Chapter 10: The Man Who Claimed Three Daughters
"That's impossible.""
I repeated the words three times, but Agent Collins didn't change her expression.
She stood beside my hospital bed, holding my mother's final letter in a clear evidence sleeve.
"Your mother identified Victor Ashford as the biological father of all three daughters," she said.
"We're arranging DNA testing, but the documents recovered from the cemetery support her statement.""
I looked down at my stomach.
Victor Ashford.
The man who had watched his son shove me into a gift table.
The man who had applauded Celeste's pregnancy.
The man who had called my unborn child an inconvenience while celebrating another supposed heir.
He might have been my biological father.
"Why would he hide that?"" I whispered.
Agent Collins pulled up a chair.
"Your mother claimed Victor had an arrangement with Robert Morgan. Robert was supposed to help conceal the identities of the children while Victor maintained his public marriage and business interests.""
"That doesn't explain why we were separated.""
"No. But your mother's letter gives us a possible explanation.""
She handed me a copy.
The handwriting was shaky.
My daughters,
If you are reading this, Victor has finally found a way to bring you together.
I wanted you to grow up without knowing what your biological father had done. I wanted you to have ordinary lives.
Robert loved you as his own. He protected you when Victor threatened to use your identities to secure his financial empire.
I separated the records because Victor needed three signatures to complete the original inheritance arrangement.
I stopped reading.
"Three signatures?""
Agent Collins nodded.
"Your mother believed Victor needed all three daughters to activate a particular ownership transfer.""
I continued.
Celeste was taken from me first. Victor used Evelyn Morgan to raise her under another name. Sarah remained with Robert. Emily was placed with a family who could protect her.
I know you will hate me for the lies.
But I would rather have three daughters who hate me and live than three daughters who trust their father and die.
My eyes filled.
Emily entered the room.
She looked exhausted, and there was a small bandage on her wrist.
I reached for her immediately.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded.
"Just a scratch.""
"Where's Victor?""
"In federal custody.""
Agent Collins closed the door.
"He's being questioned about the cemetery incident. He denies knowing anything about the hidden documents.""
Emily sat beside me.
"Sarah, there's something else.""
She opened her purse and removed a folded sheet.
"I found this inside the metal box. It was underneath the letter.""
It was a copy of an old shareholder agreement.
At the top was the name Ashford Global Holdings.
Beneath it were three separate ownership percentages.
Celeste Morgan: 30%.
Sarah Bennett: 30%.
Emily Bennett: 30%.
The remaining ten percent belonged to a charitable foundation.
I stared at the numbers.
"Mom owned ninety percent of the company?""
"Not exactly," Agent Collins said.
"The agreement suggests the shares were held in trust for the three daughters.""
"Then why did Victor control everything?""
"Because the trust was never formally activated.""
Emily pointed to the bottom of the page.
"Read the final paragraph.""
I did.
Upon the birth of a legitimate male descendant of the founding family, the three beneficiaries shall be notified and the trust shall become irrevocable.
My mouth went dry.
"My baby.""
Agent Collins nodded.
"Your son's birth would trigger the trust.""
Emily frowned.
"But Victor has been trying to prevent Sarah from having anything to do with the company.""
"Because once the trust activates, he loses his unilateral control over those shares.""
I looked at the document again.
For years, Victor had treated me like an unwanted outsider.
But he hadn't been trying to remove me from the family.
He'd been trying to keep me from discovering that I already had a claim to his empire.
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I stared at the screen.
Emily shook her head.
"Don't.""
I answered anyway.
"What?""
His voice sounded exhausted.
"Sarah, I need to tell you something before my father gets to you.""
"Your father is in custody.""
"That's not what I mean.""
"Then speak.""
Daniel took a shaky breath.
"I knew about the trust.""
I closed my eyes.
"Of course you did.""
"But I didn't know you were one of the beneficiaries until after we got married.""
"How convenient.""
"Sarah, listen. My father showed me the agreement when you were six months pregnant.""
"And?""
"He told me that if our child was a boy, everything would change.""
I gripped the phone.
"What did he ask you to do?""
Daniel was silent.
Then he whispered:
"He wanted me to make sure the baby was born at the Ashford estate.""
Emily stood.
"Why?""
Daniel answered before I could ask.
"Because there's a private medical facility underneath the east wing.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
"It's been there for years. Dad said it was for emergencies involving family members.""
"Why would I give birth there?""
"Because the trust documents require the birth to be witnessed by a designated family physician.""
Agent Collins immediately took out her notebook.
"Who is the physician?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said a name.
"Dr. Richard Vale.""
Agent Collins's face changed.
She looked at me.
"Sarah, that doctor is already under investigation.""
"Why?""
Daniel answered.
"Because he signed Celeste's pregnancy records.""
I stared at the phone.
Then he added:
"And he signed yours.""
The call ended.
Agent Collins immediately contacted the hospital's security team.
Emily moved closer to my bed.
"Sarah?""
I looked at her.
"What if the doctor has been lying about everything?""
Before she could answer, a nurse entered.
She was carrying my medication.
"Mrs. Ashford, Dr. Vale is here to see you.""
I looked at the door.
May you like
The man standing behind her was holding a clipboard.
And he was smiling.
