Page 73 of Freeing Ruby

Miguel stands. “I’m so sorry, honey. I hated having to tell you.”

I stop pacing and face him. “I don’t understand any of this.” Then the obvious question pops into my head. “If my father isn’t my biological father, then who is? Am I adopted?”

Miguel shakes his head. “No. You’re not adopted. Helen was your biological mother.”

“Then who—”

“I think Edward McCall is your biological father.”

The room starts spinning then, and I feel light-headed. When I take a step, the floor falls out from under me. Miguel catches me before I hit the ground and sits me down on the sofa. He sits beside me and brushes my hair back from my face. It’s not until he starts wiping my cheeks that I realize I’m crying.

“Do you remember telling me about the time your parents split up for a few weeks?” he asks.

I nod.

“During that time, your mom stayed with Edward, right? It’s possible they hooked up. Shortly after your mom reconciled with Allen, she discovered she was pregnant. She told Allen the baby was his. It wasn’t until after your mom died that he ordered a paternity test. He had suspected all along that he wasn’t your biological father. The paternity test proved it.”

“Does Edward know?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

The implications hit me all at once. “This explains so much. This is why my dad’s—Allen’s—manner toward me changed so drastically after my mom died. That must be when he found out.”

Miguel nods.

“But why didn’t he tell me?”

Miguel winces. “Because you’re about to inherit a trust fund worth half a billion dollars.”

“My dad—Allen—wants my money?”

“I’m afraid so. There’s more to it—Allen’s been embezzling money from his investment clients for years, and his scheme is about to collapse. He’s broke. He needed access to your money to repay his clients before they discover the money is missing.”

“And he was willing to kill me to get it?”

“If you died, he’d inherit your assets as your next of kin.”

“But how does Darren come into this?”

“Darren works for Allen. Allen told him to move into your apartment building and befriend you—to keep an eye on you, at first, and report back to him. The initial plan was for Darren to court you and eventually marry you, thereby gaining access to your inheritance. When that failed, Allen switched to Plan B, which was the stalking. Allen thought if they could scare you badly enough, you’d agree to move back home with him. When Edward hired me to discover who was stalking you, Allen decided his only option was to end your life and thereby inherit the money himself as your next of kin.”

I’m numb. Miguel’s speaking, but the words no longer make any sense to me. My mind is spinning, my thoughts roiling. I stand. “This is all too much. I’m going to bed.”

As I head to the bathroom, Miguel follows me. I close the door behind me, lock it, and turn on the faucet to splash cold water on my face. When I straighten and stare at my bedraggled reflection, I no longer recognize who I am.

I’m not Ruby Foster.

I’m not who I thought I was.

Now I know why my father seems to hate me. I’m the result of an affair. As I stare at myself in the mirror, I look for any resemblance between me and Edward, but I really don’t see it. Other than having blue eyes, we really don’t share any features. I look like my mother—red hair and blue eyes. I have her pale complexion and slender nose. I have her freckles. Her hairline. Her lips. I look so much like my mom that I can’t see any resemblance to anyone else.

The bathroom door creaks, giving away the fact that Miguel is leaning against it. Even now, he’s protecting me. When fresh tears burn my eyes, I turn on the shower and step into the tub fully dressed. I turn my face into the warm spray and let the water wash away my tears.

I don’t want anyone to see me cry.

Not over my father—Allen.

Not over the fact that my life has been a lie.

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