Chapter 11 - THE DEAL MY FATHER MADE
My father finally confessed.
Years ago, Victor had discovered that my father was responsible for a decision that caused the collapse of the original Hart company.
Not intentionally.
But legally.
My father had signed documents under pressure.
Victor used those documents to blackmail him.
“When Mariana was born,” my father said, “Victor wanted custody.”
I stared at him.
“You let him?”
“No.”
“I don't understand.”
“I made a deal.”
He explained that he agreed to disappear.
In exchange, Victor promised never to approach me.
But Victor betrayed him.
Instead, he approached Rebecca.
Rebecca believed she could control the situation.
She married into the Montgomery family.
Then she became obsessed with protecting the company.
My father looked at me.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
I shook my head.
“You all keep saying that.”
I walked away.
Ryan followed.
“Mariana.”
“Don't.”
“I just want to help.”
“I don't need another man telling me he's protecting me.”
He stopped.
I turned.
“I spent eleven years believing I wasn't enough.”
Ryan's eyes filled.
“You were always enough.”
“Then why didn't you act like it?”
He had no answer.
That night, I went upstairs.
The children were sleeping.
I watched them.
Three lives.
Three miracles.
And I realized something.
My children didn't need a perfect family.
They needed a mother who refused to let anyone decide their future.
The next morning, I made a decision.
I would take control of the company.
Not for revenge.
For them.
At the board meeting, I presented the evidence.
The board voted unanimously.
I became CEO.
The same company that had been stolen from my family was now mine.
But before the meeting ended, security entered.
“Ms. Hart.”
“What?”
“We found this in the parking garage.”
He handed me a small box.
Inside was a child's toy.
Lily's stuffed rabbit.
I froze.
She had never left it outside.
A note was attached.
You have twenty-four hours.
Ryan stood.
“Where are the children?”
I called home.
No answer.
My blood froze.
I called again.
Still nothing.
We raced home.
The house was empty.
The nanny was unconscious but alive.
The children's beds were empty.
I screamed.
“LILY!”
Ryan grabbed my shoulders.
“We'll find them.”
I pushed him away.
“Find them?”
My voice broke.
“They took my babies.”
Then my phone rang.
Victor.
I answered.
“Where are my children?”
A child's voice came through.
“Mommy?”
Lily.
I almost collapsed.
“Lily! Baby, are you okay?”
“I miss you.”
“I'm coming.”
Victor took the phone.
“You have twelve hours.”
“What do you want?”
“The company.”
“You'll get nothing.”
He laughed.
“Then you'll never see your daughter again.”
The call ended.
Ryan looked at me.
“We're getting them back.”
I looked at the clock.
Twelve hours.
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And for the first time, I wasn't afraid of losing everything.
I was afraid of becoming the mother who couldn't save her children.
