Chapter 8 - Victor Revealed the Secret That Could Destroy My Family
The trial began on a Monday morning.
Victor entered the courtroom without showing any fear.
His attorneys surrounded him.
Reporters filled the gallery.
Jenna sat beside Daniel.
Paisley stayed with a family friend.
Alexander sat behind them.
Holly testified first.
She told the court everything.
Victor's financial crimes.
The Carter Trust.
Eleanor's death.
The manipulation of Alan.
The plan to marry Jenna.
The attempted takeover of Prescott Media.
Then Ashley testified.
She admitted recording the birthday incident.
She admitted editing the video.
She admitted being paid to humiliate Jenna publicly.
The prosecutor played the full footage.
The courtroom became silent.
When the video ended, Victor looked toward Jenna.
He smiled.
Jenna felt a chill.
Then his attorney stood.
“We have evidence that changes the entire case.”
A document was brought forward.
It was a DNA report.
Victor claimed Paisley was not biologically related to the Carter family.
The trust, he argued, was invalid.
Jenna froze.
The prosecutor objected.
The judge ordered the evidence reviewed.
Alexander immediately whispered:
“Don't worry.”
But Jenna was terrified.
“What if it's true?”
“It doesn't matter.”
“How?”
“Your mother created the trust legally.”
“But Paisley…”
“She was designated beneficiary.”
The defense attorney continued.
“Without biological proof of Carter lineage, the trust should revert to the original family structure.”
Victor smiled.
He believed he had won.
Then the prosecutor stood.
“Your Honor, we have additional evidence.”
A new DNA report was submitted.
It confirmed that Paisley was biologically connected to Daniel Carter.
Victor's face changed.
But the prosecutor wasn't finished.
“Furthermore, the defendant knowingly attempted to falsify the child's identity to gain control of the trust.”
Victor's attorney whispered something.
Victor exploded.
“This is impossible!”
Daniel stood.
“I know my daughter.”
The courtroom fell silent.
Jenna looked at him.
For the first time, she heard him publicly claim her.
“My daughter.”
Jenna cried.
The judge accepted the evidence.
Victor's final defense collapsed.
But then he turned toward Jenna.
“You think you've won?”
Jenna didn't answer.
“You have no idea what your mother did.”
The judge ordered him removed.
But his words stayed with Jenna.
That evening, she asked Daniel.
“What did Mom do?”
Daniel was silent.
Then he handed her another letter.
This one was longer.
Eleanor explained that she had once made a deal with Victor.
She agreed to hide the Carter fortune in exchange for protecting Jenna.
But Victor betrayed her.
Holly helped Eleanor escape.
Daniel went into hiding.
And Eleanor staged parts of her financial history to make everyone believe she was poor.
She had spent years preparing for Jenna to inherit everything.
Then came the final sentence.
I know one day you may hate me for keeping this from you.
But if I had told you the truth, they would have come for you.
Jenna cried.
She understood.
Her mother hadn't abandoned her.
She had protected her from a distance.
Then Alexander entered.
“Victor has been sentenced.”
“How long?”
“Life.”
Jenna closed her eyes.
For years, she had imagined revenge.
Now that it was over, she felt strangely empty.
Alexander sat beside her.
“You okay?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't have to know.”
She looked at him.
“Why have you stayed?”
He smiled.
“Your mother asked me to.”
“That can't be the only reason.”
He looked at her.
“No.”
Silence.
Jenna understood.
She wasn't ready.
May you like
Not yet.
But for the first time, she didn't run from the possibility.
