Chapter 14: The Last Secret Of The Bennett Family
Diane didn’t deny it.
That was the first thing I noticed.
The woman who had spent the entire night defending herself suddenly had nothing to say.
She just stood there.
Frozen.
The recording continued.
Diane’s voice echoed through the room.
“I only wanted Arthur to lose control of the company.””
My father stared at her.
“You worked with him.””
Diane looked down.
“I was desperate.””
“Desperate enough to betray my wife?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know.””
I stepped forward.
“You keep saying that.””
Diane looked at me.
“I didn’t know he would hurt her.””
Lucas laughed quietly.
A painful sound.
“But you knew he was dangerous.””
Diane looked at him.
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked everyone.
She wiped her face.
“I knew.””
Vanessa stepped back.
“My entire life…”
Diane looked at her daughter.
“I wanted to give you security.””
“No.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You wanted power.””
Diane had no response.
Victor suddenly laughed.
Everyone turned.
“You’re all acting like she was the problem.””
His smile returned.
“But she was just a small piece.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Security.””
Two guards entered the room.
Victor looked amused.
“Really?””
My father nodded.
“You’re leaving.””
Victor laughed.
“You think this ends with me?””
Rachel stepped forward.
“It does.””
Victor looked at her.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“It ends with Ethan choosing.””
I frowned.
“Choosing what?””
Victor smiled.
“Between the family who raised him…”
He pointed at Arthur.
“And the family he was born into.””
He pointed at Lucas.
My jaw tightened.
“I’m not choosing.””
Victor looked surprised.
“Excuse me?””
I stepped forward.
“You’re all wrong about one thing.””
The room became silent.
“My family is not a competition.””
I looked at my father.
“Arthur raised me.””
Then Lucas.
“But Lucas is my brother.””
Then I looked at Victor.
“And you?””
I shook my head.
“You’re just the person who hurt everyone.””
For the first time, Victor looked genuinely angry.
“You sound like Arthur.””
I smiled sadly.
“Good.””
The guards approached.
But before they reached him, Victor pulled out his phone.
Everyone stopped.
“What are you doing?””
He pressed a button.
A video appeared on the ballroom screen.
My heart dropped.
It showed my father.
Years ago.
Talking to someone.
The audio was unclear.
Victor smiled.
“Before you judge me, ask Arthur what he did.””
I looked at my father.
The old fear returned to his face.
“What is that?””
My father didn’t answer.
Victor laughed.
“Tell him.””
My father stayed silent.
I turned.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
“I made a choice.””
“What choice?””
He closed his eyes.
“After your mother died, I found evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
“That Victor was involved.””
I nodded.
“And?””
“I had the chance to expose him.””
“Why didn’t you?””
His silence was devastating.
“Dad.””
He whispered:
“Because Lucas was missing.””
Everyone looked at Lucas.
My father continued.
“I thought if Victor knew Lucas survived, he would come after him.””
Lucas froze.
“So you hid me?””
My father looked at him.
“I protected you.””
“But you let me grow up without my family.””
My father broke.
“I’m sorry.””
The words were simple.
But they carried fifteen years of pain.
Lucas looked away.
Victor smiled.
“See?””
He pointed.
“Everyone has secrets.””
Then Rachel suddenly looked at the screen.
“Wait.””
She stepped closer.
The video.
The timestamp.
Her face changed.
“This footage…”
She turned.
“Victor, where did you get this?””
He smiled.
“Why?””
Rachel looked at my father.
“Because this was recorded after the accident.””
The room froze.
“What?””
Rachel zoomed in.
“The date.””
My father stared.
“That’s impossible.””
Lucas stepped closer.
And then he whispered:
“My mother wasn’t killed that night.””
Everyone turned.
“What?””
Lucas looked at the screen.
“She was alive.””
My heart stopped.
Victor’s smile disappeared.
Because he knew.
Lucas pointed at the video.
“That recording proves it.””
Rachel looked at the date again.
May you like
Then she said the words that changed everything.
“Your mother survived the accident.””
