Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Lies
Vincent read Daniel Price's name three times.
Then he looked at Lily.
"Tell me exactly what your mother said.""
Lily sat down slowly.
Her fingers were trembling around the old envelope.
"She said a man from your company visited her shortly after I was born. He brought money, legal documents, and a photograph of you.""
Vincent's expression hardened.
"What did he look like?""
"Dark hair. Tall. He wore glasses.""
"Daniel.""
Lily nodded.
"She said he told her that you knew about me. He said you wanted me kept away because your marriage was already complicated.""
Vincent looked as though someone had struck him.
"That's a lie.""
Lily lowered her eyes.
"That's what I eventually figured out.""
Noah leaned forward.
"How?""
"My mother kept everything. Letters, receipts, photographs, even the envelope the money came in. She didn't trust anyone.""
Lily opened her backpack and removed a small plastic folder.
Inside were several receipts.
One was dated September twenty-third, eighteen years earlier.
Another was dated October fifth.
A third showed a payment from Moretti Holdings to Eleanor Brooks.
The amounts were identical.
Fifteen thousand dollars.
Every month.
For almost a year.
Vincent stared at the receipts.
"Who authorized these?""
Lily pointed to the bottom of the first page.
"Daniel Price.""
Vincent stood.
"That's enough.""
He pulled out his phone.
I watched him dial.
Daniel answered immediately.
"Good afternoon, sir.""
"Where are you?""
"At headquarters.""
"Stay there.""
"Is something wrong?""
Vincent's voice became ice.
"Everything is wrong.""
He ended the call.
Lily looked uncomfortable.
"Am I in trouble?""
Vincent turned toward her.
"No.""
"Because I didn't come here for money.""
"I know.""
"I don't want your company.""
"I know.""
"I just wanted to know whether my mother was telling the truth.""
Vincent looked at her for a long moment.
Then he pulled out a chair.
"She was telling the truth about one thing.""
Lily waited.
"You are my daughter.""
Her lips trembled.
Vincent continued.
"And I'm sorry I wasn't there.""
Lily looked away.
"I used to imagine what you'd say if I ever met you.""
Vincent's voice softened.
"What did you imagine?""
"That you'd tell me I was special.""
He swallowed.
"You are.""
She shook her head.
"Please don't say things because you feel guilty.""
Vincent fell silent.
Noah watched the exchange.
Then he spoke.
"She's right.""
Vincent turned.
Noah folded his arms.
"You can't fix eighteen years with a few sentences.""
"I know.""
"Do you?""
Vincent nodded.
"I am beginning to.""
I looked at the two young people sitting across from each other.
They had the same father.
The same gray eyes.
The same stubborn expression when they were upset.
But their childhoods had been shaped by entirely different versions of the same lie.
Noah had grown up without a father.
Lily had grown up believing her father had rejected her.
And Vincent had been living in a mansion, believing he had only one child.
Except he had another son too.
Ethan.
The family had been built on secrets.
And now every secret was demanding to be heard.
Vincent insisted on returning to Chicago that evening.
Lily agreed to accompany us, but only after Margaret promised to arrange independent legal representation for her.
Noah and I stayed in Boston.
We needed time.
But Vincent had a different problem.
His assistant was waiting.
Daniel Price stood in the private executive office when Vincent entered.
He was wearing a charcoal suit, holding a tablet, and speaking quietly with another employee.
The moment he saw Vincent, he dismissed the employee.
"Sir.""
Vincent placed the paternity report on the desk.
Daniel glanced at it.
His expression barely changed.
"Where did you get this?""
"From my daughter.""
Daniel slowly put down the tablet.
"Your daughter?""
"Lily Brooks.""
For the first time, Daniel looked uncomfortable.
Vincent noticed.
"Do you know her?""
Daniel adjusted his cuffs.
"I know the name.""
"You delivered money to Eleanor Brooks.""
"That was part of a confidential arrangement.""
"Who authorized it?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Your legal department.""
"Who specifically?""
"Martin Hale.""
"Martin says you brought the money.""
Daniel sighed.
"Mr. Moretti, this is an eighteen-year-old matter. I don't think revisiting every administrative detail is productive.""
Vincent stepped closer.
"An eighteen-year-old matter?""
"Yes.""
"That girl grew up believing her father didn't want her.""
Daniel's expression remained controlled.
"She was provided for.""
Vincent slammed his palm against the desk.
"She was not provided with a father!""
Daniel stepped back.
"Please lower your voice.""
Vincent stared at him.
"Don't tell me how to speak in my own office.""
Daniel opened a drawer and removed a document.
"Perhaps you should review the original authorization.""
Vincent snatched it.
It contained his signature.
The date was September twenty-second.
The day after Lily's birth.
The instruction read:
*Monthly support to be transferred to Eleanor Brooks. All communications concerning the minor child to be routed through the executive office.*
Vincent read the final line.
*No direct contact unless specifically approved by the chairman.*
He looked up.
"Did I sign this?""
Daniel nodded.
"You did.""
"I don't remember.""
"You were dealing with the divorce. You signed several documents that week.""
Vincent stared at him.
"Who prepared this?""
"Martin Hale.""
"And who gave it to me?""
"I did.""
Vincent went still.
"You brought it into my office?""
"Yes.""
"Did you tell me what it was?""
Daniel looked away.
"I told you it concerned a confidential family matter.""
Vincent's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Did you tell me I had a daughter?""
Daniel didn't answer.
"Answer me.""
"No.""
Vincent took a step backward.
The truth was becoming unbearable.
Daniel had been beside him for eighteen years.
He had arranged his meetings, managed his private correspondence, organized his travel, and handled the most sensitive matters in his business.
And he had deliberately withheld the existence of Vincent's own child.
"Why?"" Vincent asked.
Daniel finally looked up.
"Because Sophia paid me.""
The room went silent.
Vincent's face changed.
"How much?""
"Five hundred thousand dollars initially. There were additional payments later.""
Vincent stared at him.
"You sold my children for five hundred thousand dollars?""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"I protected your interests.""
"My interests?""
"You were building an empire. Sophia was the woman you intended to marry. Claire was gone. The children complicated the succession arrangements.""
Vincent grabbed the edge of the desk.
"Get out.""
"Mr. Moretti—"
"You're finished.""
Daniel straightened his jacket.
"Be careful, sir. You may want to consider what happens if the board discovers the original authorization.""
Vincent froze.
Daniel placed another folder on the desk.
"Because this isn't just about the children.""
He turned toward the door.
"Ask Sophia about the money transferred from the family trust. Ask her why your signature appears on accounts you never personally managed.""
Then he walked out.
Vincent remained standing.
He opened the folder.
Inside were records of transfers totaling more than twelve million dollars.
Every transfer had been approved under his name.
And every payment led to a private foundation controlled by Sophia.
The following morning, Noah and I received a call from Margaret.
"Claire, we have a problem.""
"What happened?""
"Daniel has filed a statement claiming Vincent personally authorized the concealment arrangements.""
I looked at Noah.
"Can he prove it?""
"He has signed documents. Some are genuine. Others appear to have been altered.""
"Then we need to establish which ones.""
"I agree. But there's another issue.""
"What?""
"Sophia has retained a prominent attorney. She is preparing to challenge Lily's paternity claims and the validity of the old financial records.""
Noah stood.
"Why would she challenge her own son's sister?""
Margaret sighed.
"Because if Lily and Noah are recognized as Vincent's biological children, the existing family trust may have to be reviewed.""
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
Money.
Again.
"How much is involved?"" I asked.
"Potentially billions.""
Noah looked disgusted.
"Of course.""
Margaret continued.
"There's one more thing. Sophia has requested an emergency meeting with Vincent, Ethan, and the trustees.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
That evening, Noah received a message from an unknown number.
*I'm Ethan. We need to talk.*
He showed me.
"Do you know him?""
"I've seen his photograph.""
Noah typed a response.
*What do you want?*
The reply came almost immediately.
*I want to know whether my mother really hid two of my father's children.*
Noah stared at the screen.
Then he answered.
*She did.*
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally, Ethan wrote:
*Then I think you should know what she's planning to do next.*
A photograph arrived.
It showed a document lying on Sophia's desk.
The heading read:
*EMERGENCY FAMILY TRUST AMENDMENT.*
Beneath it were three names.
Noah Bennett.
Lily Brooks.
And Ethan Moretti.
The amendment would remove all three children from the existing trust and transfer control of the assets to a new holding company.
Noah zoomed in.
At the bottom was a signature.
Vincent Moretti.
But the date was tomorrow.
Noah looked at me.
"Mom, she's going to make him sign away everything.""
I studied the document.
Then I noticed a second page.
It contained a clause concerning a fourth beneficiary.
A name I didn't recognize.
*M. Reynolds.*
Noah looked at me.
"Who is M. Reynolds?""
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Margaret.
Her voice was urgent.
"Claire, listen to me. I've just received confirmation that Sophia is trying to have the original family trust dissolved.""
"Why?""
"Because the original trust contains a provision that cannot be changed without the consent of every biological child.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Then why would she try?""
Margaret's voice dropped.
"Because there may be another beneficiary.""
I stared at the initials.
M. Reynolds.
May you like
Then Margaret said:
"Claire, I believe Sophia has another child.""
