Chapter 8: My Father's Secret
My father was waiting when we returned to Bennett Holdings.
He looked at Ryan.
Then Diane.
Then Thomas.
His eyes stopped on the paper in my hand.
He knew.
“You found it.””
I held it up.
“You knew.””
He closed his eyes.
“Maya.””
“You knew who my biological father was.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew my mother left evidence.””
“Yes.””
“You buried it.””
“I protected you.””
I laughed.
“You keep saying that.””
He looked at Ryan.
“Did Daniel hurt you?””
Ryan shook his head.
“Not badly.””
My father nodded.
Then he looked at me.
“You deserve the truth.””
“Finally.””
He walked to the window.
“Your mother had been investigating Daniel for months.””
“And you?””
“I was investigating Daniel too.””
I stared at him.
“That's not what Diane said.””
“Diane doesn't know everything.””
Diane stepped forward.
“You lied to her.””
My father looked at her.
“You lied first.””
The room went silent.
I turned to Diane.
“What does that mean?””
She looked away.
My father spoke.
“Diane was part of the network.””
Diane's face hardened.
“I was undercover.””
“You joined it.””
“To expose it.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“And my wife believed you.””
Diane looked at me.
“She did.””
My father continued.
“Your mother discovered the money trail. She believed Daniel was the mastermind.””
“But he wasn't.””
“No.””
“Who was?””
My father stared at me.
“Your biological father.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Who?””
He walked to a locked cabinet.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
He handed it to me.
I looked down.
A man stood beside my mother.
I recognized him.
Not from photographs.
From memory.
He had appeared in old family videos.
A friend of my mother's.
A man I'd been told died before I was born.
I looked at my father.
“Gabriel Vale.””
He nodded.
“Who was he?””
“Your mother's first husband.””
My stomach turned.
“You're saying Mom was married before you?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did she marry you?””
“Because Gabriel disappeared.””
“Disappeared?””
“He was believed to be dead.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Was he?””
My father didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Ryan stepped closer.
“My mother knew Gabriel was alive.””
I turned.
“How?””
“Because he contacted her.””
“When?””
“Years after your mother died.””
I felt dizzy.
“Why?””
Ryan swallowed.
“He wanted you.””
My father slammed his hand against the desk.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You've been lying to me my entire life.””
“I raised you.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
“I loved you.””
“Did you?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
“Then why did you tell me he was dead?””
“Because he was dangerous.””
“How?””
“He built the network.””
My father's voice dropped.
“Gabriel Vale was the architect behind the shell companies.””
I stared at him.
“Then why did Mom trust him?””
“She didn't.””
“Then why was she with him?””
“Because she was trying to bring him down.””
Everything became more complicated.
My mother.
My father.
Gabriel.
Daniel.
Diane.
Ryan.
None of them were who I thought they were.
I looked at Ryan.
“Did you know Gabriel was my father?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Six months.””
I stepped back.
“You knew.””
“I was trying to confirm it.””
“You knew before we met.””
“No.””
“But you knew while you were dating me.””
“Yes.””
I turned away.
I couldn't look at him.
My father spoke softly.
“Maya.””
I shook my head.
“Everyone knew something except me.””
Then the lights went out.
Again.
I heard glass shatter.
A voice came through the darkness.
“Alexander.””
My father's body went rigid.
I knew that voice.
I'd heard it once.
In an old home video.
A man's voice speaking to my mother.
Gabriel.
The lights returned.
A man stood in the doorway.
Older.
Gray hair.
Calm eyes.
My father reached for his gun.
Gabriel smiled.
“Hello, Alexander.””
My father whispered:
“You should be dead.””
Gabriel looked at me.
“No.””
He smiled sadly.
“I was just waiting.””
I stared at him.
“You're my father.””
His expression changed.
“Yes.””
I couldn't speak.
Gabriel took one step forward.
“Maya.””
My father raised his weapon.
“Stay away from her.””
Gabriel looked at him.
“You've had twenty-four years.””
Then he turned back to me.
“Now it's my turn.””
Ryan moved in front of me.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
“You.””
Ryan stared back.
“You know me.””
“I know exactly who you are.””
“Then you know I'm not afraid of you.””
Gabriel smiled.
“You should be.””
A security alarm began screaming.
Then the doors locked automatically.
My father looked at the control panel.
“Someone has taken control of the building.””
Gabriel calmly reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small black drive.
“The missing eighteen million is irrelevant.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“The money was never the goal.””
“Then what was?””
May you like
He looked directly at me.
“You.””
