Chapter 5: The Billionaire Who Knew My Past
The next morning, the Collins mansion felt different.
Not because anything had changed.
The marble floors were still shining.
The chandeliers were still glowing.
The ocean view was still breathtaking.
But I finally saw the cracks.
The mansion wasn’t built on love.
It was built on secrets.
I sat alone in the breakfast room, staring at the untouched coffee in front of me.
For twenty years, I thought I was invisible.
Now I wondered if I had been hidden.
There was a difference.
And that difference terrified me.
Olivia entered first.
She was wearing a designer outfit as usual.
She stopped when she saw me.
“You’re sitting here?””
I looked up.
“Yes.””
She frowned.
“Mother usually has breakfast prepared in the other room.””
“I know.””
Something about my answer bothered her.
She pulled out a chair.
“What happened last night?””
I didn’t respond.
Because I knew Olivia.
She loved gossip.
But she loved herself more.
She wouldn’t care about the truth.
Only how it affected her.
Then Charlotte entered.
“What’s with the serious faces?””
Olivia looked at me.
“Samantha found something.””
Charlotte laughed.
“She probably found another excuse not to work.””
I stared at her.
And for once, I didn’t feel afraid.
“You should be careful.””
Her smile disappeared.
“Excuse me?””
“Sometimes the things you ignore are the things that matter most.””
The sisters exchanged confused looks.
Before they could answer, the front doors opened.
Alexander Hayes entered.
Everyone immediately changed.
Olivia fixed her hair.
Charlotte straightened her dress.
Victoria appeared from the hallway seconds later.
“Alexander. We weren’t expecting you so early.””
He looked calm.
“I wanted to speak with Samantha.””
The room froze.
Again.
My mother’s face tightened.
“Why?””
Alexander looked directly at me.
“Because I have answers.””
My heart skipped.
“What answers?””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Alexander, this is not necessary.””
He ignored her.
“Samantha, your father and my father knew each other.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
Alexander walked closer.
“My father was Daniel Collins’ business partner.””
The room became silent.
“You knew my father?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you say anything last night?””
“Because I wasn’t sure you knew the truth.””
I looked at Victoria.
She looked away.
That told me everything.
“You all knew.””
Nobody answered.
My voice became louder.
“You all knew.””
Alexander’s expression softened.
“I knew only part of it.””
“What part?””
He hesitated.
“Your father didn’t just die.””
The words hit me.
I felt like the ground disappeared.
“What do you mean?””
Alexander glanced at Victoria.
“She told everyone he had an accident.””
My mother’s face became pale.
“But there were questions.””
I whispered:
“What questions?””
Alexander lowered his voice.
“Daniel was investigating someone inside his company before he died.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“The man in the picture?””
Victoria suddenly spoke.
“Stop.””
Everyone looked at her.
For the first time, her perfect image was completely gone.
She looked exhausted.
Broken.
Alexander stared at her.
“You should have told her years ago.””
Victoria’s eyes filled with anger.
“You don’t know what I sacrificed.””
“Samantha deserved the truth.””
“She deserved protection!””
Her voice echoed through the room.
Nobody moved.
Then she looked at me.
“I did what I had to do.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My voice trembled.
“You did what you thought was best for yourself.””
Victoria flinched.
That reaction told me I was right.
Alexander stepped closer.
“Samantha, there is something else you need to know.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Your father left something behind.””
“What?””
“A letter.””
My breath stopped.
“Where is it?””
Alexander reached into his jacket and removed an envelope.
Old.
Yellowed.
Worn.
My name was written on the front.
*For Samantha.*
I couldn’t move.
Twenty years.
Twenty years of wondering if my father ever loved me.
And suddenly, there it was.
Proof.
I reached for it.
But before my fingers touched the envelope…
Victoria grabbed it.
“No.””
Everyone froze.
Her hand was shaking.
“Samantha cannot read this.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
Victoria looked at the letter.
And tears finally appeared in her eyes.
“Because your father wrote the truth.””
I whispered:
“What truth?””
She held the envelope against her chest.
“The truth about why I had to choose between my daughters.””
My heart stopped.
“My daughters?””
Victoria closed her eyes.
May you like
Then she said the words that shattered everything.
“Olivia and Charlotte were never supposed to be my only heirs.””
