Chapter 11: The Enemy Inside the Family
The footsteps grew louder.
Slow.
Confident.
Almost familiar.
Then the person appeared.
Faith Delano.
She stood in the doorway.
Not afraid.
Not angry.
Smiling.
I stared at her.
“You.””
Faith looked around the room.
“I’m impressed.””
Charles stepped forward.
“Faith.””
She ignored him.
“I wondered how long it would take Eleanor to connect the pieces.””
My anger rose.
“You were behind this?””
Faith laughed.
“Behind what?””
She walked toward the table.
“The company?””
“The files?””
“The lies?””
She shrugged.
“Some of it.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
Her smile faded.
“Because I deserve what should have been mine.””
Charles looked disappointed.
“Faith, you have no idea what you’re talking about.””
She turned toward him.
“No?””
Her voice sharpened.
“Then tell them.””
Charles went quiet.
That frightened me more than anything.
“What is she talking about?””
Faith smiled.
“Your grandfather knows.””
I looked at Charles.
“Charles?””
He looked away.
For the first time, I saw guilt on his face.
“Not now.””
I stepped closer.
“No.””
My voice was firm.
“Now.””
Everyone remained silent.
Finally, Charles spoke.
“Faith is not my granddaughter by blood.””
The words shocked the room.
Faith’s face tightened.
“But she was raised as one.””
Charles nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He looked at her.
“Because her father asked me to.””
“Who was her father?””
Charles didn’t answer.
Faith did.
“Richard Whitmore.””
The room went completely still.
I felt like the ground disappeared beneath me.
“No.””
Faith looked at me.
“You really didn’t know anything, did you?””
I couldn’t speak.
Charles closed his eyes.
“Richard made mistakes.””
Faith laughed.
“Mistakes?””
She stepped closer.
“He abandoned my mother.””
My hands went cold.
“Who was your mother?””
Faith looked directly at me.
“Victoria.””
Everyone froze.
Victoria stepped back.
“No.””
Faith looked at her.
“Yes.””
The pieces began falling into place.
Victoria.
Richard.
Claire.
Faith.
A family tree built from secrets and pain.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered.
Faith looked at me.
“Of course you don’t.””
She picked up a photograph from the table.
A younger Richard.
A younger Victoria.
Together.
Happy.
My heart cracked.
“You thought you were the only woman he loved.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Faith smiled sadly.
“He loved you.””
That answer surprised me.
“But he loved her first.””
Victoria looked away.
The pain on her face was confirmation.
I felt betrayed.
Not because Richard had a past.
Everyone had a past.
Because he built my entire life on a foundation of lies.
“Why didn’t he tell me?””
Faith’s expression hardened.
“Because he was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you would leave.””
I laughed bitterly.
“He was right.””
Faith’s eyes narrowed.
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
I looked at the photo.
“Because I trusted him.””
Silence.
Then Faith leaned forward.
“And that trust cost everyone everything.””
Charles stepped between us.
“Faith, enough.””
She looked at him.
“You protected him.””
“Yes.””
“You protected Eleanor.””
“Yes.””
“And you abandoned me.””
Charles looked devastated.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Faith laughed.
“Everyone always says that.””
She turned toward the door.
“I’m done waiting.””
I watched her.
“What does that mean?””
She smiled.
“It means tomorrow morning, Whitmore Holdings becomes mine.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
She placed a folder on the table.
“Richard’s original trust documents.””
Charles grabbed it.
His face went pale.
“No.””
Faith smiled.
“Yes.””
I opened the folder.
The first page had Richard’s signature.
But something was wrong.
The date.
The date was after Claire was born.
After our marriage.
After everything.
I looked up.
“This is fake.””
Faith shook her head.
“No.””
She pointed at the signature.
“Ask yourself why Richard never wanted you to see this.””
Then she walked away.
At the doorway, she stopped.
“Oh, Eleanor?””
I looked at her.
She smiled.
“The person who betrayed you the most isn’t me.””
My blood ran cold.
“Then who?””
Faith looked at Charles.
May you like
And said:
“The person who helped Richard hide everything.””
