Chapter 10 - DAMIAN'S BLOODBrianna stared at Damian.
"What truth?"
Damian looked devastated.
"I know who my biological father was."
Victor said nothing.
Damian held up the same birth certificate.
"My father was Victor Hale."
Brianna's eyes filled with tears.
Ariana covered her mouth.
Damian continued.
"My mother hid the truth."
Victor finally spoke.
"She did."
Damian looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because your existence threatened everything."
"How?"
"You were the first heir."
Brianna frowned.
"The first heir?"
Victor nodded.
"Before either of your sisters were born, the trust was created for Damian."
Brianna froze.
"What?"
Damian looked at Victor.
"My mother gave me away."
"To the Blackwoods."
Victor smiled bitterly.
"Your mother believed they would protect you."
"Did they?"
"No."
Victor's voice hardened.
"They used you."
Damian looked at Brianna.
"That means our marriage..."
Victor interrupted.
"Was part of the plan."
Silence.
Brianna felt her heart break.
"Damian."
He couldn't look at her.
"What?"
"You knew?"
"I found out today."
"And you believed him?"
Damian stared at Victor.
"I don't know what to believe."
Brianna stepped closer.
"I never married you because of the trust."
"I know."
"I loved you."
Damian looked at her.
"I love you too."
Victor rolled his eyes.
"This sentimental nonsense changes nothing."
Ariana suddenly laughed.
Victor looked at her.
"What?"
"You made one mistake."
She lifted the folder.
"The original trust document."
Victor's smile disappeared.
Ethan had managed to crawl closer.
"The trust has a final clause."
"What clause?"
Ariana opened the page.
"The entire inheritance is forfeited if any family member attempts to obtain it through coercion or fraud."
Victor went silent.
Brianna looked at Damian.
"Then he can't take it."
Victor smiled slowly.
"That's where you're wrong."
He pulled out a second document.
"The clause only applies if the trust remains private."
Brianna frowned.
"What did you do?"
Victor's smile became cold.
"I leaked the documents."
"To whom?"
"The media."
Damian looked at his phone.
Hundreds of notifications appeared.
News alerts.
Articles.
Social media posts.
The headline was everywhere.
BLACKWOOD FAMILY INVOLVED IN MASSIVE INHERITANCE FRAUD
Brianna's heart sank.
Victor continued.
"By tomorrow morning, the public will believe the Blackwoods stole millions."
Damian looked furious.
"You destroyed your own family's name."
Victor nodded.
"Reputation means nothing to a man who has already lost everything."
Suddenly one officer stepped forward.
"Mr. Hale, you're under arrest."
Victor laughed.
"You don't have enough evidence."
The officer held up a drive.
"We do now."
Victor's smile disappeared.
The officer looked at Damian.
"Your brother recorded the confession."
Everyone turned toward Ethan.
He was holding a small recorder.
Victor stared at him in disbelief.
"You."
Ethan smiled weakly.
"I told you I'd stop running."
Victor lunged.
The officers restrained him.
Ariana burst into tears.
Brianna ran toward Damian.
He held her tightly.
For the first time, she thought the nightmare was finally ending.
Then the officer approached them.
"I'm sorry."
Damian looked at him.
"For what?"
The officer handed him a new file.
"It's about your mother."
Brianna's stomach tightened.
"What happened to her?"
The officer hesitated.
"We found the location where she was being held."
"Is she alive?"
He lowered his eyes.
May you like
"No."
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