Chapter 7 — The Family That Sold Me
I thought hearing the truth would hurt.
I was wrong.
The truth didn't hurt.
The truth destroyed everything I believed.
Richard Bennett sat in front of me.
No expensive suit.
No confidence.
No powerful businessman image.
Just a scared man.
"You helped them?"
My voice was shaking.
He looked down.
"Yes."
The word hit harder than the slap.
My mother started crying.
But I didn't believe her tears anymore.
Not after twenty-two years.
"Why?"
Richard closed his eyes.
"Because I wanted your father's company."
Daniel stood behind me.
Silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
"You sold a child..."
Daniel's voice was cold.
"...for money."
Richard looked at him.
"I was desperate."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Everyone says that when they choose greed."
Then Richard revealed the final piece.
"I wasn't the only one."
My mother went pale.
"Richard."
He looked at her.
"You wanted it too."
The room froze.
Claire stepped back.
"Don't."
Richard continued.
"You told me if Emily disappeared, Daniel would lose everything."
My heart stopped.
My mother.
My own mother.
She had planned it.
Not just hidden it.
Planned it.
I looked at her.
"Why?"
She didn't answer.
And somehow...
That silence was worse.
Then Ethan walked into the room.
He had heard everything.
His face was pale.
"Mom?"
Claire looked at him.
For the first time...
She looked afraid.
Ethan whispered:
"You told me she was crazy."
"You told me she was selfish."
"You told me she didn't deserve anything."
Claire said nothing.
Because Ethan finally understood.
He wasn't the favorite son.
He was the replacement.
The child they used to create the perfect family picture.
Professor Hughes entered holding a folder.
"We have a problem."
Everyone looked at her.
"The board has suspended Emily's degree investigation."
"Why?"
She looked at me.
"Because new evidence was submitted."
My stomach dropped.
"What evidence?"
Professor Hughes handed me the folder.
Inside was a document.
A DNA report.
My name.
Richard Bennett's name.
And one shocking result.
"Emily Bennett..."
"Richard Bennett is not your biological father."
I looked up.
I already knew that.
But then I saw the second line.
The line that made my blood turn cold.
"Daniel Cross is not your biological father either."
Silence.
Nobody spoke.
Because the entire story had just changed.
May you like
Again.
And someone had been lying from the beginning.
