Chapter 4 - Vanessa Confessed The One Thing That Made Dante Question His Entire Family

Vanessa told us everything.

Or at least, everything she claimed to know.

Victor had contacted her six months earlier.

He told her Dante had another daughter.

He said Maya Reed was coming for her inheritance.

He promised Vanessa that if she helped him remove me, he would ensure she remained the sole heir.

I asked:

"Did you poison anyone?"

"No."

"Did you steal money?"

She looked away.

"Some."

Dante's expression hardened.

"How much?"

"Not enough to matter."

"How much?"

"Three million."

The room went silent.

"Three million dollars isn't enough to matter?"

"I was going to pay it back."

"When?"

"I don't know."

Dante looked at her.

"You stole from the family."

"I was manipulated."

"You still chose to do it."

Tears filled her eyes.

"I was scared."

Dante turned away.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

Then he asked:

"What did Victor tell you about Amara?"

Vanessa swallowed.

"He said she was dead."

I looked at her.

"You knew I might be alive."

"I didn't believe him."

"But you still attacked me."

"I was angry."

"At someone you thought was dead?"

She cried harder.

"I thought Dad would love you more."

Dante closed his eyes.

"You were wrong."

Vanessa looked up.

"I know."

It was the first honest thing she had said.

Dante didn't forgive her.

But he didn't destroy her either.

He gave her a choice.

Return the money.

Provide evidence.

Disappear from the family's criminal operations.

Or face the consequences.

Vanessa chose cooperation.

Her information led us to Victor's primary hideout.

An abandoned theater outside Bellmont.

We arrived at midnight.

Victor was gone.

But someone was waiting.

Richard Mercer.

The family physician.

The same man who had performed my DNA test.

I stared at him.

"You."

He smiled.

"I knew the moment I saw the birthmark."

Dante reached for his weapon.

"Why?"

Richard raised his hands.

"Because I helped hide her."

My stomach dropped.

"What?"

"Twenty years ago, Elena asked me to protect Amara."

Dante stared.

"You knew where she was?"

"Not exactly."

"Explain."

"After the attack, someone found the child alive."

"Who?"

"An unknown woman."

"What happened?"

"She brought Amara to a bus station and left her there."

I felt sick.

"My entire life..."

"Was built on a lie," Richard said quietly.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was threatened."

"By Victor?"

"No."

He looked at Dante.

"By someone closer."

Dante's face hardened.

"Who?"

Richard handed him a photograph.

Dante looked at it.

His hands began shaking.

It was Elena.

Standing beside Victor.

And another man.

Dante whispered:

"My father."

The man who had supposedly died fifteen years earlier.

I stared at the photograph.

"He's alive too?"

Richard nodded.

"Your grandfather survived."

Dante looked furious.

"He orchestrated the attack."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because Elena planned to leave him."

I looked at Dante.

"Your father tried to kill your wife?"

"Apparently."

Richard continued.

"Elena discovered your grandfather was planning to take control of the entire organization. She wanted to protect you and Amara."

"Why did she die?"

Richard's expression fell.

"She didn't."

Silence.

I stopped breathing.

"What?"

Richard looked directly at me.

"Your mother survived the shooting."

Dante stepped forward.

"Where is she?"

Richard closed his eyes.

"I don't know."

"Don't lie."

"I'm not."

"When did you last see her?"

"Seven years ago."

I felt dizzy.

"Seven years?"

"She came to me secretly."

"Why?"

"To ask about you."

Dante stared at him.

"You knew she was alive while I buried her."

"I was protecting her."

"From whom?"

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Richard finally said:

"From your father."