Chapter 14: The Truth About My Family
The warehouse became completely silent.
I stared at Victoria.
“What did you say?””
She opened the folder.
“You spent your entire life believing you inherited your father’s company because you were his only son.””
My hands curled into fists.
“Get to the point.””
Victoria smiled.
“The truth is much simpler.””
She pulled out a document.
“Your father adopted you.””
The world stopped.
I looked at Michael.
He looked away.
And that was all the confirmation I needed.
“You knew?””
Michael’s silence answered.
“How long?””
“Since I was eighteen.””
My voice cracked.
“And nobody told me?””
Michael looked ashamed.
“Your father wanted it hidden.””
I turned back to Victoria.
“You knew too.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She walked closer.
“Because your father trusted me.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Clearly he made a mistake.””
Her smile disappeared.
“Your father built everything around protecting a lie.””
She pointed at Nathan.
“He had a biological heir.””
Then at me.
“But he chose you.””
Nathan’s face tightened.
I looked at him.
“Why?””
Victoria answered.
“Because Nathan reminded him of his own mistakes.””
Nathan looked away.
The anger in his face suddenly looked like pain.
I realized something.
Everyone in my family had been carrying a secret.
Everyone except me.
Detective Collins stepped forward.
“Victoria, you’re going to explain everything.””
Victoria looked at her.
“Fine.””
She opened another file.
“Claire discovered the adoption records.””
My chest tightened.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“And Emily?””
“She found them too.””
I remembered Emily’s fear.
The documents.
The warnings.
Victoria continued.
“They both realized something important.””
“What?””
She looked at me.
“If the truth came out, Nathan could legally challenge everything.””
Nathan laughed.
“So you tried to remove everyone who knew.””
Victoria looked at him.
“You were never supposed to be involved.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
She sighed.
“You were useful.””
The room went quiet.
Nathan stepped back.
“You lied to me.””
“Yes.””
The pain on his face was impossible to miss.
“You told me Michael stole my life.””
“He did.””
“But you used me.””
Victoria didn’t deny it.
That was the moment Nathan finally understood.
He wasn’t the mastermind.
He was a weapon.
Michael looked at me.
“Daniel, I know you hate me.””
I didn’t answer.
“But I need you to know something.””
“What?””
“Claire’s accident wasn’t an accident.””
My heart stopped.
“Who did it?””
Michael looked at Victoria.
Victoria smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
Detective Collins moved.
“Don’t move.””
But Victoria reached into her purse.
Everyone reacted.
She pulled out a small recorder.
“Before you arrest me, you should hear this.””
She pressed play.
A familiar voice filled the warehouse.
My father.
My dead father.
“If anything happens to me, the person I trust most is Daniel.””
I froze.
The recording continued.
“Not Michael. Not Victoria.””
My father’s voice shook.
“Daniel must never know the truth until he is ready.””
I looked at Victoria.
“What is this?””
She stared at me.
“Your father knew someone would come after you.””
The recording continued.
“And if they do…”
A pause.
Then my father said:
“Tell Daniel that his real family has been protecting him all along.””
The recorder clicked off.
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone rang.
Emily.
I answered immediately.
But it wasn’t Emily’s voice.
A man whispered.
“She’s awake.””
My blood froze.
“Who is this?””
The voice laughed.
“You still think the danger is over?””
The call ended.
A message appeared.
A photo.
Emily lying unconscious in her hospital bed.
May you like
And standing behind her…
Was Maria.
