Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I spent the next three days searching for answers.
Not as a daughter.
Not as a wife.
As an investigator.
That was the only way I knew how to survive.
Emotions could destroy judgment.
Facts could not.
I started with my mother.
Her name was Claire Bennett.
The woman who raised me.
The woman who packed my lunches.
The woman who stayed awake when I had nightmares.
The woman who told me my father left before I was born.
Except now I knew that was a lie.
Daniel found her address.
I didn’t ask how.
I didn’t want to know.
We drove there together.
Neither of us spoke.
The house was small.
Quiet.
Nothing like the Sterling mansion.
I almost smiled.
My mother had always hated unnecessary luxury.
Maybe that was the one thing she never lied about.
When she opened the door, she froze.
Because she knew.
She saw my face.
And she knew.
“Vivienne.””
Her voice cracked.
I stepped inside.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
She looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“Of losing you.””
The answer hurt.
Because every person who lied to me had the same excuse.
Protection.
Fear.
Love.
Everyone claimed they were protecting me.
Nobody asked whether I wanted to be protected.
“I deserved the truth.””
“I know.””
“No.””
My voice broke.
“You don’t know.””
She sat down.
“I was nineteen when I met Richard.””
Daniel stood quietly behind me.
My mother continued.
“He was young. Ambitious. Brilliant.””
“Were you in love?””
She looked down.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
“Then what happened?””
“He chose the company.””
The words were quiet.
“He chose power.””
I swallowed.
“And my father?””
Her face changed.
“My father?””
She nodded.
“Your biological father was Adrian Vale.””
Marcus’s name suddenly made sense.
“Marcus was his brother.””
“Yes.””
I sat down slowly.
“My entire life…”
“I know.””
“You let me believe I was ordinary.””
My mother reached for my hand.
“You were never ordinary.””
I pulled away.
“I’m not talking about that.””
She understood.
“I wanted you to grow up without the Sterling name.””
“Why?””
“Because the Sterling name destroys people.””
Daniel looked at me.
My mother continued.
“Your father and Richard built the company together.””
“Then why did Richard’s name end up on my birth certificate?””
Her face became painful.
“Because Adrian died.””
The room went silent.
“When?””
“Three months before you were born.””
I froze.
“And Richard?””
“He wanted to take responsibility.””
“But?””
My mother looked toward the window.
“His family refused.””
I understood.
The Sterling family.
Always reputation.
Always image.
“He couldn’t admit he had a partner who died. He couldn’t admit there was a child connected to the company.””
“So he abandoned us.””
My mother closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
The anger came back.
Not because Richard was a stranger.
Because he wasn’t.
He had been close enough to know.
And still stayed away.
Then my mother said something that changed everything.
“Vivienne.””
I looked at her.
“Your father left evidence.””
“What evidence?””
“Proof that Sterling Holdings was stolen.””
My heart tightened.
“What?””
“Before he died, Adrian discovered someone was stealing from the company.””
The same corruption.
The same mystery.
But older.
Much older.
“He hid the evidence somewhere.””
“Where?””
My mother shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
“Someone does.””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Her eyes filled with fear.
“The person who killed him.””
The room became silent.
Daniel moved closer.
“Your father was murdered?””
My mother nodded.
“We were told it was an accident.””
“But you don’t believe that.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“I never believed it.””
My entire body went cold.
Because suddenly everything connected.
The money.
The threats.
The stolen ring.
The secrets.
May you like
Someone had spent thirty years protecting a crime.
And now I had become the biggest threat to them.
