Chapter 1 - RIGHT, MOM?
Robert Bennett was already standing over Claire when the belt came down.
Leather struck across her guarded forearms.
Then her shoulder.
Then her upper back.
Claire stumbled against the dining table.
The older purple-blue bruises on her arms darkened beneath fresh redness.
“STOP FIGHTING US!”
Robert grabbed her upper arm.
Yanked her upright.
Margaret slammed three property deeds onto the dining table.
“YOU’RE A DAUGHTER!”
Claire stared at her mother.
Margaret pointed toward the front door.
“You’ll belong to your husband’s family.”
“I’m not married.”
“You will be.”
Robert threw a pen across the table.
“Transfer everything to your brother.”
Daniel sat at the end of the table in an expensive navy shirt.
Thirty-five.
Luxury watch.
Arms crossed.
Smiling.
He tapped the deeds.
“Sign them, sis.”
Claire picked up the pen.
Margaret relaxed.
Robert stood directly behind her.
Claire lowered the tip toward the first signature line.
Then stopped.
She put the pen down.
Grabbed all three deeds.
Held them against her chest.
Robert’s face changed.
“SIGN THEM!”
Claire looked at Daniel.
Then Margaret.
Her expression became calm.
“Why?”
The room froze.
Robert laughed.
“What do you mean why?”
Claire pointed at Daniel.
“He isn’t even my biological brother.”
Daniel’s smile vanished.
Robert went still.
Margaret turned white.
Claire slammed the unsigned deeds onto the table.
“So why should I give him anything?”
She stepped toward Margaret.
“Right, Mom?”
Margaret’s hands began trembling.
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
“Mom…?”
Margaret opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Claire looked at Robert.
“You want me to sign away three properties because Daniel is the Bennett son.”
Robert’s jaw tightened.
Claire continued.
“But he isn’t your biological son.”
Daniel stood.
“What the hell is she talking about?”
Claire reached into her handbag.
Not a DNA kit.
A certified adoption decree.
A birth certificate.
And a letter written thirty-five years earlier.
She placed them on the table.
Daniel stared at the first line.
Original name:
Daniel James Hale.
Mother:
Elaine Margaret Hale.
Margaret’s younger sister.
Daniel looked up.
His voice was barely audible.
“Who is Elaine?”
May you like
Claire answered:
“Your mother.”
