CHAPTER 7 — "The Billionaire Everyone Feared Smiled... Then Revealed the One Secret That Could Destroy Victoria Forever."
No one moved.
Federal agents surrounded the conference room.
Benjamin Cross slowly looked around and laughed.
Not a nervous laugh.
The confident laugh of a man who believed he still held the winning card.
"You think you've beaten me?" he asked calmly.
Victoria remained standing.
"I know I have."
Benjamin smiled.
"Then why haven't you arrested me yet?"
The lead federal agent stepped forward.
"We have enough evidence to charge you with fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and grand theft."
Benjamin nodded.
"I expected that."
He reached inside his jacket.
Immediately, every security officer drew their weapons.
"Hands where we can see them!"
Benjamin ignored the warning.
Instead of pulling out a gun...
He removed a faded photograph.
He gently placed it on the conference table.
Victoria glanced down.
The color vanished from her face.
It was a picture of her parents.
Taken thirty-two years earlier.
Standing between them...
...was Benjamin.
Not as an employee.
As family.
The room erupted into whispers.
Benjamin folded his hands.
"Your father never told you everything."
Victoria's heartbeat pounded in her ears.
"What are you talking about?"
Benjamin looked almost sympathetic.
"Richard Lawrence wasn't the only child your grandfather raised."
Victoria frowned.
"My father had no brother."
Benjamin smiled.
"Not legally."
Silence.
"I was born before his marriage."
The room froze.
"My mother worked for your grandfather."
"She died before I was ten."
"He acknowledged me in private..."
Benjamin's voice hardened.
"...but never in public."
Victoria shook her head.
"That's impossible."
Benjamin slid another document across the table.
An original birth certificate.
The father's name was partially erased.
But forensic restoration had already revealed it.
Edward Lawrence.
Victoria's grandfather.
Benjamin wasn't an outsider.
He was the family's hidden son.
The forgotten heir.
Everything suddenly made sense.
His obsession.
His hatred.
His decades-long war.
Benjamin looked into Victoria's eyes.
"I never wanted your diamonds."
"I wanted my name."
May you like
For the first time since returning...
Victoria couldn't answer.
