Chapter 17: The Betrayal Written in Blood
The words hit harder than any accusation.
*Your father started it.*
I stared at Victor.
“No.””
He leaned against the desk.
“You always thought your father was perfect.””
“He protected us.””
“He manipulated you.””
My hands tightened.
“Watch your words.””
Victor laughed quietly.
“Still defending him.””
Lily looked between us.
“Dad…”
I saw fear in her eyes.
Not because of Victor.
Because she was watching my world collapse again.
I turned toward her.
“Go downstairs.””
She hesitated.
“But—”
“Please.””
She nodded and left.
Once she was gone, I looked at Victor.
“Explain.””
He opened the folder.
“Your father discovered that Lily was connected to another family.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“He discovered her biological history.””
I looked at Daniel.
He stood silently.
“Daniel?””
He looked away.
Victor noticed.
“He never told you everything.””
My anger turned toward my brother.
“What else?””
Daniel sighed.
“Marcus…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“What else?””
Daniel’s voice was quiet.
“Claire wasn’t just investigating Vanessa’s family.””
My heart stopped.
“She was investigating Lily’s birth.””
Victor nodded.
“Because your father asked her to.””
I felt sick.
“My father?””
Victor continued.
“Your father knew there was a chance Lily’s birth records were altered.””
“Why?””
“Because he suspected someone was trying to hide her connection to an old family dispute.””
I looked at Daniel.
“What dispute?””
Nobody answered.
Then Victor said:
“Mine.””
The room became silent.
I stared at him.
“You?””
He nodded.
“Years ago, my wife had a child.””
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with Lily?””
Victor’s expression changed.
Pain.
“Because that child disappeared.””
I shook my head.
“I don’t understand.””
He looked toward the hallway where Lily had gone.
“Your father found her.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
Victor whispered:
“Lily.””
The room went completely silent.
“No.””
Victor opened a document.
“Your father discovered that Claire’s pregnancy records were connected to my missing child case.””
I looked at the paper.
The names.
The dates.
The signatures.
Everything blurred.
“You’re saying Lily is your daughter?””
Victor nodded.
“She is my granddaughter.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
Daniel looked horrified.
“Victor…”
Victor turned toward him.
“You knew.””
Daniel said nothing.
“You knew?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
My world shattered again.
“You all knew.””
Nobody spoke.
“You all knew something about my daughter.””
I grabbed the documents.
“You let me believe I was protecting her while everyone around me was hiding the truth.””
Victor looked at me.
“Because the truth would have destroyed her.””
I laughed.
“Destroyed her?””
I pointed downstairs.
“She already spent months believing she wasn’t wanted.””
Victor lowered his eyes.
For the first time, he looked guilty.
Then footsteps came from the hallway.
Lily.
She had heard everything.
“Dad?””
I turned.
Her face was pale.
“What did he mean?””
Nobody answered.
Lily looked at Victor.
“Am I…”
She couldn’t finish.
I walked toward her.
“No matter what anyone says, you are my daughter.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“But am I?””
I held her shoulders.
“Yes.””
“But biologically?””
I looked at the documents.
Then at her.
The hardest truth was the one I couldn’t protect her from.
“I don’t know yet.””
She stepped back.
That hurt more than anything.
“I need some time.””
“Lily—”
She shook her head.
And walked away.
I turned toward Victor.
“You wanted this.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“I wanted the truth.””
“Then why bring her here?””
Victor looked at me.
“Because someone else was coming.””
A sound came from downstairs.
The front door opened.
Everyone froze.
A woman’s voice echoed through the house.
“Marcus.””
I knew that voice.
Vanessa.
She stepped into the room.
But she wasn’t alone.
Behind her was Vanessa’s mother.
The woman who started everything.
Victor looked at them.
May you like
And whispered:
“The real game begins now.””
