Chapter 8: The Father My Mother Never Named
For several seconds, I couldn'tFor several seconds, I couldn't understand the words Marcus had just spoken.
"My biological father?""
Marcus held the black ledger tightly against his chest.
"Yes understand the words Marcus had just spoken.
"My biological father?""
Marcus held the black ledger tightly against his chest.
"Yes.""
I looked at Thomas.
He had gone pale.
Then I looked at Eleanor.
She seemed equally stunned.
"Claire," Eleanor said carefully, "don't let him.""
I looked at Thomas.
He had gone pale.
Then I looked at Eleanor.
She seemed equally stunned.
"Claire," Eleanor said carefully, "don't let him use this to distract you.""
I shook my head.
"No. I want an answer.""
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
"Your mother told you that your father died before you were born, didn't use this to distract you.""
I shook my head.
"No. I want an answer.""
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
"Your mother told you that your father died before you were born, didn't she?""
I felt my throat tighten.
"She told me he left before I was born.""
"That's not the same thing.""
"Who was he she?""
I felt my throat tighten.
"She told me he left before I was born.""
"That's not the same thing.""
"Who was he?""
Marcus looked toward Thomas.
"Tell her.""
Thomas closed his eyes.
"Claire, this isn't the way I wanted you to find out.""
I took a step toward him.
"Then tell me the way you wanted.""
He looked at me with an expression I couldn't read.
"Your biological father was Robert Hale.""
The room seemed to disappear.
I heard the?""
Marcus looked toward Thomas.
"Tell her.""
Thomas closed his eyes.
"Claire, this isn't the way I wanted you to find out.""
I took a step toward him.
"Then tell me the way you wanted.""
He looked at me with an expression I couldn't read.
"Your biological father was Robert Hale.""
The room seemed to disappear.
I heard the faint ticking of a clock somewhere behind me.
Then I heard Eleanor whisper something.
"No.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She looked at Thomas.
"That is impossible.""
Thomas shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Eleanor.""
I stared at the two of them.
"Robert Hale?""
Marcus nodded.
"That's right.""
"The man in the photograph?""
"Yes.""
"The man whose son I married?""
Marcus gave a humorless smile.
"Now you understand why this situation is complicated.""
I stepped backward.
My stomach tightened beneath my faint ticking of a clock somewhere behind me.
Then I heard Eleanor whisper something.
"No.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She looked at Thomas.
"That is impossible.""
Thomas shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Eleanor.""
I stared at the two of them.
"Robert Hale?""
Marcus nodded.
"That's right.""
"The man in the photograph?""
"Yes.""
"The man whose son I married?""
Marcus gave a humorless smile.
"Now you understand why this situation is complicated.""
I stepped backward.
My stomach tightened beneath my hand.
I couldn't breathe properly.
Robert Hale had died six years earlier.
My mother had died eleven years earlier.
And Marcus was telling me that the man whose fortune my baby was supposed to inherit had been my biological father.
Which meant Marcus and hand.
I couldn't breathe properly.
Robert Hale had died six years earlier.
My mother had died eleven years earlier.
And Marcus was telling me that the man whose fortune my baby was supposed to inherit had been my biological father.
Which meant Marcus and I shared a father.
My husband was my half-brother.
The thought was so horrifying that I immediately rejected it.
"No.""
Marcus shrugged.
"Believe whatever I shared a father.
My husband was my half-brother.
The thought was so horrifying that I immediately rejected it.
"No.""
Marcus shrugged.
"Believe whatever you want.""
I turned toward Thomas.
"Is it true?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"No. My mother told me my father was someone named Andrew. She had a photograph of him.""
Thomas's expression changed you want.""
I turned toward Thomas.
"Is it true?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"No. My mother told me my father was someone named Andrew. She had a photograph of him.""
Thomas's expression changed.
"Andrew was your mother's first serious partner. He was not your biological father.""
"Why would she lie?""
"Because she was trying to protect you.""
I laughed, but there were tears.
"Andrew was your mother's first serious partner. He was not your biological father.""
"Why would she lie?""
"Because she was trying to protect you.""
I laughed, but there were tears in my eyes.
"Everyone keeps saying that. Everyone claims my mother was protecting me. From what? From the truth?""
Thomas moved closer.
"From Robert's in my eyes.
"Everyone keeps saying that. Everyone claims my mother was protecting me. From what? From the truth?""
Thomas moved closer.
"From Robert's family.""
Eleanor suddenly stood.
"Enough.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked directly at Thomas.
"Robert never told me he had family.""
Eleanor suddenly stood.
"Enough.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked directly at Thomas.
"Robert never told me he had a child with Margaret.""
Thomas's face softened.
"He wanted to.""
"When?""
"Before you married him a child with Margaret.""
Thomas's face softened.
"He wanted to.""
"When?""
"Before you married him.""
Eleanor looked as if someone had struck her.
"Before we married?""
Thomas nodded.
"Robert met Margaret when they were both young. They were together.""
Eleanor looked as if someone had struck her.
"Before we married?""
Thomas nodded.
"Robert met Margaret when they were both young. They were together briefly. When Margaret became pregnant, Robert had already been promised to another woman by his family.""
Eleanor briefly. When Margaret became pregnant, Robert had already been promised to another woman by his family.""
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"And he chose me.""
"He chose the life his family expected him to live.""
She looked away.
For the's eyes filled.
"And he chose me.""
"He chose the life his family expected him to live.""
She looked away.
For the first time, I saw Eleanor not as the powerful matriarch of the Hale family, but as a woman discovering that the man she had loved had kept an first time, I saw Eleanor not as the powerful matriarch of the Hale family, but as a woman discovering that the man she had loved had kept an entire child hidden from her.
I looked at Thomas.
"Did Robert know about me?""
"Yes.""
"Did he ever try to contact me?""
Thomas hesitated.
"He wanted to.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"He sent money entire child hidden from her.
I looked at Thomas.
"Did Robert know about me?""
"Yes.""
"Did he ever try to contact me?""
Thomas hesitated.
"He wanted to.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"He sent money to your mother. He offered to establish an education fund. He wanted to meet you when you were older.""
"Why didn't he?""
"Marg to your mother. He offered to establish an education fund. He wanted to meet you when you were older.""
"Why didn't he?""
"Margaret refused.""
I looked at the old photograph on the table.
My mother stood beside Robert.
They looked happy.
I had spent eleven years believing she had been abandoned by a man who never cared enough to stay.
Now I was being told that he had wanted to bearet refused.""
I looked at the old photograph on the table.
My mother stood beside Robert.
They looked happy.
I had spent eleven years believing she had been abandoned by a man who never cared enough to stay.
Now I was being told that he had wanted to be part of my life.
"Why did she refuse?""
Thomas took a breath.
"Because Robert's family had made it clear that you would never be accepted as his child.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
She didn't deny it.
Instead, part of my life.
"Why did she refuse?""
Thomas took a breath.
"Because Robert's family had made it clear that you would never be accepted as his child.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
She didn't deny it.
Instead, she looked at the photograph above the fireplace.
"Robert's parents were cruel people," she said quietly.
"They believed inheritance was she looked at the photograph above the fireplace.
"Robert's parents were cruel people," she said quietly.
"They believed inheritance was more important than blood.""
I stared at her.
"And you?""
She looked directly at me.
"I didn't know you existed.""
I believed her.
At more important than blood.""
I stared at her.
"And you?""
She looked directly at me.
"I didn't know you existed.""
I believed her.
At least, I wanted to.
But Marcus was still standing beside the table, holding the ledger.
And there was something in his expression that told me he hadn't revealed least, I wanted to.
But Marcus was still standing beside the table, holding the ledger.
And there was something in his expression that told me he hadn't revealed this information out of concern for my feelings.
He was using it.
"Why tell me now?"" I asked him.
He gave a short laugh.
"Because you keep demanding answers.""
"No. You told me because you think it changes something this information out of concern for my feelings.
He was using it.
"Why tell me now?"" I asked him.
He gave a short laugh.
"Because you keep demanding answers.""
"No. You told me because you think it changes something.""
"It changes everything.""
He placed the ledger on the table.
"Look at the inheritance documents. If Robert was your biological.""
"It changes everything.""
He placed the ledger on the table.
"Look at the inheritance documents. If Robert was your biological father, then you have a claim to his estate.""
I stared at him.
"Is that what this is about?""
"Partly.""
"And the other part?""
Marcus looked toward Thomas.
"Ask father, then you have a claim to his estate.""
I stared at him.
"Is that what this is about?""
"Partly.""
"And the other part?""
Marcus looked toward Thomas.
"Ask him what happened to the money.""
Thomas's expression hardened.
"Don't.""
Marcus opened the ledger.
"Your mother received nearly six million dollars from Robert over the years. him what happened to the money.""
Thomas's expression hardened.
"Don't.""
Marcus opened the ledger.
"Your mother received nearly six million dollars from Robert over the years. She was supposed to place it into the foundation.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Did she?""
"Some She was supposed to place it into the foundation.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Did she?""
"Some of it.""
Marcus smiled.
"Not all of it.""
Thomas slammed his hand on the table.
"Because the rest was stolen!""
Marcus stepped back.
"By whom of it.""
Marcus smiled.
"Not all of it.""
Thomas slammed his hand on the table.
"Because the rest was stolen!""
Marcus stepped back.
"By whom?""
Thomas looked directly at him.
"Your father discovered that Daniel Cross and I had been moving money through shell accounts. He ordered us to stop. Daniel refused. Then he convinced Robert that I was responsible for everything.""
"You're lying.""
?""
Thomas looked directly at him.
"Your father discovered that Daniel Cross and I had been moving money through shell accounts. He ordered us to stop. Daniel refused. Then he convinced Robert that I was responsible for everything.""
"You're lying.""
"Am I?""
Thomas opened the ledger to a marked page.
"Look at the entries.""
I leaned"Am I?""
Thomas opened the ledger to a marked page.
"Look at the entries.""
I leaned closer.
There were hundreds of transactions.
Dates.
Account numbers.
Amounts.
Initials.
Then I saw a name.
Daniel Cross.
Beside it were several transfers totaling more than eight million dollars.
Another name appeared beneath it.
Thomas Bennett closer.
There were hundreds of transactions.
Dates.
Account numbers.
Amounts.
Initials.
Then I saw a name.
Daniel Cross.
Beside it were several transfers totaling more than eight million dollars.
Another name appeared beneath it.
Thomas Bennett.
Then another.
Marcus Hale.
I stared.
"Why is Marcus's name here?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Because he was helping.
Then another.
Marcus Hale.
I stared.
"Why is Marcus's name here?""
Thomas looked at me.
"Because he was helping Daniel move the money.""
Marcus snatched the ledger back.
"That's enough!""
But I had already seen the entries.
One transfer was dated eleven years ago.
The same month my mother died.
I pointed to it.
"What is this payment Daniel move the money.""
Marcus snatched the ledger back.
"That's enough!""
But I had already seen the entries.
One transfer was dated eleven years ago.
The same month my mother died.
I pointed to it.
"What is this payment?""
Thomas looked down.
His face became grave.
"That was the money Daniel paid to make sure Margaret's investigation disappeared.""
My throat tightened.
"How much?""
"Two million dollars.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Did you know?""
He didn't answer.
Thomas continued.
"Your mother discovered that Daniel had been stealing from the foundation. She threatened to expose him. Robert?""
Thomas looked down.
His face became grave.
"That was the money Daniel paid to make sure Margaret's investigation disappeared.""
My throat tightened.
"How much?""
"Two million dollars.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Did you know?""
He didn't answer.
Thomas continued.
"Your mother discovered that Daniel had been stealing from the foundation. She threatened to expose him. Robert wanted to help her, but Daniel had already gained access to several people inside the company.""
"Who?""
Thomas looked at Marcus.
"Your husband.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Careful.""
Thomas ignored him.
"Marcus was young, ambitious, and desperate to prove himself to his father. Daniel convinced him that the foundation wanted to help her, but Daniel had already gained access to several people inside the company.""
"Who?""
Thomas looked at Marcus.
"Your husband.""
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Careful.""
Thomas ignored him.
"Marcus was young, ambitious, and desperate to prove himself to his father. Daniel convinced him that the foundation's money was being used to finance the company's expansion.""
's money was being used to finance the company's expansion.""
I looked at Marcus.
"You knewI looked at Marcus.
"You knew about the missing money before we met?""
He finally spoke.
"I knew about business transactions. I didn't know anything about your mother.""
"Then why were you with Vivian?""
"Because her father was useful.""
The words came out so casually that I almost missed them.
I stared.
"What?""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"Vivian and I started working together because Daniel had access to investors. The relationship became more complicated.""
"Eleven about the missing money before we met?""
He finally spoke.
"I knew about business transactions. I didn't know anything about your mother.""
"Then why were you with Vivian?""
"Because her father was useful.""
The words came out so casually that I almost missed them.
I stared.
"What?""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"Vivian and I started working together because Daniel had access to investors. The relationship became more complicated.""
"Eleven months ago?""
He said nothing.
I felt tears burn behind my eyes.
"You lied to me while I was undergoing fertility treatment.""
"Claire—"
"You lied to me while I was carrying your child.""
"Stop making everything about months ago?""
He said nothing.
I felt tears burn behind my eyes.
"You lied to me while I was undergoing fertility treatment.""
"Claire—"
"You lied to me while I was carrying your child.""
"Stop making everything about the baby!""
The room went silent.
Eleanor stood slowly.
"Get out.""
Marcus looked at her.
"What?""
"Leave this house.""
He laughed.
"Mother, you're going to throw me out over a family dispute?""
"No. I'm throwing you out because I no longer recognize the man standing in front of me.""
He the baby!""
The room went silent.
Eleanor stood slowly.
"Get out.""
Marcus looked at her.
"What?""
"Leave this house.""
He laughed.
"Mother, you're going to throw me out over a family dispute?""
"No. I'm throwing you out because I no longer recognize the man standing in front of me.""
He pointed toward the ledger.
"You don't understand. If those records become public, the company will collapse.""
"Then perhaps it deserves to.""
Marcus's face turned red.
He picked up the ledger and moved toward the door.
David's security officer stepped into his pointed toward the ledger.
"You don't understand. If those records become public, the company will collapse.""
"Then perhaps it deserves to.""
Marcus's face turned red.
He picked up the ledger and moved toward the door.
David's security officer stepped into his path.
"Sir, please put the document down.""
Marcus stared at him.
"You work for my mother.""
"Today, I work for the law.""
For a moment, I thought Marcus would fight him.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Vivian.
He answered.
"What?""
I couldn't hear her words, but his expression changed.
"What do you mean he's there?""
He listened.
Then he looked at Thomas.
His face went white.
"Don't let him touch anything.""
He ended the call.
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Who was that?""
Marcus ignored her.
He path.
"Sir, please put the document down.""
Marcus stared at him.
"You work for my mother.""
"Today, I work for the law.""
For a moment, I thought Marcus would fight him.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Vivian.
He answered.
"What?""
I couldn't hear her words, but his expression changed.
"What do you mean he's there?""
He listened.
Then he looked at Thomas.
His face went white.
"Don't let him touch anything.""
He ended the call.
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Who was that?""
Marcus ignored her.
He looked at Thomas.
"Where is Daniel?""
Thomas frowned.
"I don't know.""
Marcus grabbed the ledger.
"He's at your house.""
Thomas looked at Thomas.
"Where is Daniel?""
Thomas frowned.
"I don't know.""
Marcus grabbed the ledger.
"He's at your house.""
Thomas went completely still.
Then he whispered:
"My house?""
Marcus nodded.
"Vivian just told me.""
Thomas reached for his coat.
"That's impossible.""
"She says he's waiting went completely still.
Then he whispered:
"My house?""
Marcus nodded.
"Vivian just told me.""
Thomas reached for his coat.
"That's impossible.""
"She says he's waiting for you.""
I looked at him.
"Why would your sister's father be waiting at your house?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Instead, for you.""
I looked at him.
"Why would your sister's father be waiting at your house?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Instead, he turned toward me.
"Claire, listen carefully. Whatever happens, don't let Daniel get the original ledger.""
Marcus laughed.
"You're a little late.""
He held up the black book.
Then he pulled a second item he turned toward me.
"Claire, listen carefully. Whatever happens, don't let Daniel get the original ledger.""
Marcus laughed.
"You're a little late.""
He held up the black book.
Then he pulled a second item from his jacket.
A small silver flash drive.
"Because the original is already backed up.""
He looked directly at me.
"And the backup contains something much worse.""
Before from his jacket.
A small silver flash drive.
"Because the original is already backed up.""
He looked directly at me.
"And the backup contains something much worse.""
Before anyone could ask what he meant, the front door opened.
A woman entered.
She was in her late fifties, wearing a cream coat anyone could ask what he meant, the front door opened.
A woman entered.
She was in her late fifties, wearing a cream coat and carrying a leather handbag.
Thomas stared at her.
Then he whispered a name.
"Margaret?""
My heart stopped.
The woman looked directly at me.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Hello, Claire.""
I couldn't move.
She took one step closer.
"I know this is difficult to believe.""
Her voice trembled.
"But I'm not your mother.""
She looked at Thomas.
"I'm the woman who helped her disappear.""
and carrying a leather handbag.
Thomas stared at her.
Then he whispered a name.
"Margaret?""
My heart stopped.
The woman looked directly at me.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Hello, Claire.""
I couldn't move.
She took one step closer.
"I know this is difficult to believe.""
Her voice trembled.
"But I'm not your mother.""
May you like
She looked at Thomas.
"I'm the woman who helped her disappear.""
