Chapter 1 - The Bloodline Lie
Nathan stared at the handwritten letter in his trembling hands.
The ink was slightly faded, but the horrifying words were completely undeniable.
His father had secretly fathered Victoria during an illicit affair with a prominent member of the Ashford family.
Nathan looked up at Richard, his eyes burning with a chaotic mixture of betrayal and absolute rage.
"If Victoria is my father's true biological daughter, then who the hell am I?"
Richard took a deep, shaky breath and nervously adjusted his expensive silk tie.
"You were adopted from a powerful rival family after a tragic accident supposedly took your biological parents."
Nathan stumbled backward, realizing his entire identity was a carefully constructed corporate illusion.
His father had forced the engagement to legally merge the families while keeping the wealth entirely within his own bloodline.
Victoria was never the outsider trying to steal the Cole empire.
She was the true heir, and Nathan was merely a competent puppet designed to keep the shareholders happy.
Grace pulled Lily closer to her chest, her eyes wide with sheer terror as the truth finally unraveled.
"He threatened to kill my mother if I ever told you the truth," Grace whispered softly.
Nathan felt his heart shatter into a million pieces at the sheer cruelty of his adoptive father.
Suddenly, the deafening sound of heavy boots echoed aggressively from the mansion's front courtyard.
A massive fleet of police cruisers had entirely surrounded the property with their bright sirens blaring.
Red and blue lights flashed through the large living room windows, casting terrifying shadows across the walls.
The heavy oak front door was violently kicked open by a team of armed tactical officers.
A tall, imposing detective walked into the grand foyer with a wicked, arrogant smile on his face.
"Grace Bennett, you are under arrest for the kidnapping of this minor child."
Nathan immediately stepped between the armed officers and his terrified family.
"You have fabricated evidence, and I will absolutely not let you take her from this house."
The tall detective calmly unholstered his heavy service weapon.
May you like
He aimed the dark barrel directly at Nathan's chest without a single moment of hesitation.
"My niece Victoria sends her warmest regards, and she gave me explicit permission to shoot you if you resist."
