Chapter 4: The House Beside the River
I drove through three red lights before I reached the old Riverside House.
It was a property Richard Bennett had owned for decades, a sprawling stone mansion overlooking the river outside town. Olivia had once told me it was where her father entertained politicians, wealthy investors, and people who preferred their business to remain private.
Now, apparently, it was where he kept my daughters.
I parked several hundred feet away and called the police.
"Mr. Carter, we need you to slow down," the dispatcher said.
"My twelve-year-old daughter has been taken. I have photographs. I know who's responsible.""
"Where are you?""
"Outside Riverside House.""
"Do not approach the property. Officers are being dispatched.""
I looked through the windshield.
Two black SUVs stood beside the entrance.
One of them had its rear door open.
I recognized the silver necklace hanging from the rearview mirror.
Olivia's.
"I can't wait," I whispered.
"Sir, stay where you are.""
I ended the call.
The front entrance opened before I reached the steps.
A woman in a dark uniform stood inside.
"Mr. Carter. Mr. Bennett is expecting you.""
"Where are my daughters?""
"Inside.""
"Are they hurt?""
She didn't answer.
I pushed past her.
The mansion smelled of polished wood and expensive perfume. Portraits of Richard Bennett covered the walls. In every photograph, he stood surrounded by people who looked grateful to be standing near him.
A man who had spent twelve years stealing my family.
I found Sophie in the library.
She was sitting on a leather sofa beside Ruby. Both girls were unharmed, but Sophie immediately ran toward me.
"Dad!""
I hugged her so tightly she complained.
"You're okay. You're okay.""
Ruby stood behind her, looking frightened.
"Where's Mom?"" I asked.
A voice answered from the doorway.
"She's upstairs.""
Adrian Bennett stepped into the room.
He was tall, clean-shaven, and dressed in a dark blue suit. He looked perhaps forty, with Olivia's dark eyes but none of her warmth.
"Damien Carter," he said.
"We've finally met.""
I moved in front of the girls.
"Stay away from them.""
Adrian smiled.
"You have a habit of making everything difficult.""
"You're the man who married my wife.""
His smile disappeared.
"Olivia was my wife.""
"Not by choice.""
"Marriage is a complicated arrangement, Mr. Carter.""
I stepped closer.
"Where is she?""
"She's recovering.""
"From what?""
Adrian glanced at Sophie.
"From an unfortunate decision.""
Before I could respond, a familiar voice came from the staircase.
"Adrian, leave him alone.""
Olivia appeared at the top.
She was pale, and a bruise darkened her left wrist.
I rushed toward her.
"Olivia!""
She descended slowly.
When she reached me, she touched my face as though she were checking whether I was real.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
I held her.
For twelve years, I'd imagined this moment.
I'd imagined anger, explanations, tears.
I hadn't imagined finding her frightened in a house belonging to the man who had destroyed our marriage.
"Are you hurt?""
She shook her head.
"Not badly.""
Adrian cleared his throat.
"Now that everyone is here, perhaps we can discuss the reason for this reunion.""
I turned.
"What do you want?""
"The original birth certificate.""
I pulled the folded document from my jacket.
It was the only original record I'd ever received from the hospital. I'd kept it in a safe for twelve years.
Adrian's eyes fixed on it.
"Give it to me.""
"First, tell me why.""
He laughed quietly.
"You still believe this is about two children?""
Olivia stepped forward.
"Damien, don't give him anything.""
Adrian looked at her.
"You're forgetting what happens when you refuse to cooperate.""
Ruby suddenly spoke.
"Stop threatening Mom!""
Adrian turned toward her.
"Ruby, go upstairs.""
"No.""
"Now.""
Ruby moved closer to Sophie.
For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely angry.
"Your mother has spent years protecting you. Don't make her regret it.""
I handed the birth certificate to Olivia.
She unfolded it.
Her hands began shaking.
"This isn't the original," she whispered.
I frowned.
"What?""
She turned the document around.
Someone had removed a page from the hospital's original registration file. The certificate was genuine, but the attached section documenting the second child's registration had been cut away.
Adrian smiled.
"Exactly.""
"Why do you need it?"" I asked.
He walked toward the fireplace.
"Because your daughters are heirs to something much more valuable than a family name.""
Olivia's face went white.
"Adrian, no.""
He continued.
"Richard Bennett established a trust before the girls were born. The money, the property, the company shares—all of it was supposed to pass to the firstborn child in his family.""
I stared at him.
"But Ruby is his granddaughter.""
"Biologically, yes. Legally, the records say otherwise.""
I looked at Olivia.
She nodded slowly.
"Richard arranged for Ruby to be registered as the daughter of Adrian and me. He intended to give her his inheritance.""
Adrian smiled.
"Until the original birth records disappeared.""
I finally understood.
The two girls weren't separated because one family wanted a child.
They were separated because someone wanted to control an inheritance.
But there was something Adrian hadn't explained.
"Why did you need Olivia to marry you?""
His expression changed.
Olivia answered.
"Because Richard wanted a legitimate family line. He wanted Ruby to carry the Bennett name, and he wanted me to disappear into it.""
I looked at Adrian.
"And what did you want?""
He shrugged.
"Control.""
Sophie suddenly stood.
"You're a liar.""
Adrian stared at her.
Sophie pointed at the birth certificate.
"My dad never left Mom. My mom never left Dad. You made everybody think they didn't love each other.""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed immediately.
"Yes, Father.""
A voice crackled through the speaker.
I couldn't hear the words.
But Adrian's face became increasingly tense.
"What do you mean she's there?""
He looked at Olivia.
Then at the girls.
Finally, he said:
"No. That wasn't part of the agreement.""
He ended the call.
Olivia grabbed my arm.
"What's happening?""
Adrian looked toward the entrance.
"My father has arrived.""
A car door slammed outside.
Then another.
Olivia began trembling.
"Damien, we have to get the girls out of here.""
I looked toward the front door.
An elderly man entered, supported by a polished black cane.
His silver hair was neatly combed, his expression calm.
Richard Bennett.
He looked at Olivia first.
Then at me.
Finally, his gaze settled on the twins.
"Well," he said softly, "the family is finally together.""
May you like
He paused.
"And now we can decide which daughter gets to keep her name.""
