Chapter 6 - The Father She Never Knew
Emma did not immediately know.
Clara wanted to tell her herself.
She survived the surgery.
Barely.
When she woke, the first thing she asked was:
“Where's my daughter?”
I brought Emma to her.
Mother and daughter hugged.
I stood outside the room.
I had never been so afraid.
Not of death.
Of a child rejecting me.
I had spent my entire life being feared.
Now I wanted one little girl to trust me.
Clara looked at Emma.
“Sweetheart, there's someone I want you to meet.”
Emma looked toward me.
“Tristan?”
Clara nodded.
“He's your father.”
Emma blinked.
I saw every emotion cross her face.
Surprise.
Confusion.
Fear.
Then anger.
“You knew?”
I couldn't answer fast enough.
“No.”
She looked at her mother.
“You knew?”
Clara nodded.
“I did.”
Emma crossed her arms.
“Why didn't you tell him?”
“Because I was trying to keep you safe.”
Emma looked at me.
“Are you really my daddy?”
I crouched.
“Yes.”
She looked at my face.
“You don't look like me.”
I smiled.
“That's okay.”
“My eyes are blue.”
“Mine aren't.”
“My hair is brown.”
“Mine isn't.”
She frowned.
“What do we have the same?”
I thought.
Then I said:
“Maybe the stubbornness.”
She considered it.
Then smiled.
“Mommy says I'm stubborn.”
“She says that about me too.”
Emma laughed.
The tension broke.
She sat beside me.
“Are you going to leave?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
I looked at her.
“I promise.”
She leaned against my shoulder.
The movement nearly destroyed me.
For years, I had believed I lost Clara.
I never knew I had also lost a daughter.
Now I had both.
But peace did not last.
Arthur called that night.
“Tristan.”
“Yes.”
“Someone knows about Emma.”
“Who?”
“Your board.”
I froze.
“My board?”
“Three members are working with Victor's old partners.”
“What do they want?”
“The trust.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Money.
It always came back to money.
Arthur continued.
“There is a vote tomorrow.”
“They can't remove me.”
“They don't need to.”
“What then?”
“They can declare you unfit.”
I understood.
If I were declared unfit to manage the family assets, the trustee would be replaced.
Emma's inheritance would become vulnerable.
And the person who wanted the trust most could control the company.
“Who is leading it?”
Arthur said one name.
Richard Vale.
My chief financial officer.
The man who had been beside me for eight years.
The man who had survived every war.
The man who had helped rebuild Blackwood after my father's death.
I felt betrayed.
“I'm going to deal with him.”
Arthur stopped me.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because he's not the one giving orders.”
“Who is?”
Arthur paused.
Then whispered:
“Your mother.”
I went completely still.
“My mother died ten years ago.”
May you like
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“That's what everyone believes.”
