Chapter 13: The Marriage That Never Existed
I read Margaret's message again.
Then I read the document beneath it.
*The marriage was never legally valid.*
For three years, I'd called Daniel my husband.
I'd worn his ring, shared his home, carried his child, and endured his family's cruelty.
Now his mother was claiming none of it had ever been real.
"Agent Collins," I whispered.
"I need you to explain something.""
She took the phone from my hand.
Her eyes moved across the photograph.
Then she looked at Evelyn.
"Is this document authentic?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Yes.""
Emily stood beside my bed.
"Someone needs to explain what's happening.""
Evelyn slowly lowered herself into a chair.
"Margaret was pregnant when she married Victor. But the child wasn't his.""
I stared at her.
"Me?""
She nodded.
"Margaret had been involved with another man. Victor knew about the affair, but he agreed to raise the child as his own because he needed Margaret's family connections.""
Agent Collins frowned.
"What family connections?""
"Margaret's father owned a controlling interest in the original Ashford company. His shares were supposed to pass to his descendants.""
I looked at the document.
"Then why was I given another name?""
"Because Victor wanted the shares. If your biological parentage became public, the inheritance arrangement would become complicated.""
Emily crossed her arms.
"That still doesn't explain Daniel.""
Evelyn looked down.
"Margaret and Victor had a son together several years later. Daniel.""
The room became unbearably quiet.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"So Daniel and I...""
"No," Evelyn interrupted.
"You and Daniel share no biological parent.""
I exhaled shakily.
"But you were raised in the same family.""
"Yes.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Margaret had known exactly who I was when Daniel introduced us.
She'd known I was her daughter.
She'd watched me marry her son.
And she'd never said a word.
Agent Collins took out her phone.
"We need Margaret's medical and family records immediately.""
Evelyn nodded.
"She has the originals at the mansion.""
"Why would she keep them?""
"Because she has spent thirty years waiting for an opportunity to reclaim the shares Victor stole from her family.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did she help Victor?""
"Because she believed she could control him.""
Emily laughed bitterly.
"Clearly, that worked out beautifully.""
Evelyn continued.
"Margaret and Victor's marriage was a business arrangement. Their son was the legitimate Ashford heir. You were supposed to remain hidden until the inheritance dispute was settled.""
"Then why marry Daniel?""
"Because Victor wanted access to your trust.""
I closed my eyes.
The wedding.
The expensive flowers.
The private estate.
The documents Daniel's attorney had brought to our honeymoon suite.
It had all been arranged.
Even the wedding date.
September fourteenth.
The same date printed on the old photograph of my father and Victor.
Agent Collins's phone rang.
She answered.
"Collins.""
She listened.
Then her expression changed.
"Repeat that.""
Emily stood.
"What happened?""
Agent Collins ended the call.
"Victor has been located.""
"Where?""
"At the Ashford estate.""
"Is he under arrest?""
"He has surrendered.""
I felt no relief.
"Where is Margaret?""
Agent Collins looked at Evelyn.
"She's with him.""
My phone rang.
Margaret.
Agent Collins motioned for me to answer on speaker.
"Hello?""
"Sarah.""
Her voice sounded remarkably calm.
"Mother," I said.
Silence.
Then a quiet sob.
"You finally know.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I wanted to.""
"When?""
"Before your wedding.""
I almost laughed.
"That would've been a convenient time.""
"Sarah, I was afraid.""
"Of Victor?""
"Of losing you.""
I stared at the ceiling.
"You watched me being humiliated at my baby shower.""
Margaret began crying.
"I know.""
"You applauded when Daniel announced Celeste's pregnancy.""
"I was trying to keep Victor from suspecting that I had turned against him.""
"By letting your son hurt me?""
She didn't answer.
I continued.
"You knew I was your daughter.""
"Yes.""
"You knew Daniel was your son.""
"Yes.""
"And you let us marry.""
Her voice broke.
"I thought the marriage would protect you.""
"From what?""
"From Victor.""
I closed my eyes.
Then Margaret said something that made my blood run cold.
"Sarah, there's something else you need to know about Daniel.""
"What?""
"He isn't Victor's biological son.""
I stared at the phone.
"What did you just say?""
"Daniel was adopted.""
Agent Collins immediately began writing.
Margaret continued.
"Victor needed a male heir to keep control of the company. He adopted Daniel when he was a baby. His biological father was never recorded.""
I looked at Evelyn.
She seemed unsurprised.
"Why are you telling me this now?"" I asked.
"Because Victor is planning to leave the country.""
"He's in custody.""
"Not for long. He has a private arrangement with someone inside the investigation.""
Agent Collins stepped closer.
"Who?""
Margaret lowered her voice.
"The person who has been protecting him from the beginning.""
Then the call ended.
Agent Collins immediately contacted her supervisors.
I looked at Emily.
"Who could possibly be protecting Victor?""
Before she could answer, Evelyn whispered:
"Someone who knows where the original Ashford fortune came from.""
Agent Collins received another message.
She read it.
Then she slowly turned toward us.
"Sarah, we've just received confirmation that Victor's arrest warrant has been withdrawn.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"By whom?""
She looked at her phone.
May you like
"The lead prosecutor.""
And for the first time, I realized that the Ashford family might not be the only powerful family hiding something.
