Chapter 10: The Father’s Hidden Deal
I stared at the document on my phone until the words stopped looking real.
My father.
Not Julian.
Not Chloe.
Not Richard Whitmore.
My father had signed a deal with the man who was trying to take my company.
For several minutes, I sat inside my car without moving.
The city lights reflected across the windshield, but I barely noticed them.
All I could see was one sentence.
*Strategic cooperation agreement between Richard Whitmore and Thomas Bennett.*
My father's name.
On a document connected to my betrayal.
I immediately called Victoria.
She answered on the first ring.
"Claire?""
"Tell me this is fake.""
There was a pause.
"I wish I could.""
I closed my eyes.
"How long have you known?""
"We discovered it today.""
"Why didn't you tell me before?""
"Because we needed to verify the signatures first.""
I looked at the document again.
The signature was unmistakable.
My father had signed it.
"What was the agreement?""
Victoria took a breath.
"Richard promised your father financial benefits if he helped create pressure on you.""
My stomach tightened.
"Pressure?""
"To make you consider selling part of the company.""
I laughed quietly.
It wasn't happiness.
It was disbelief.
"So the wedding was never just about the wedding.""
"No.""
Victoria's voice was serious.
"It appears the wedding was used as a way to isolate you emotionally.""
I remembered every conversation.
Every demand.
Every time they told me family came first.
They weren't asking me to help.
They were positioning me.
I drove home slowly.
For the first time in my life, I didn't know how to feel about my father.
Anger was easy.
Pain was harder.
Because even after everything Julian had done, some part of me still believed my father was different.
He was the person who taught me how to ride a bicycle.
The person who stayed awake when I was sick.
The person who told me I could accomplish anything.
And now he had become part of the plan to take away the thing I built.
The next morning, I went to my parents' house.
My mother opened the door.
Her face changed when she saw me.
"Claire.""
"Where is Dad?""
She immediately knew.
"He's in the office.""
I walked past her.
My father was sitting behind his desk, reading something.
When he saw me, his expression changed.
"Claire.""
I placed the printed agreement on the desk.
He froze.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he slowly looked up.
"Where did you get this?""
I stared at him.
"That's your first question?""
He looked away.
"Claire, I can explain.""
I laughed softly.
"That's what everyone says after they get caught.""
My mother entered behind me.
"What is happening?""
I turned toward her.
"Ask him.""
My father stood.
"Your mother doesn't need to be involved.""
I looked at him.
"She was involved when she told me family helps family.""
His face tightened.
"Claire, you don't understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
Silence.
A long silence.
Finally, he sat down.
"Richard approached me.""
"And?""
"He said your company was growing too quickly.""
I stared at him.
"So?""
"He said you needed experienced people around you.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
I pointed at the document.
"He said you needed to control me.""
My father didn't answer.
That was enough.
My voice became quieter.
"Did you ever believe in me?""
His eyes moved toward me.
"Of course.""
"Then why?""
He looked older suddenly.
"I thought I was helping the family.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You thought helping the family meant betraying your daughter?""
"No.""
"Then what was it?""
He looked down.
"Richard promised stability.""
I nodded slowly.
"Stability for who?""
He didn't answer.
Because we both knew.
Not me.
Not my company.
Not the person who had spent years building everything.
The stability was for the people who wanted access to what I created.
My mother started crying.
"I didn't know about this.""
I believed her.
But I couldn't stay.
Before leaving, I looked at my father.
"I spent my whole life trying to make you proud.""
His eyes filled with regret.
"But you were more interested in making a deal.""
I walked away.
That afternoon, my company received unexpected news.
Mark Collins had disappeared.
He didn't show up for the internal investigation.
His office was empty.
His company laptop was missing.
Then Victoria called.
"Claire.""
Her voice was urgent.
"What happened?""
"We found something.""
"What?""
"Mark transferred files before leaving.""
My heart sank.
"To Richard?""
"No.""
She paused.
"To someone else.""
I stood still.
"Who?""
Victoria hesitated.
May you like
Then answered:
"Your brother.""
