Chapter 18 - Dad's Last ConfessionDad agreed to meet me that evening.
He looked exhausted.
I sat across from him.
"Tell me everything."
He nodded.
"I will."
Then he began.
Twenty years earlier, he and Mark had built a construction empire together.
Mark provided money.
Dad provided operations.
The company grew rapidly.
But eventually, Dad started diverting funds.
At first, small amounts.
Then larger ones.
He used the money to buy properties.
Eventually, he created the trust.
The assets were placed under legal protections.
And I was named beneficiary.
"Why me?"
Dad looked at me.
"Because you were the only person I trusted."
I almost laughed.
"You trusted me while stealing from everyone."
"I was trying to leave."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because Mark found out."
Dad explained that Mark had discovered the trust and demanded control.
Dad refused.
That was when the threats began.
Then came Eric.
Eric began borrowing from Mark secretly.
He was pressured into helping transfer assets.
My father knew.
But he was too afraid to stop it.
Then the mortgage began.
My parents deliberately kept me paying it because they needed cash flow while they moved other assets.
And the dinner?
Eric admitted it had been intentional.
They wanted me angry.
They wanted me to cut them off.
Because they believed that if I voluntarily abandoned the family, they could later claim I had intentionally refused to support the household.
It would help their bankruptcy case.
My stomach turned.
"The whole thing was planned."
Dad nodded.
"Yes."
"And the mortgage?"
"Collateral."
"You made me the collateral."
"I know."
He looked at me.
"I'm sorry."
I sat silently.
Then I asked:
"Did you ever love me?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Every day."
It was the worst answer.
Because I believed him.
I hated that I believed him.
I stood.
"We're finished."
He closed his eyes.
"I understand."
I walked toward the door.
Then he spoke.
"Rachel."
I stopped.
"There is one final thing."
I looked back.
"What?"
"Mark wasn't the one who changed your insurance beneficiary."
I frowned.
"Then who?"
Dad shook his head.
"Your mother."
I froze.
"Why?"
"Because she discovered Mark planned to kill you."
My blood ran cold.
"What?"
Dad continued.
"She changed the beneficiary to Eric because she thought if Mark believed Eric would inherit, he would stop targeting you."
I stared at him.
"She used Eric as bait."
Dad nodded.
"She was trying to protect you."
I sat back down.
"Did it work?"
Dad shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because Mark knew."
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
Your father told you everything. Good. Now ask him about the night you were born.
I looked at Dad.
He went pale.
"What?"
I turned the phone toward him.
He stared at the message.
Then whispered:
"She's alive."
I frowned.
"Who's alive?"
Dad looked at me with terror.
"Your biological mother."
I stared at him.
"I'm looking at her."
He shook his head.
"No."
He swallowed.
"Your mother was never your biological mother."
The room went silent.
"Then who was?"
May you like
Dad closed his eyes.
"The woman who gave birth to you disappeared twenty years ago."
