Page 89 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"I'm sure your father doesn't think you're less than me."

"Oh, but he does," Bennett said, so angry his voice shook. "And I'm not going to let my inheritance be cut again." He shook his head as if convincing himself of what he needed to do. "Today, I take charge. My father thinks I'm a weak alcoholic addict who is stupid and out of control. He doesn't believe I'm a worthy successor, but I am more than worthy, and I am not going to wait for him to give me anything. I am going to take it. I will not lose what I am owed."

I didn't understand why his anger with Victor was pointed at me. "Why are we having this discussion? This is a family matter. And if you're taking control of the company…" I still didn't think that would happen, but I wanted him to believe I was buying his story. "Then you don't have to promote me. In fact, you can fire me now and never see me again."

He gave me a smirking smile. "I wish it was that easy, but it's not. You were right when you said this is a family matter. I discovered this weekend my family is bigger than I thought." He opened the file folder on the desk and pulled out a black and white photo, pushing it toward me. "Look at that."

I didn't want to get closer to the desk or to the gun in his hand, but I didn't have a choice. I took a few steps forward and stared down at the picture that appeared to have been taken in a photo booth. There was a man and a woman hugging each other and mugging for the camera, their smiles bright, loving. My gaze narrowed, my breath coming faster as I realized the man was a much younger Victor Carrington, and the woman…

My heart stopped.No, it couldn't be…

"You recognize her, don't you?" Bennett asked.

"I—I'm not sure."

"Yes, you are. Tell me who that is, Lauren."

"It looks a little like my mother," I said in confusion.

"It is your mother, Sarah Gray."

"I don't understand," I said, turning my gaze to him. "My mother didn't know Victor."

"Oh, she definitely knew him. In fact, she knew him intimately." He pushed the rest of the file across the desk, and I looked down at what appeared to be a legal document, an addendum to Victor's will.

"What is this? Why are you showing me your father's will?"

"Because he's not justmyfather." Bennett gave me a hard look.

"What are you talking about?"

"Look at it. Look at your name on the document, Lauren. My father had a secret daughter, and he recently made an addendum to his will so that you will get a share equal to mine upon his death."

Shock ran through me at his words, and I put my hands down on the desk to steady myself. I wanted to say he was wrong, but I was staring at my mother's face, looking at legal papers with my name on them.

How could my mother be in a loving photo with Victor Carrington?

How could I be his daughter?

The questions ran around and around in my head, creating panic and anxiety. I could barely breathe, barely think, but I had to think.

My mom had never mentioned she knew Victor, much less that she'd dated him or slept with him. And my father had died in a car accident before he knew she was pregnant. He hadn't abandoned me. He'd never known about me.

Why would she lie about that?

As soon as the question ran through my head, her entire story fell apart.

She'd lied because she'd had an affair with a married man, gotten pregnant, and was probably ashamed. But she had to have told Victor about me. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in the will.Why hadn't he said anything all this time, all these years?

Again, I came up with an answer I didn't like.

Because he hadn't cared enough about me to be my father.He hadn't wanted to know me, and he sure as hell hadn't wanted anyone else to know about me, at least not until after he was dead.

"Are you finally getting it?" Bennett asked, taking another swig of whiskey, drops of it sliding down his chin. "In case you're having trouble doing the math. I'm thirty-one. You're twenty-seven. I was four years old when you were born."

I shook my head, still not wanting to believe what I was looking at. "You have to be wrong. My dad was killed in an auto accident. He was a construction worker. My mom said his name was Gary."

"Did you ever see a picture of Gary? Did you meet his family, his parents?"

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