Chapter 4 - Emma Wasn't Just Sophia's Daughter—A DNA Test Revealed a Family Secret That Made Her the Key to My Father's TrustWe tested Emma.
The result arrived before midnight.
I was sitting beside Sophia.
She stared at the report.
I opened it.
Then stopped breathing.
Emma was my biological daughter.
I looked at Sophia.
She closed her eyes.
“You didn't know.”
“No.”
“She wasn't supposed to be.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
Sophia cried.
“When I worked here, your father knew about us.”
“What?”
“He knew Emma's father wasn't my husband.”
I felt dizzy.
“Who is her father?”
She looked at me.
“You.”
The room disappeared.
I looked toward Emma.
She was asleep beside Lily.
My child.
My daughter.
The daughter I never knew existed.
My father had known.
Sophia had known.
But I hadn't.
Why?
Because Sophia had been threatened.
My father had arranged for her to leave.
He believed if I knew, Emma would become a target.
And he was right.
Marco had discovered her existence.
That's why he wanted Sophia controlled.
That's why Isabella wanted Emma gone.
If Emma were recognized, the trust could not be stolen.
She was the legal heir.
The transfer was impossible.
The entire wedding plan depended on keeping her secret.
I stared at Sophia.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
She cried.
“Because your father told me he'd destroy your life if I did.”
I looked away.
“I could have protected you.”
“I didn't know if you would.”
That hurt.
But I understood.
I had built a life people were afraid to challenge.
Sophia had lived inside that fear.
My daughter had lived outside it.
Now both were mine to protect.
I walked to Emma's room.
She woke.
“Daddy?”
The word broke me.
“You knew?”
She shook her head.
Sophia had never told her.
I sat beside her.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like your home?”
She nodded.
“Do you like me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You saved Mommy.”
I smiled.
“I'll always save you.”
She hugged me.
That was the moment everything became simple.
I didn't care about the trust.
The empire.
The billions.
I wanted my daughter safe.
My security chief brought me another file.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“The trust can only be transferred to Emma if she's formally recognized.”
“How?”
“Court order.”
I nodded.
“Get one.”
He hesitated.
“There's another problem.”
“What?”
“Marco has already filed a petition claiming Sophia is unstable.”
I stared.
He wanted custody.
Of Emma.
And control over the trust.
I looked at Sophia.
She whispered:
“He'll use me to take her.”
I stood.
“Not anymore.”
May you like
I had spent years protecting my empire.
Now I'd protect my family.
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