Chapter 9: The Betrayal That Came From My Own Blood
Rebecca always knew how to make people love her.
That was her gift.
When we were children, she was the one who could walk into any room and make everyone smile.
She remembered birthdays.
She brought gifts.
She knew exactly what people wanted to hear.
Including me.
After my father died, Rebecca became one of my closest supporters.
She told me I was strong.
She told me I carried the Ashcroft name with dignity.
She told me she would always protect our family.
I believed her.
That was my mistake.
Because betrayal rarely comes from strangers.
Strangers have to earn your trust.
Family often receives it automatically.
I stared at the documents in front of me.
Rebecca had created a private investment group.
She had been purchasing small amounts of Vale Meridian shares through different companies.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Patiently.
She was building influence.
“How long?””
Victor answered.
“Three years.””
Three years.
While I was focused on Adrian.
While I was trying to save my marriage.
Rebecca had been preparing to take my company.
I felt something inside me go cold.
Not anger.
Not yet.
Something worse.
Disappointment.
Daniel looked at me.
“What do you want to do?””
I closed the folder.
“Meet her.””
Rebecca agreed immediately.
Too immediately.
That told me everything.
She wanted the confrontation.
She wanted me emotional.
She wanted me angry.
But I would not give her that.
We met at the Ashcroft family estate.
The same house where we grew up.
The same place where we had played together as children.
When Rebecca entered, she smiled.
The same smile.
The same warmth.
“Eleanor.””
She hugged me.
I didn’t move.
Her arms slowly lowered.
She knew.
“You found out.””
“Yes.””
She sighed.
“I was hoping you would understand.””
I almost laughed.
“Understand what?””
She walked toward the fireplace.
“That I deserved more.””
There it was.
The sentence every betrayer eventually says.
“I deserved more.””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Your father chose you.””
I stayed silent.
“He built everything for you.””
“He built it for our family.””
“No.””
Her voice sharpened.
“He built it for you.””
The bitterness in her voice surprised me.
“You were always the favorite.””
I stared at her.
“Is that what this is?””
She looked away.
“Do you know what it feels like to spend your whole life watching someone else receive everything?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Exactly.””
She laughed bitterly.
“You had everything handed to you.””
That sentence angered me.
Not because it was false.
Because it was unfair.
“You think I wanted this?””
She turned.
“You think I wanted to spend years carrying responsibilities I never asked for?””
“You had power.””
“I had pressure.””
Silence.
For a moment, I saw the little girl I grew up with.
The girl who felt invisible.
But then I remembered what she had done.
Pain explained choices.
It did not excuse them.
“You worked with Adrian.””
Her expression changed.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he understood.””
I stared.
“He understood what?””
“What it felt like to be second.””
I almost couldn’t believe it.
Rebecca and Adrian.
Two people who believed they were victims because someone else succeeded.
Two people who built their identities around resentment.
“You manipulated him.””
She smiled slightly.
“No.””
A pause.
“He manipulated himself.””
That was the most honest thing she had said.
“Vanessa?””
Rebecca looked away.
“Useful.””
My stomach tightened.
“You destroyed someone’s life.””
She shrugged.
“She chose her side.””
I looked at her.
And finally understood.
Rebecca was not angry because she lost.
She was angry because she believed the world owed her victory.
“I’m sorry.””
She frowned.
“What?””
“I’m sorry you spent your whole life feeling like you weren’t enough.””
Her expression softened slightly.
Then hardened.
“But I will not apologize for surviving.””
I turned toward the door.
Rebecca called after me.
“You think you won?””
I stopped.
“You still don’t know the whole truth.””
I looked back.
“What truth?””
She smiled.
“The reason your father never made you CEO.””
My heart sank.
Again.
Everyone kept saying the same thing.
A secret.
A hidden truth.
Something about my father’s final decision.
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Ask yourself why he trusted Adrian with the company before he trusted you.””
I stared at her.
Because that question had been haunting me.
And now I needed the answer.
More than anything.
I left the estate with one thought repeating in my mind.
What if the greatest betrayal of my life…
May you like
was not Adrian’s?
What if it was the truth my father took to his grave?
