person who could protect you.""
Samuel grabbed the syringe.
"Enough!""
Adrian raised his weapon.
"Drop it!""
Samuel suddenly threw the syringe toward him.
Adrian moved aside.
Marco rushed forward and tackled Samuel against the wall.
The syringe shattered.
Rose ran toward the control panel.
"Open the door!""
I pressed my hands against the glass.
"Mother!""
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
I rushed inside and wrapped my arms around her.
She held me as though she was afraid I might disappear again.
"My little girl.""
I began crying.
"I thought you were dead.""
"I know, sweetheart.""
"Why didn't you come for me?""
She pulled back and touched my face.
"Because Victoria had been watching you. Every time I tried to escape, she threatened to hurt you.""
I looked at her.
"Victoria?""
My mother nodded.
"She was the one who arranged the fire.""
Adrian entered the room.
"Where is she now?""
My mother looked toward the ceiling.
"Upstairs.""
Marco's phone rang.
He answered.
Then his expression changed.
"Boss, we have a problem.""
Adrian turned.
"What?""
"Vincent has taken control of the building's security system. He's locking every exit.""
A loud alarm began sounding.
The lights turned red.
Samuel, still pinned beneath Marco, started laughing.
"You're too late.""
Adrian looked at him.
"Where's Vincent?""
Samuel smiled.
"He's already left.""
My mother grabbed my hand.
"He's going to the Whitmore estate.""
Thomas frowned.
"Why?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because the original trust documents are hidden there.""
Adrian understood immediately.
"If Vincent gets them, he can destroy the legal evidence.""
My mother nodded.
"And he'll destroy everyone connected to it.""
Marco pulled Samuel upright.
"Then we take him with us.""
Samuel smiled.
"You're making a mistake.""
Marco tightened his grip.
"Save it.""
We escaped through an emergency staircase and reached the parking area.
But as we approached the vehicles, I noticed a black sedan parked near the entrance.
The rear door opened.
Victoria stepped out.
She was wearing the same cream-colored dress from the penthouse.
Her face was calm.
Almost amused.
"Hello, Isabella.""
Adrian moved in front of me.
"Get in the car, Victoria.""
She laughed.
"Still pretending you're in charge?""
She looked at Marco.
"Hello, little brother.""
Marco's expression hardened.
"Don't.""
Victoria tilted her head.
"Did Samuel tell you the truth about your birth?""
Marco didn't answer.
She smiled.
"Your mother wasn't Margaret.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
Victoria looked directly at me.
"Your biological mother was my mother. Margaret gave birth to you, but she wasn't the woman who raised you.""
My mother shook her head.
"That's enough.""
Victoria ignored her.
"Do you know why you have that crescent birthmark?""
She stepped closer.
"Because our family has a hereditary condition. Every child born to my mother's bloodline has the same mark.""
Adrian raised his weapon.
"One more step.""
Victoria stopped.
Then she smiled.
"You still don't understand, do you?""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small gold necklace.
The tiny bird pendant.
The one I had lost in the fire.
I gasped.
"Where did you get that?""
Victoria held it up.
"From your grandfather.""
She turned the pendant over.
On the back were three engraved initials.
V.K.W.
Vincent Kane Whitmore.
I stared.
Then Victoria spoke the words that changed everything.
"Vincent isn't my father.""
She looked at Adrian.
"He's yours.""
Nobody moved.
Victoria smiled.
"Margaret had an affair with him. Thomas raised you, but Vincent is your biological father.""
Adrian's face went completely white.
Marco looked at him.
"Boss...""
Victoria stepped backward toward her car.
"And now you know why Vincent spent twenty years protecting his inheritance.""
She opened the rear door.
"Because the man he wanted to destroy was his own son.""
Then she dropped the necklace.
It landed at my feet.
May you like
And before she disappeared into the night, she gave us one final warning.
"By midnight, Vincent will have the original trust documents. And when he does, he'll own every one of you.""
