Chapter 7 — The Sins of Her Father
Evelyn regained consciousness at the hospital.
Olivia sat beside her, holding her hand.
When Olivia showed her the files, Evelyn began to cry before reading them.
“You knew,” Olivia said.
Her mother closed her eyes.
“I knew part of it.”
Twenty-two years earlier, Richard Cross had been a senior chemist at Brightwell Biotech. He discovered that the company’s most profitable drug had caused severe neurological damage during early trials.
Olivia’s father, Thomas Bennett, had concealed the results to protect the company.
Richard threatened to go public.
Thomas used his influence to have Richard declared mentally unstable.
He was confined for eight years.
Marcus, Richard’s younger brother, spent his life seeking revenge.
Olivia struggled to breathe.
“So Daniel married me because of what my father did?”
“At first, perhaps,” Evelyn said. “But revenge became greed.”
The revelation shattered Olivia differently from Daniel’s betrayal.
Her entire life had been built on a company founded by lies.
Sophie remained near the window, quietly listening.
“What happened to Richard?” she asked.
Evelyn looked toward her.
“He was released fourteen years ago. Then he disappeared.”
Daniel, recovering under guard, demanded to speak with Olivia.
Against Ruiz’s advice, she entered his hospital room.
Daniel looked smaller without his tuxedo and arrogance.
“Marcus told me your father destroyed my family,” he said. “He raised me after my mother died.”
“So you decided to destroy mine?”
“I was supposed to gain control of Brightwell and expose everything.”
“But you took out a life-insurance policy.”
Daniel looked away.
“That was Marcus.”
“You forged my signature.”
“I was afraid to leave with nothing.”
Olivia laughed once, without humor.
“You almost killed me because revenge wasn’t profitable enough.”
Daniel reached toward her.
“I did love you.”
Olivia stared at his hand until he withdrew it.
“No. You loved the access I gave you.”
Before leaving, she asked one question.
“Where is your father?”
Daniel whispered, “Marcus told me he was dead.”
That evening, Detective Ruiz received laboratory results from the metal case.
One file had fresh fingerprints.
They belonged to Richard Cross.
May you like
He was alive.
And he had visited the abandoned clinic less than forty-eight hours before the wedding.
