Chapter 13 - The BloodlineI looked at my mother.

"Who is my father?"

She couldn't speak.

Dad stared at the floor.

Victor smiled.

"Go ahead."

Mom closed her eyes.

"Richard isn't your biological father."

Silence.

I felt numb.

"What?"

She nodded.

"I loved another man before Richard."

"Who?"

"Victor."

My world stopped.

Ryan whispered:

"No."

Mom continued.

"Victor and I were involved before I married Richard."

Dad looked at her.

"We agreed never to tell you."

Victor laughed.

"Richard agreed."

Mom looked at me.

"You were born before our marriage."

I stared at Dad.

"You knew?"

He nodded.

"You raised me anyway."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you were my daughter."

Victor interrupted.

"Because she was useful."

Dad turned toward him.

"Enough."

Victor smiled.

"She was never just a child."

"She was the key."

I looked at Mom.

"The trust."

She nodded.

"The trust was created because your grandfather knew Victor would eventually come after Carter Global."

Victor shook his head.

"Your grandfather knew nothing."

Mom's voice hardened.

"The truth is worse."

She looked at me.

"Victor wasn't trying to steal the Carter fortune."

"What then?"

"He wanted to combine the Carter and Hale family assets."

"And control them."

"Through you."

My stomach tightened.

"So my entire marriage..."

"Was arranged."

"And my child?"

Mom looked at me.

"Created through a genetic agreement."

Ryan closed his eyes.

I felt sick.

Victor smiled.

"You were the perfect bridge."

He looked toward Andrew.

"Your brother has Carter blood."

Then me.

"You have Carter and Hale blood."

Then my child.

"Your child has the legal right to unify everything."

I stared at him.

"You planned my entire life."

Victor nodded.

"Almost."

"What went wrong?"

He looked at Ryan.

"He loved you."

Then at Mom.

"She survived."

Then at Dad.

"He refused to cooperate."

Finally, he looked at me.

"And you became stronger than expected."

I almost laughed.

"So what now?"

Victor's expression darkened.

"Now you sign."

He placed the transfer documents on the table.

I looked at them.

Control of the Carter trust.

Guardianship arrangements.

Asset transfers.

All I had to do was sign.

"What happens if I refuse?"

Victor looked at Dad.

Then at Andrew.

Then at Ryan.

"You lose all three men."

I looked at Ryan.

Then Dad.

Then Andrew.

Then I smiled.

Victor frowned.

"What?"

I lifted the pen.

"I'll sign."

Everyone froze.

Mom stared at me.

"Emma, no."

I signed.

Victor took the documents.

He smiled.

Then I added one final sentence beneath my signature.

"And I want one condition."

Victor read it.

His smile disappeared.

"What did you do?"

I looked at him.

"I didn't sign the transfer."

I pointed to the document.

"I signed a confession."

Victor stared.

The pages were already being scanned.

Every hidden deal.

Every illegal payment.

Every name.

Every secret.

Was now being transmitted worldwide.

Victor lunged toward me.

Then the doors exploded open.

Federal agents poured into the room.

Victor stopped.

Claire walked through them.

"Victor Hale."

She raised her weapon.

"You're under arrest."

Victor looked at me.

He smiled.

"You think this is over."

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