Chapter 9: The Father I Never Met
I couldn’t read the name.
My brain refused to accept it.
The letters sat on the page.
Clear.
Simple.
Impossible.
Julian took a step closer.
“Claire?””
I looked up.
My voice barely worked.
“Tell me this is fake.””
Nobody answered.
That silence told me everything.
I looked at Richard.
“You knew?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Yes.””
“For my entire life?””
“Yes.””
The pain was sharper than the truth itself.
“You knew who I was.””
“I knew who your father was.””
“Same thing.””
“No.””
Richard shook his head.
“Claire, your father was afraid.””
I laughed.
“Afraid?””
I looked at the paper again.
“How convenient.””
Julian moved closer.
“Claire…”
I pulled my hand away.
Not from him.
From everyone.
I needed space.
But there was nowhere to go.
The hospital room suddenly felt like the bathroom at the wedding.
A place where everyone else had information.
And I was the last person to know.
“Who was he?””
Richard looked down.
“Your father was Daniel Cross’s son.””
I stared.
“That’s what you already told me.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
He took a breath.
“Your father was Daniel Cross’s hidden son.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“I don’t understand.””
“Daniel had a child before he built his empire.””
He looked at the document.
“Someone he abandoned.””
The room went quiet.
“Someone who later changed his name.””
Richard looked at me.
“Someone who became Michael Bennett.””
My heart stopped.
“No.””
Richard nodded.
“Michael knew.””
I shook my head.
“My father knew?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t he tell me?””
Richard’s eyes softened.
“Because he loved you.””
Tears burned my eyes.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“He wanted you to have a normal life.””
Julian whispered:
“He hid her identity.””
Richard nodded.
“Because he knew what would happen if Victoria found out.””
Victoria laughed softly from the corner.
“You’re all making me sound like a villain.””
Nobody answered.
She stepped forward.
“I was protecting Julian.””
Julian looked at her.
“No.””
“Son—”
“No.””
His voice broke.
“You were protecting yourself.””
Victoria stared at him.
For the first time, she looked hurt.
“I did everything for you.””
Julian shook his head.
“You destroyed people for me.””
The words hit her.
She looked away.
Richard continued.
“Victoria discovered the trust after Michael died.””
I looked at him.
“How?””
“She searched through old records.””
“And then?””
“She realized Claire had access to a fortune.””
Victoria interrupted.
“I realized she was being targeted.””
Richard looked at her.
“You became the target.””
Victoria’s face changed.
Because she knew he was right.
A nurse appeared at the door.
“Sorry to interrupt.””
Everyone turned.
“We need Claire moved to delivery.””
My heart jumped.
The baby.
The entire night.
All the secrets.
All the betrayal.
Suddenly, only one thing mattered.
My child.
Julian immediately came beside me.
“I’m coming with you.””
I looked at him.
There was still hurt between us.
Questions.
Things we had to fix.
But he was still the man I loved.
I nodded.
As nurses moved my bed into the hallway, Victoria stepped closer.
“Claire.””
I stopped.
I looked at her.
For once, she didn’t look powerful.
She looked desperate.
“There’s one thing Richard didn’t tell you.””
Julian immediately stepped between us.
“Enough.””
But Victoria continued.
“Your father didn’t disappear because of me.””
Richard went still.
“What are you doing?””
Victoria smiled.
A small, dangerous smile.
“He disappeared because he found out the truth about Richard.””
I looked back.
At Richard.
“What truth?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Richard whispered:
“Victoria…”
But it was too late.
The hallway lights flickered above us.
Victoria leaned closer.
And said:
“Your father didn’t trust Richard Whitmore.””
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“Because Richard was the reason Michael Bennett died.””
