Chapter 8 - THE FATHER I NEVER KNEW
My father looked older than I imagined.
Gray hair.
Weathered face.
A scar near his eyebrow.
He walked toward the building slowly.
My mother ran outside.
They stared at each other.
Neither spoke.
Then he hugged her.
I stood frozen.
This was the man I had spent my entire childhood believing was dead.
He turned toward me.
“Mariana.”
My voice trembled.
“Why?”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I thought staying away would protect you.”
“Everyone says that.”
“I know.”
“You all protected me so well that I grew up believing my father was dead.”
He lowered his head.
“I was wrong.”
I wanted to hate him.
But looking at his face made that difficult.
He told me the truth.
He had discovered Charles's financial crimes.
He had tried to expose him.
Charles threatened my mother.
Then Victor disappeared.
My father went into hiding.
My mother followed.
They left me with relatives because they believed it was safer.
But the relatives were connected to the Montgomery family.
That's how Rebecca found me.
That's how she eventually married Ryan into the family.
My entire life had been connected to theirs.
I sat down.
“This is insane.”
Ryan stood nearby.
“I know.”
I looked at him.
“Do you?”
He nodded.
“I finally do.”
Then my father looked at him.
“You're Ryan Montgomery.”
“Yes.”
“My daughter loved you.”
Ryan swallowed.
“I know.”
“You destroyed her.”
Ryan lowered his head.
“I know.”
My father stepped toward him.
“You'll spend the rest of your life regretting that.”
“I already do.”
For once, I didn't defend Ryan.
I didn't forgive him either.
Then my father said something that changed everything.
“Victor isn't after the company.”
“What is he after?”
“Revenge.”
My father explained that Victor believed my grandfather had stolen his rightful inheritance.
He wanted to destroy everyone connected to the family.
Including me.
Including my children.
Then the phone rang.
A message.
A video.
I opened it.
My blood froze.
It showed my house.
The children's bedroom.
Someone had installed a hidden camera.
I could see Ethan sleeping.
Evan beside him.
Lily hugging a stuffed rabbit.
I screamed.
Ryan grabbed the phone.
“Where is this?”
“Someone has been watching them.”
My father stood.
“We need to move them.”
“No.”
Everyone looked at me.
“I've spent my entire life running.”
I stood.
“I'm not running anymore.”
Ryan looked at me.
“Then what are you going to do?”
I looked at the video.
“I'm going to make Victor come to me.”
Alexander frowned.
“That could be dangerous.”
“So is letting him choose the battlefield.”
My mother stared at me.
“What are you planning?”
I smiled.
“The wedding.”
Ryan frowned.
“What wedding?”
I looked at him.
“Yours.”
His face went pale.
“I'm not getting married.”
“You are.”
“To whom?”
I looked toward the doorway.
Vanessa stood there.
Everyone froze.
May you like
She held an envelope.
“I think,” she said quietly, “we need to talk.”
