Chapter 6: The Night Richard Tried to Take Everything
By midnight, Olivia's wedding had become a gathering of strangers pretending not to witness a family collapse.
The band had stopped playing. The champagne fountains had been switched off. Guests who had once crowded around Olivia to admire her dress now spoke in hushed voices, glancing toward the bridal suite whenever Richard passed.
Olivia barely noticed them.
She sat beside Ethan on a velvet sofa, the hospital record and her grandmother's letter spread across the coffee table.
“James prevented Richard from taking me,” she whispered.
“What does that even mean?””
Ethan read the letter again.
“It could mean a custody dispute. Maybe Richard wanted parental rights before the adoption was finalized.””
“Then why would Grandma challenge his claim?””
“Because she believed there was a reason to challenge it.””
Olivia looked at him.
“Do you think Richard isn't my biological father?””
Ethan hesitated.
“I think we need the actual court records before deciding what any of this means.””
She appreciated that he didn't pretend to know.
Richard had made every answer sound certain. James had always admitted when he didn't know something.
She was beginning to understand the difference.
A knock sounded at the door.
Before Olivia could respond, Richard entered.
He carried the black folder.
“Ethan, would you give us a moment?””
“No,” Ethan said.
Richard blinked.
“I beg your pardon?””
“Olivia can decide whether she wants to speak with you. You don't get to order me out of a room where she's sitting.””
Olivia touched Ethan's hand.
“It's okay. I'll talk to him.””
Ethan looked reluctant, but he stood.
“I'll be right outside.””
When the door closed, Richard placed the folder on the table.
“I think we've all said things we regret today.””
Olivia stared at him.
“Have you?””
He pulled a chair closer.
“I came back into your life because I wanted a relationship with my daughter. I didn't expect James to turn that into a public confrontation.””
“You took the rose from him without even asking if he was comfortable with it.””
“You offered me the rose.””
“After you spent months telling me that he wasn't my real father.””
Richard sighed.
“Your relationship with James is between you and him. I can't be responsible for the way you interpret your childhood.””
Olivia almost laughed.
Even now, he was shifting responsibility onto her.
“Why did you want me to sign the authorization?””
Richard opened the folder.
Inside were several pages of financial projections, a business proposal, and a document bearing the logo of a private investment company.
“I wanted to help you make the most of your inheritance.””
“By taking control of it?””
“By protecting it.””
“You told me the papers were routine.””
“They were preliminary.””
“You didn't explain the five-year term.””
“Because the final agreement had not been prepared.””
“Then why did you send me a copy with the five-year term already filled in?””
Richard pressed his fingertips together.
“Because my legal team prepared a draft. That's what legal teams do.””
Olivia leaned forward.
“Who is your legal team?””
He named a firm she recognized from the document.
The same firm that represented Victor Lang, the real estate investor he had spoken to earlier.
Olivia remembered Ethan's warning that the people around Richard might have financial interests of their own.
“What does Victor Lang have to do with my inheritance?””
Richard's face became unreadable.
“Victor is an investor. I introduced him because he has opportunities that could benefit you.””
“What opportunities?””
“A property development in Austin. Commercial real estate. A private equity arrangement.””
“And you need my inheritance to invest?””
Richard smiled faintly.
“Capital is how people build wealth.””
“Then use your own.””
The smile vanished.
For several seconds, he stared at her as though she had spoken a language he didn't understand.
Then he leaned back.
“Your grandmother's trust contains nearly two million dollars. Sitting in an account won't do you any good if you don't know how to manage it.””
“That's why there are trustees.””
“Trustees are expensive. Lawyers are expensive. They restrict what you can do with your own money.””
“They also prevent people from pressuring me into signing things I don't understand.””
Richard's eyes hardened.
“You've become very suspicious in a few hours.””
“I've learned a lot in a few hours.””
He tapped the business proposal.
“Look at this. The development could double your investment in three years. You and Ethan could own a beautiful property portfolio before you're thirty.””
Olivia looked at the projections.
The promised returns were enormous.
But there were no guarantees, no detailed risk disclosures, and no clear explanation of where the initial funds would go.
“Why do you need my money before I've even spoken to the trustee?””
“Because the opportunity won't wait forever.””
“Then it can go to someone else.””
Richard's face flushed.
“You're throwing away a chance that could change your life.””
“My grandmother already gave me a chance to build my life. She put conditions on the money for a reason.””
“Your grandmother was afraid of everything.””
“Was she afraid of you?””
The question silenced him.
Richard stood so abruptly that his chair scraped across the floor.
“You have no idea what happened between Margaret and me.””
“Then tell me.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because you wouldn't understand.””
Olivia rose.
“I'm twenty-four years old. You keep telling me I'm old enough to make my own decisions, but every time I ask you a question, you tell me I don't understand.””
Richard looked at her with open irritation.
“Fine. You want the truth? Margaret hated me. She believed I wasn't good enough for her family, and she used money and lawyers to keep me away.””
“Why?””
“Because she wanted control.””
“That's what you keep saying about everyone.””
His eyes narrowed.
“Be careful, Olivia.””
She felt a chill.
It was the second time that day he had warned her to be careful when she asked an inconvenient question.
“Are you threatening me?””
“I'm trying to protect you from making an irreversible mistake.””
“By telling me to stop asking questions?””
Richard closed the folder.
“I'm going to make this very simple. If you refuse to work with me, I will withdraw every offer I've made. The investment opportunities, the connections, the help I promised you and Ethan.””
Olivia stared at him.
“Those were gifts?””
“They were opportunities.””
“You said you wanted to be my father.””
“I do.””
“Then why does being my daughter come with a business agreement?””
Richard's expression changed.
For the first time, she saw no charm in him at all.
“Because the world doesn't run on affection, sweetheart.””
Olivia thought of James selling his fishing boat to pay for her education.
James never sent her an invoice.
He never asked for a percentage of her future salary.
He never told her that she owed him obedience because he had sacrificed for her.
Richard had been in her life for six months, and already he was treating love like a contract.
“Get out,” she said.
Richard stared at her.
“What?””
“Get out of my room.””
He laughed in disbelief.
“You're choosing James over me again.””
“No. I'm choosing not to sign something I don't understand.””
“Same difference.””
He grabbed the folder and headed for the door.
Before leaving, he turned back.
“You'll regret this. When the money is frozen and your lawyers start asking questions, don't come crying to me.””
Olivia held his gaze.
“I won't.””
He left.
The door closed.
For several seconds, she stood motionless.
Then Ethan came back inside.
“Did he threaten you?””
“He said he'd withdraw his offers.””
Ethan exhaled.
“Then they weren't gifts.””
Olivia sat down and covered her face.
“I don't know how I became this person.””
Ethan knelt beside her.
“You made a cruel decision today. You hurt James. But you can still choose what happens next.””
“What if he never forgives me?””
Ethan took her hand.
“You can't demand forgiveness. You can tell the truth, apologize, and give him the space to decide.””
She nodded through her tears.
Her phone rang.
This time, the caller was James.
Olivia answered immediately.
“Dad?””
Silence.
Then his familiar voice came through.
“Olivia.””
She began to cry.
“I'm sorry.””
He didn't answer right away.
“I was cruel to you,” she continued.
“I embarrassed you in front of everyone. I took the rose from your chest, and I told you that you weren't my real father. I don't have an excuse.””
James breathed slowly.
“No, you don't.””
The honesty hurt, but she deserved it.
“I don't expect you to forgive me tonight,” she said.
“I just need you to know that I was wrong.””
Another silence.
Then James asked, “Did you read Margaret's letter?””
“Yes.””
“And the hospital record?””
Olivia sat up.
“You knew about it?””
“I knew it existed.””
“What happened when I was born?””
James was quiet for a long moment.
“That's a question I cannot answer properly over the phone.””
“Please. I need to know.””
“I understand.””
“Did Richard try to take me?””
James exhaled.
“Yes.””
Olivia pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Why?””
“Because he believed he had a right to you. Your grandmother disagreed. The court had to decide what was best for you.””
“Was he really my biological father?””
“Yes.””
The answer surprised her.
“Then why was there a paternity dispute?””
“Because being your biological father was not the only question before the court.””
Olivia gripped the phone.
“What was the other question?””
James's voice grew heavy.
“Whether Richard was fit to have custody of you.””
Her heart pounded.
“What did the court decide?””
“Margaret won the immediate ruling. Richard was denied custody, and the adoption process continued.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Margaret believed the details would hurt you, and because the court order contained restrictions on what could be disclosed while certain records remained sealed.””
“But I'm an adult now!””
“Yes. And I believe you deserve the truth.””
“Then tell me.””
“I will. But not until Helen has reviewed the original records. I won't risk giving you an incomplete version of something that could affect your entire understanding of your birth.””
Olivia wiped her eyes.
“Are you angry with me?””
“Yes,” James answered.
She closed her eyes.
“But I'm still your father,” he continued.
“Being angry doesn't erase twenty-two years, Olivia.””
She broke down completely.
“Can I see you?””
“Not tonight.””
“Please.””
“I need time.””
“I understand.””
“Do you?””
She swallowed.
“I think I'm beginning to.””
James sighed.
“Go home with Ethan. Don't sign anything else. Meet Helen tomorrow. And don't let Richard convince you that the truth belongs to him.””
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“I love you.””
The line went quiet.
Then James answered, so softly she almost missed it.
“I love you, too.””
The call ended.
Olivia held the phone against her chest.
For the first time that day, she felt something stronger than fear.
Hope.
But it lasted only until her phone vibrated again.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of a document bearing James's signature.
Below it was a single sentence.
*ASK YOUR FATHER WHY HE SIGNED AWAY HIS RIGHT TO ADOPT YOU.*
Olivia stared at the photograph.
The signature was unmistakable.
James Bennett.
And beneath it was a date from twenty-two years earlier, several months before her adoption had been finalized.
At the bottom of the page was a line that made her blood run cold.
*CONSENT TO TERMINATION OF PARENTAL CLAIMS AND TRANSFER OF CUSTODIAL RIGHTS.*
Olivia read the words again.
Then another message arrived.
*HE DIDN'T TELL YOU EVERYTHING, DID HE?*
She looked toward Ethan.
He was watching her face.
“What is it?””
Olivia handed him the phone.
He read the message, then looked up slowly.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know.””
Ethan examined the photograph.
“Olivia, this could be a fake. We need Helen to authenticate it.””
“But what if it isn't?””
He took her hands.
“Then we'll find out why he signed it.””
Olivia looked at the document again.
For years, she had believed James chose her.
Now someone was suggesting he had once signed a paper giving her up.
And if that was true, she needed to understand why.
Because the man who had raised her might have been protecting her from Richard.
Or he might have been hiding a truth that would break her heart all over again.
She typed a reply to the unknown number.
*WHO ARE YOU?*
The answer arrived almost instantly.
*SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE THE DAY JAMES BENNETT GAVE YOU AWAY.*
May you like
Then came a final message.
*AND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO YOUR MOTHER.*
