Chapter 8: The Secret My Father Hid
The words should have shocked me.
But strangely, they didn’t.
By then, I had learned that every person in that room was carrying a secret.
The only question was who had been hurt by it.
“What are you talking about?”” I asked.
Wendy looked at my father.
Not me.
Him.
And that told me everything.
My father’s expression became unreadable.
“Wendy.””
She gave a small smile.
“You knew this day would come.””
My brothers immediately moved closer.
Noah’s voice hardened.
“Be careful.””
Wendy looked at him.
“You should ask your father why he never told Flora the whole story.””
I turned.
“Dad?””
The ballroom became silent.
My father looked tired.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Just tired.
“There are things I wanted to protect you from.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Protect me?””
I laughed quietly.
“Everyone keeps using that word.””
I looked around.
“Protect me.””
A pause.
“Protect the family.””
Another pause.
“Protect the company.””
I looked at my father.
“But nobody protected me from being lied to.””
The words hit him.
Because he knew they were true.
My father walked closer.
“Flora.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
He stopped.
I had spent my entire life believing my father was the one person who would never hide something from me.
And now…
Everyone had.
“What didn’t you tell me?””
He looked at Alexander.
Then at Wendy.
Finally, at me.
“Years ago, before you met Isaac, there was an agreement between our families.””
My eyebrows drew together.
“What agreement?””
Alexander answered.
“A partnership.””
I looked between them.
“A business partnership?””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
“And Isaac’s marriage to me?””
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
My father looked directly at me.
“Your marriage was never arranged.””
I wanted to believe him.
But I had heard too many truths tonight.
“Then why?””
Wendy spoke.
“Because Isaac needed you.””
My eyes moved to her.
She didn’t look sorry.
That was the worst part.
She looked practical.
Like she was discussing numbers.
“He was drowning.””
She continued.
“Vance Holdings needed stability. Your family had influence. Your father refused to give it unless Isaac proved he was responsible.””
My hands curled.
“So he married me to prove himself?””
“No,” my father said.
“Flora.””
I looked at him.
“I refused that arrangement.””
The room went still.
“You refused?””
“Yes.””
He took a breath.
“I told them you would never be used as a transaction.””
For a moment, relief touched me.
Then it disappeared.
“Then why did Isaac marry me?””
Nobody answered.
Because the answer was obvious.
He chose to.
Maybe not at first.
Maybe not for the reasons I deserved.
But he chose.
And that was what hurt most.
Isaac stepped forward.
“Flora, I changed.””
I looked at him.
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you do it again?””
He had no answer.
Because a changed person didn’t repeat the same cruelty.
A changed person didn’t point at the floor.
A changed person didn’t watch someone they loved break.
Wendy suddenly walked toward me.
“You’re blaming the wrong person.””
My expression hardened.
“Am I?””
“Yes.””
She looked almost angry.
“Isaac was weak. But your family is not innocent.””
My father’s face changed.
“Enough.””
“No.””
Wendy shook her head.
“She deserves to know.””
I felt the room shift.
“What?””
Wendy looked at me.
“Your brothers didn’t just come tonight because you called.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She smiled faintly.
“They were already investigating Isaac.””
I looked at Noah.
His silence confirmed it.
I felt betrayed all over again.
“You knew?””
Noah stepped forward.
“Flora, listen—”
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You knew something was wrong?””
“Yes.””
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“We were trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
A real laugh this time.
A painful one.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I looked at my brothers.
“The people who love me keep protecting me from the truth.””
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone buzzed.
The sound cut through the silence.
Everyone looked.
Unknown number.
I stared at the screen.
A message appeared.
One sentence.
And the moment I read it, every bit of anger disappeared.
Because the person who sent it was someone I thought was gone forever.
The message said:
“Flora, I know what Isaac did.””
May you like
A second message appeared.
“But I know what your family did too.””
