Chapter 4 - The Secret My Husband Never Knew I KnewTwo days passed.
Elias didn't return.
I pretended not to worry.
Mrs. Romano stayed with me.
The twins were growing stronger.
Then a package arrived.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph.
My husband.
Standing beside my mother.
I stopped breathing.
My mother had supposedly died when I was five.
The photograph was recent.
Very recent.
On the back was one sentence:
Ask your mother why she sold your father.
My hands shook.
“Mrs. Romano?”
She entered.
“What happened?”
I showed her.
Her face changed.
“You need to call Elias.”
I did.
He answered immediately.
“What is it?”
I sent him the photograph.
Silence.
Then:
“Do not leave the room.”
“Who is my mother?”
“I'll tell you when I get there.”
“Elias…”
“Ava.”
His voice was different.
“Listen carefully.”
“I am.”
“Your mother isn't dead.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Where is she?”
“We're looking for her.”
“Why?”
“Because she's the only person who knows what happened to your father.”
I stared at the photograph.
“And my husband?”
“Your husband has been searching for her too.”
“Why?”
“Because she has the original trust documents.”
My heart pounded.
“So he wants the inheritance.”
“Yes.”
“And my daughters?”
“They are the legal beneficiaries.”
I looked at the sleeping babies.
Everything suddenly made sense.
My husband didn't want me.
He wanted access to my daughters.
But there was something else.
“What if he gets the trust?”
Elias paused.
“He doesn't just get money.”
“What does he get?”
“Control.”
“Of what?”
“Your father's company.”
I sat down.
“How much is it worth?”
“Approximately four hundred million dollars.”
I couldn't breathe.
Four hundred million.
My husband had spent years convincing me I was worthless.
He had thrown me into the street.
And all along, he had been waiting for my children to unlock an empire.
Then Elias said:
“There's one more problem.”
“What?”
“The trust names a protector.”
“Who?”
May you like
Another pause.
“Me.”
Related Stories
