Chapter 5 — The Research They Stole From My Real Father
The next morning, my name was everywhere.
Not because I graduated.
Because my family had turned my graduation into the biggest scandal in the university's history.
"Business Titan Richard Bennett Accused of Corporate Fraud."
"Missing Billionaire Daniel Cross Returns."
"Graduate Student Caught Between Two Powerful Families."
The headlines were everywhere.
But the truth was buried underneath.
And I was determined to uncover it.
Daniel Cross met me in a quiet private office downtown.
For twenty-two years, I imagined what my real father would look like.
Angry.
Cold.
Disappointed.
But when he walked through the door...
I saw something else.
Pain.
A man carrying twenty-two years of regret.
He stopped several feet away.
Neither of us moved.
Then he whispered:
"You look exactly like your mother."
I almost smiled.
"Everyone says that."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I missed everything."
My graduation.
My first steps.
My first heartbreak.
Every birthday.
Every moment.
All stolen.
I didn't know what to say.
Because part of me wanted to hug him.
And another part wanted to ask:
Where were you?
Daniel placed a folder on the table.
"Your father didn't just steal my company."
"He stole my invention."
Inside were documents.
Research papers.
Patents.
Emails.
My eyes moved across the pages.
Then I froze.
Because I recognized the handwriting.
Mine.
"This..."
I looked up.
"This is my research."
Daniel nodded.
"Exactly."
The room went silent.
The research that won me my scholarship.
The project that made professors call me a genius.
The project my family accused me of stealing.
They had stolen it from me.
Because they knew the truth.
I had unknowingly recreated my biological father's original work.
A discovery that could change the medical industry.
Richard Bennett had spent years trying to erase me because my success threatened him.
Daniel looked at me.
"Emily."
"Your father didn't hate you because you failed."
"He hated you because you succeeded."
That sentence broke something inside me.
For years...
I thought I was the problem.
Too ambitious.
Too difficult.
Too independent.
But the truth was much worse.
I was a threat.
My phone suddenly rang.
Professor Hughes.
I answered.
"Emily, you need to come back to campus."
"Why?"
Her voice lowered.
"Because someone has submitted evidence accusing you of fraud."
My stomach dropped.
"Who?"
A pause.
Then:
"Your brother."
Ethan.
My own brother.
The person who watched me get humiliated.
The person who smiled.
The person who had everything.
And now...
He was trying to destroy me.
Again.
Professor Hughes continued:
"He claims you stole your father's research."
I closed my eyes.
The same lie.
A different person.
Daniel looked at me.
"He's following their plan."
I stood up.
"No."
I grabbed the folder.
"They've spent twenty-two years writing this story."
I looked toward the window.
"Now I'm going to rewrite the ending."
But when I arrived back at the university...
I discovered Ethan wasn't alone.
Someone else was waiting.
May you like
Someone who knew the original secret.
Someone who could destroy all of us.
