Chapter 3: The Secret Hidden in the Walls
Samantha read the sentence again.
Then again.
Her fingers trembled around the old piece of paper.
*The Collins family lied about why they abandoned you… and the truth will destroy everything.*
For twenty years, she had lived with one painful question.
Why did her mother hate her?
She had tried to answer it herself countless times.
Maybe she was not pretty enough.
Maybe she was not talented enough.
Maybe Victoria simply loved Olivia and Charlotte more.
But deep down, Samantha always felt there was something missing.
A piece of the story nobody had told her.
Now, standing alone in the kitchen with Adrian Whitmore beside her, that feeling finally had a name.
A lie.
“What does this mean?”” Samantha whispered.
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at her carefully, as if choosing every word.
“It means your grandmother knew something was wrong.””
Samantha looked up.
“You knew my grandmother?””
“No. Not personally.””
“Then why did she leave something for you?””
Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out another envelope.
This one was older.
The edges were worn.
“She contacted my father’s foundation years ago. She was trying to protect someone.””
“Me?””
Adrian nodded.
Samantha’s chest tightened.
“But why?””
Adrian placed the envelope on the kitchen counter.
“Because she believed your mother would take everything from you.””
Samantha stared at him.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
The answer felt impossible.
Victoria had been cruel.
Cold.
Unfair.
But Samantha never imagined her own mother would be capable of stealing from her.
“What could she possibly take from me?”” Samantha asked.
Adrian didn’t respond.
Instead, he looked toward the hallway.
“Not here.””
Samantha followed his eyes.
The mansion suddenly felt different.
The beautiful walls.
The expensive paintings.
The golden decorations.
For the first time, she didn’t see luxury.
She saw secrets.
“Where then?”” she asked.
Adrian lowered his voice.
“Somewhere your family can’t hear us.””
Samantha hesitated.
She had spent her entire life obeying Victoria.
Don’t leave the house without permission.
Don’t touch things that aren’t yours.
Don’t ask questions.
But tonight was different.
Tonight someone was finally giving her answers.
She folded the letter carefully.
“Okay.””
Adrian led her through a side hallway toward the old library.
The room was rarely used.
Most people in the Collins mansion preferred showing off new things.
Not preserving old ones.
The library smelled like aged paper and wood.
Thousands of books lined the walls.
Samantha immediately noticed the details.
The cracked leather covers.
The handwritten notes inside some of the books.
The carefully preserved first editions.
Her eyes softened.
“This room is beautiful.””
Adrian smiled.
“You really love books.””
Samantha ran her fingers lightly over the spine of an old novel.
“They’re honest.””
Adrian looked amused.
“Books are honest?””
“They don’t pretend to be something they’re not.””
Her words lingered between them.
Because both of them knew she wasn’t only talking about books.
Adrian opened the second envelope.
Inside was a stack of documents.
The first page had a familiar name.
Victoria Collins.
Samantha’s stomach dropped.
“What is that?””
“A copy of a legal agreement.””
She stepped closer.
Adrian placed the document on the table.
“Your grandmother discovered this fifteen years ago.””
Samantha scanned the page.
Most of the words were confusing.
But one phrase stood out.
*Inheritance transfer.*
“What does this mean?””
Adrian pointed to a paragraph.
“When your grandfather died, he left a trust.””
Samantha frowned.
“My grandfather?””
“Yes.””
“I never knew him.””
“I know.””
Adrian continued.
“The trust was supposed to belong to his grandchildren.””
Samantha looked confused.
“But I don’t have anything.””
“That’s the problem.””
She stared at him.
“Wait…”
Her voice became quieter.
“You’re saying I was supposed to inherit something?””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
Adrian hesitated.
Samantha noticed.
“How much?””
“Enough that your family would have a reason to hide the truth.””
The room became silent.
Samantha looked away.
She suddenly remembered all the times Victoria told her she was worthless.
All the times Olivia and Charlotte laughed when she wore old clothes.
All the times she ate alone while they celebrated expensive gifts.
A terrible thought entered her mind.
“Did they know?””
Adrian didn’t answer.
But his silence was enough.
Samantha stepped back.
“They knew.””
Her voice cracked.
“My mother knew.””
Adrian nodded slowly.
“According to these documents, Victoria became the manager of the trust when you were a child.””
Samantha’s face went pale.
“A manager?””
“She was supposed to protect it until you became an adult.””
“But I’m twenty.””
“Yes.””
“And I never received anything.””
“No.””
The word hurt more than she expected.
Because suddenly, every moment of rejection had a different meaning.
Victoria wasn’t just ignoring her.
She had been benefiting from her.
A noise came from outside the library.
Both of them stopped.
The door handle moved.
Samantha’s heart jumped.
The door opened.
Victoria stood there.
Her face was calm.
Too calm.
“What are you doing?””
Samantha immediately stepped away from the documents.
“Mom…”
Victoria looked at Adrian.
Then at the papers.
The color slowly disappeared from her face.
“You went through my things?””
Adrian remained composed.
“These are not your things.””
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me?””
“These documents belong to Samantha.””
For the first time, Victoria lost control.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Samantha looked at her.
“Do I?””
Victoria turned toward her.
The anger in her eyes surprised Samantha.
Because it wasn’t disappointment.
It was fear.
“Samantha, go to your room.””
“No.””
The word came out before she could stop it.
Everyone froze.
Victoria stared at her.
“What did you say?””
Samantha’s hands shook.
But she stood her ground.
“I said no.””
For twenty years, she had been afraid of that woman.
Afraid of her voice.
Afraid of her anger.
Afraid of losing the little approval she had never received.
But tonight, something had changed.
She knew the truth was waiting.
And she was done running from it.
“I want answers.””
Victoria laughed quietly.
“Answers?””
“Yes.””
“You think this man walks into our home and suddenly you understand everything?””
Samantha looked at the documents.
“I understand that you lied.””
Victoria’s expression hardened.
“You should be careful.””
“Why?””
“Because you have no idea what you’re asking for.””
Samantha stepped closer.
“I’m asking why my own mother treated me like a stranger.””
Victoria looked at her daughter.
And for a brief second…
Samantha saw something she had never seen before.
Regret.
Then it disappeared.
“You want the truth?””
Victoria’s voice became cold.
“Fine.””
Adrian watched carefully.
Because he knew there was more.
Much more.
Victoria walked toward the old bookshelf.
She reached behind a row of books and pressed something hidden.
A small section of the wall clicked.
Samantha stared.
The bookshelf moved.
Behind it was a hidden compartment.
Inside sat an old black folder.
Victoria removed it.
Then she turned around.
“You want to know why I never loved you the way I loved Olivia and Charlotte?””
Samantha held her breath.
Victoria placed the folder on the table.
“Because you were never supposed to be my daughter.””
The words destroyed the room.
Samantha couldn’t move.
“What?””
Victoria opened the folder.
Inside was a document.
A birth certificate.
But the name written on it wasn’t what Samantha expected.
Victoria pushed the paper toward her.
And Samantha felt the world disappear when she saw the truth.
Her mother’s name was missing.
Instead, another woman’s name was written.
A woman Samantha had never heard of.
Adrian looked at the document.
His expression changed.
Because he recognized the name.
The same name that appeared in his father’s old records.
The same name connected to the secret his family had hidden for decades.
Victoria whispered:
“Now you know why I never considered you one of my daughters.””
Samantha stared at the paper.
Then at Victoria.
“Who am I?””
Nobody answered.
Until Adrian slowly picked up the document.
His face turned serious.
“Samantha…”
She looked at him.
“What?””
Adrian swallowed.
“Your real mother…”
May you like
He looked at the name again.
“…was the woman who owned half of Whitmore Industries before my father inherited it.””
