Chapter 12: The Father My Daughter Never Knew
I called Brielle back immediately.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Again.
Straight to voicemail.
James grabbed his jacket.
“We need to find her.””
Daniel stood.
“I know where she is.””
Everyone turned.
“You do?””
Daniel nodded.
“Claire had been moving people around.””
“What does that mean?””
“She used fear to control them.””
I stared at him.
“Where would Brielle go?””
Daniel looked at the photograph from the file.
“The old farmhouse.””
I frowned.
“What farmhouse?””
“The one connected to her biological father.””
My heart raced.
“Who is he?””
Daniel looked at me.
I expected him to say a name.
Instead, he said:
“Your husband’s brother.””
The room went silent.
I felt dizzy.
“My husband didn’t have a brother.””
Daniel looked at me sadly.
“He did.””
“No.””
“He changed his name years ago.””
I shook my head.
“That’s impossible.””
Daniel reached into his bag.
He pulled out a document.
A birth record.
A legal name change.
I read the name.
And everything inside me went cold.
Because I knew that name.
Everyone in Dallas knew that name.
The man who built one of the largest real estate companies in Texas.
The man whose face appeared in business magazines.
The man who had donated millions to charities.
A man I had seen many times.
But never recognized.
“Victor Hale?””
Daniel nodded.
“He is Brielle’s biological father.””
James looked shocked.
“And Claire knew this?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the documents.
“Because Victor has been looking for Brielle for years.””
I swallowed.
“Why?””
“Because before he disappeared, he made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Daniel looked at me.
“He left behind proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That Brielle was his daughter.””
My hands shook.
“And Claire wanted my house because?””
Daniel’s expression darkened.
“Because Victor’s company is connected to the land your house sits on.””
I froze.
“My house?””
He nodded.
“Your property has become extremely valuable.””
James looked confused.
“But why not just buy it?””
“Because Margaret would refuse.””
Daniel looked at me.
“And Victor knew that.””
I felt sick.
“So they planned to take it.””
“Yes.””
A knock came at the door.
Everyone froze.
The attorney looked nervous.
James moved closer.
“Who is it?””
A voice answered.
A man’s voice.
“I’m here to talk.””
Daniel went pale.
“That’s him.””
James opened the door slightly.
A tall man stood outside.
Older.
Confident.
Expensively dressed.
His eyes immediately found me.
“Margaret.””
I stared.
Victor Hale.
The man who had unknowingly been connected to my life for twenty-five years.
The man who was Brielle’s biological father.
“I never wanted you to find out this way.””
My voice was barely a whisper.
“You stayed away.””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Pain crossed his face.
“Because your husband asked me to.””
I froze.
“My husband?””
Victor nodded.
“He knew everything.””
James looked confused.
“Why would he ask you to stay away?””
Victor looked at me.
“Because he loved Brielle.””
The words hurt.
Because they sounded exactly like something my husband would do.
“He told me if I ever returned, I would destroy her life.””
I stared at him.
“And now?””
Victor looked toward the window.
“Now someone else already did.””
A car horn sounded outside.
Everyone turned.
Victor’s expression changed.
“She’s here.””
My heart stopped.
“Brielle?””
Victor nodded.
But then he whispered:
“She didn’t come alone.””
James rushed to the window.
A car door opened.
Brielle stepped out.
And beside her…
Was Claire.
May you like
Holding a folder.
And smiling.
