Chapter 30 - The Mother's Confession|
Natalie froze, her blood running cold. “A man with a scar? Chloe, what are you talking about?”
Chloe wiped her eyes, her hands trembling. “Before Dad died. He came to the house when Dad was away. Mom was terrified of him, but she also... she kissed him. I saw them in the kitchen.”
Natalie turned her terrifying gaze toward the basement door. She marched down the concrete stairs, Ethan and Silas hot on her heels. She threw open the door to the interrogation room where her mother was strapped to a chair.
“Victor Thorne,” Natalie growled, slamming her hands down on the metal table in front of her mother. “Chloe remembers him. You were having an affair with the head of the syndicate?”
The mother shrank back, tears streaming down her face, ruining her makeup. “It wasn't an affair, Natalie. Please, you have to understand. Arthur Vance wasn't your real father.”
The words hit Natalie like a physical blow. The room spun.
“What?” she whispered.
“Arthur was Victor’s accountant,” the mother sobbed violently. “Victor is a monster. He is a ruthless, violent psychopath. When I got pregnant with you, I knew I couldn't let you grow up in that world. Arthur helped me hide. He put his name on the birth certificate. He raised you to protect you.”
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“You’re lying,” Natalie stepped back, shaking her head. “My dad was a good man.”
“He was a good man!” her mother screamed. “But Victor found us ten years ago. He blackmailed Arthur, forced him to run the shadow ledgers to keep us safe. And when Arthur finally tried to defect with the master key... Victor had him killed. Victor is your biological father, Natalie. And he wants his empire back.”
