Chapter 14 - THE MAN WHO WAS NEVER MY FATHER-IN-LAW
For fifteen years, I had believed Richard Vale was Scott's father. I had seen his photograph in family albums. I had heard stories about him at holidays. I had listened to Evelyn speak about his supposed death and the terrible accident that had supposedly taken him from the family before Scott and I were married. I had mourned a man I barely knew because I believed he was part of the family I had chosen. Now I stood inside the old garage where my marriage had begun, staring at Scott as he admitted that the man I had believed dead wasn't even his biological father. The truth felt too large to absorb all at once. It wasn't one lie. It was a structure of lies built over fifteen years, each one protecting another, until I could no longer tell where my marriage ended and the conspiracy began.
I stared at Scott.
“Start talking.”
He looked down.
“Richard raised me.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
“He isn't related to me by blood.”
“Then why did you call him your father?”
“Because he wanted everyone to believe it.”
I stepped closer.
“How long have you known?”
“All my life.”
“And you never told me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Scott's face tightened.
“Because he controlled everything.”
I almost laughed.
“You expect me to believe you were controlled?”
“Yes.”
“After what you did to me?”
“I know.”
“You brought Vanessa into my home.”
“Yes.”
“You helped Daniel frame me.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to take my company.”
“Yes.”
“And now you're telling me you were a victim?”
Scott looked at me.
“I was both.”
I hated that the answer sounded honest.
He looked toward the old metal box.
“Richard wanted the trust.”
“What trust?”
“The Sterling trust.”
I froze.
“My father's trust?”
Scott nodded.
“He knew your family had created something valuable before you were even born.”
“Then why marry me?”
“Access.”
The word cut deeper than I expected.
“Access to what?”
“Your family records. Your ownership documents. Your inheritance.”
I looked at the floor.
“All those years…”
Scott's voice became quieter.
“I was supposed to make you sign everything.”
“But I didn't.”
“No.”
“What stopped you?”
“You found the original documents.”
I looked at him.
“When?”
“The year before our wedding.”
I remembered that year.
I remembered Scott suddenly becoming obsessed with reorganizing the company.
I remembered documents appearing in front of me.
I remembered him telling me I didn't need to understand every detail because he would handle it.
I had trusted him.
Scott continued.
“Your father knew someone was trying to get inside the company.”
“Did he know about you?”
“He suspected.”
“Then what happened to him?”
Scott looked away.
“I don't know.”
“Liar.”
“I swear.”
Detective Shaw stepped forward.
“Where is Richard now?”
Scott hesitated.
Then he looked at me.
“With Lily.”
My stomach dropped.
“You said she was safe.”
“She is.”
“How can she be safe with him?”
“Because he needs her.”
I stared at him.
“For what?”
Scott's eyes filled with fear.
“The trust.”
He explained that my father had created a structure that would prevent anyone from permanently taking control of the company. My 51 percent ownership was only the first layer. If someone attempted to steal those shares through fraud, the controlling interest would eventually pass to my direct heir.
Lily.
And when she turned one, the protection would become nearly impossible to break.
That was why Richard had spent fifteen years controlling the company through Scott.
That was why Scott needed my signatures.
That was why Daniel had prepared forged documents.
That was why they needed me to look like a criminal.
They weren't simply trying to steal what I owned.
They were trying to erase the person who would inherit it.
My daughter.
I looked at Scott.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Then find her.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard knows I betrayed him.”
I stepped toward him.
“You did not betray me.”
Scott looked at me.
“I know.”
I turned away.
Then my phone rang.
Detective Shaw answered it.
She listened.
Her face slowly changed.
She looked at me.
“Diane…”
“What?”
“They found Richard's car.”
“Where?”
“Outside your old house.”
My blood ran cold.
“And Lily?”
The detective shook her head.
“No sign of her.”
Then another call came through.
She answered.
Her expression became even darker.
“What?”
She listened.
Then she looked at me.
“They found something else.”
“What?”
“Evelyn is missing from the hospital.”
I closed my eyes.
Everything was connected.
Richard had Lily.
Someone had taken Evelyn.
And somewhere in the middle of it all was a secret about my daughter's father that Scott still hadn't told me.
I turned toward him.
“You're not finished.”
Scott shook his head.
“No.”
I stared into his eyes.
“Tell me who Lily's real father is.”
May you like
Scott looked at me.
And for the first time, he was too afraid to answer.
