Chapter 12 - VANESSA'S SECRET
Vanessa stopped screaming.
Her face became completely still.
Richard looked at his daughter.
Daniel continued.
"Tell them."
Vanessa said nothing.
"You wanted Arthur dead."
"Shut up."
"Because he discovered what you were doing."
Kiora stood slowly.
"What was she doing?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Moving money through Harrington charities."
Vanessa's eyes burned.
"You were involved too."
"I moved paperwork."
"You knew."
"Not at first."
Kiora stared at Vanessa.
"You stole from charities?"
Vanessa laughed.
"Don't act righteous."
"How much?"
Vanessa said nothing.
Daniel answered.
"Seventy-six million."
Even Morris looked stunned.
Kiora felt physically sick.
Arthur had discovered it.
That was why he confronted Richard.
But Richard hadn't known his daughter was behind the theft.
His face confirmed it.
"You told me Arthur was blackmailing you."
Vanessa looked at him.
"He was going to destroy everything."
Richard stared at his daughter as if seeing her for the first time.
"What did you do?"
Vanessa smiled faintly.
"What you taught me."
Richard's face collapsed.
Vanessa had altered Arthur's medication.
Daniel had discovered her leaving the house.
She threatened him with Lake Mercer.
He stayed silent.
Richard helped cover the financial trail afterward.
Everyone became trapped by everyone else's secrets.
Kiora looked around the courtroom.
A family built on blackmail.
A marriage built on lies.
An empire built on stolen money.
And all of it had nearly crushed her.
Vanessa looked at Kiora.
"You were supposed to sign."
Kiora's expression hardened.
"That's why you attacked me?"
"You wouldn't listen."
"You hit a pregnant woman because she wouldn't give you her inheritance."
"I was trying to scare you."
Kiora stepped closer.
"No."
She looked directly into Vanessa's eyes.
"You were angry because after all these years, you still couldn't make Daniel choose you."
Vanessa lunged verbally.
"He always chose me."
Kiora glanced at Daniel.
"Then why did he marry me?"
Vanessa's face twisted.
Kiora understood.
That was the wound.
Daniel had been part of the plan.
But somewhere along the way, he had complicated it.
He had stayed with Kiora.
He had built a life with her.
Maybe he had even loved her.
Not enough to protect her.
Not enough to tell the truth.
But enough to make Vanessa hate Kiora.
Vanessa whispered.
"He promised me."
Daniel looked away.
Kiora felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
Morris took Vanessa into custody.
Richard followed.
Daniel voluntarily surrendered.
Before officers led him away, he stopped beside Mia.
She looked at him.
"Are you my dad?"
Daniel's face broke.
For the first time, Kiora saw him cry.
"Yes."
Mia stared.
"Why didn't you want me?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I did."
"Then why weren't you there?"
He had no answer.
Kiora did.
Because wanting someone meant nothing if you repeatedly chose yourself over them.
Daniel knelt.
"I'm sorry."
Mia moved behind Kiora.
Daniel looked at his wife.
Kiora didn't rescue him from the moment.
He needed to feel it.
Then Daniel whispered.
"Take care of her."
Kiora stared at him.
"I'm not replacing you."
"I know."
"You have to decide what kind of father you become after this."
Daniel nodded.
Then officers took him away.
Kiora thought the worst truth had finally been revealed.
She was wrong.
Because as Morris collected Vanessa's belongings, she found a sealed envelope inside her purse.
May you like
The front contained Kiora's name.
And the handwriting belonged to Arthur Harrington.
