Chapter 6: The Letter That Changed Everything
Nobody spoke.
The breakfast room felt like it had frozen in time.
Olivia stared at her mother.
Charlotte looked confused.
And I…
I couldn’t even understand what I had just heard.
“Only heirs?””
My voice came out quietly.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria looked at the letter in her hand.
For once, she didn’t look like the powerful woman everyone feared.
She looked like someone carrying a burden too heavy to hold.
Alexander stepped forward.
“Victoria.””
She ignored him.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking for.””
I looked at her.
“I’ve been asking my entire life.””
Those words finally broke something.
Her fingers loosened around the envelope.
But she didn’t give it to me.
Instead, she looked at Olivia and Charlotte.
“Leave.””
They both stared.
“What?”” Olivia asked.
“I said leave.””
“But Mother—”
“Now.””
They had never heard that tone before.
The sisters walked away slowly.
For the first time, they weren’t confident.
They were scared.
When the room was empty, Victoria placed the letter on the table.
“Samantha.””
I looked at her.
“Tell me.””
She closed her eyes.
“Your father loved you.””
A tear escaped before she could stop it.
“He wanted to build a future for you.””
I remained silent.
Because hearing those words hurt.
It hurt because I had spent years believing nobody wanted me.
“He created a trust,” Victoria continued.
“A trust?””
“Yes.””
Alexander nodded.
“Daniel owned shares in several companies. After his death, those shares were supposed to go to Samantha.””
I stared.
“Me?””
Victoria nodded.
“When you turned twenty-one.””
My birthday was next month.
My hands started shaking.
“So this was about money?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“You ignored me because of an inheritance?””
Her eyes filled with shame.
“No.””
“Then why?””
She looked away.
“Because people around me told me you were dangerous.””
I frowned.
“Dangerous?””
“They told me if anyone discovered Daniel left everything to you, they would come after you.””
“Who?””
Victoria whispered:
“The people responsible for your father’s death.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Alexander.
He looked serious.
“I believe your father was trying to expose someone powerful.””
“Who?””
Before anyone answered, a sound came from the hallway.
A phone ringing.
Victoria looked at the screen.
And immediately froze.
I noticed.
“Who is it?””
She didn’t respond.
The phone continued ringing.
Alexander looked at her.
“Answer it.””
Slowly, Victoria picked up.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice came through.
I couldn’t hear everything.
Only Victoria’s reaction.
Her face became terrified.
“No… that’s impossible.””
She looked at me.
Then at Alexander.
The man on the phone said something else.
Victoria dropped the phone.
“What happened?””
She didn’t answer.
Alexander picked it up.
His expression changed.
“Who was that?””
Victoria whispered:
“He knows.””
“Who knows?””
She looked at me.
And I saw something I had never seen before.
My mother was afraid for me.
Not afraid of me.
For me.
“Your father’s enemy.””
The front doors suddenly opened.
A security guard rushed inside.
“Mrs. Collins…”
Victoria turned.
“What?””
The guard looked nervous.
“There is someone here asking to see Samantha.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
The guard swallowed.
“He says his name is Daniel Collins.””
Nobody moved.
The world stopped.
My father was dead.
He had been dead for twenty years.
Impossible.
Alexander slowly looked toward the entrance.
Victoria whispered:
“No…”
Then the mansion doors opened wider.
A man stepped inside.
Older.
Different.
But with the same eyes I saw in old photographs.
He looked directly at me.
And said:
“Samantha…”
My breath disappeared.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.””
May you like
The man took another step forward.
“I’m your father.””
