Chapter 10 - The Heiress Who Was About to Lose Everything
Vanessa Sinclair had spent twenty-nine years believing the entire world belonged to her.
Now she was sitting in her father's mansion, staring at a document that threatened everything she'd ever expected to inherit.
"One hundred and twenty million dollars?" she screamed.
Richard stood beside the fireplace.
"Lower your voice."
"You gave that waitress one hundred and twenty million dollars?"
"Abigail is my daughter."
Vanessa froze.
For several seconds, she looked as though she'd forgotten how to breathe.
Then she laughed.
"No."
Richard remained silent.
"No, Daddy. That's impossible."
"It's the truth."
Vanessa stood so quickly her chair toppled backward.
"You had an affair with some nurse?"
"Her name was Evelyn."
"I don't care what her name was!"
Richard flinched.
Vanessa crossed the room.
"That girl embarrassed me in front of everyone. Matteo Romano practically threw me out of the gala because of her!"
"You embarrassed yourself."
Vanessa stared at him.
It was the first time her father had ever spoken to her that way.
Then Richard said something worse.
"I knew about Abigail long before the gala. I should've acknowledged her years ago."
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Does Mother know?"
Richard looked toward the window.
"Yes."
Vanessa's anger faltered.
"But Mom died."
Richard closed his eyes.
"There's something I should've told you."
Before he could continue, the study door opened.
A woman entered wearing an elegant black coat.
Her silver-blonde hair was swept into a flawless bun.
Vanessa stopped breathing.
"Mom?"
Margaret Sinclair smiled.
"Hello, sweetheart."
Vanessa stumbled backward.
"No. You're dead."
Margaret approached calmly.
"Your father has always been rather theatrical about explaining difficult situations."
Richard's face hardened.
"Margaret, you weren't supposed to come here."
"Apparently, I have quite a lot to clean up."
She looked at Vanessa.
"Your father has been making decisions that threaten our family."
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"Where have you been?"
Margaret touched her cheek.
"Protecting what belongs to us."
Then she turned toward Richard.
"You should've handled Abigail when she was still a child."
Richard's expression changed.
"Don't."
Margaret smiled.
"Or what?"
Richard said nothing.
She opened her purse and removed a photograph.
It showed Abigail leaving her prenatal appointment.
Someone had circled her belly in red.
Vanessa stared at it.
"Mom, what is that?"
Margaret slipped the photograph back into her purse.
"Insurance."
Across Chicago, Abigail was preparing dinner in the temporary apartment Matteo's hotel had provided.
She had no idea Margaret Sinclair had returned.
And she certainly didn't know the woman had already ordered someone to obtain her unborn son's medical information.
But the most dangerous secret was still hidden.
Margaret wasn't simply trying to protect Vanessa's inheritance.
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She had discovered that Richard Sinclair's estate documents contained evidence capable of sending her to prison for the murder of Lorenzo Romano.
And Abigail's mother had been the only other witness.
