Chapter 4 - The Enemy's DaughterThe truth destroyed whatever certainty Olivia had left.
Her mother was the daughter of Vincent's father's greatest enemy.
Her father had disappeared to protect them.
Anthony had manipulated both families.
And Luciano Varela wanted Olivia.
Vincent sat across from Michael in the private hospital room.
Olivia stood near the window.
“You knew Grace was Luciano's daughter,” Vincent said.
Michael nodded.
“I found out after we were married.”
“And you never told me.”
“I was trying to protect everyone.”
Vincent's expression hardened.
“You nearly got everyone killed.”
Michael accepted the accusation.
“I know.”
Olivia turned.
“Why does Luciano want me?”
Michael hesitated.
“Because you are the last living heir connecting three families.”
Vincent frowned.
“Explain.”
“Luciano built his organization around an old bloodline agreement.”
Olivia looked confused.
“He believed power belonged to family.”
Michael continued.
“Your mother's family controlled one side of his empire. My family controlled another. Your birth joined both.”
Vincent understood.
“If Olivia inherits both?”
Michael nodded.
“She could legally claim assets Luciano has hidden for decades.”
Olivia shook her head.
“I don't want any of it.”
Michael looked at her sadly.
“That doesn't matter to men like Luciano.”
The door opened.
Marco entered.
“We found the location.”
Vincent stood.
“Where?”
“An abandoned convent outside the city.”
Michael's face changed.
“That's where he took Grace.”
Olivia immediately moved toward the door.
Vincent stopped her.
“We're going together.”
They reached the convent before sunrise.
The building was old.
Stone walls.
Broken windows.
Overgrown vines.
No lights.
Vincent's men surrounded the property.
Then Vincent looked at Olivia.
“Stay behind me.”
She nodded.
They entered.
The corridor smelled of damp stone.
A door opened at the end.
A voice called out.
“Vincent.”
Luciano Varela stepped into view.
He was older than Vincent.
Elegant.
Silver-haired.
Calm.
Grace stood beside him.
Her hands were tied.
“Mom!”
Olivia tried to run.
Vincent grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
Luciano smiled.
“You have your father's stubbornness.”
Olivia glared at him.
“Let her go.”
Luciano looked at Grace.
“Your daughter has courage.”
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
“Olivia, don't listen to him.”
Luciano sighed.
“I gave Michael twenty years to cooperate.”
Vincent's voice was cold.
“And now?”
“Now I have nothing left to lose.”
He held up a document.
“The original ownership agreement.”
Vincent stared.
“Where did you get that?”
“Anthony.”
Vincent's expression changed.
“So you two planned this together.”
Luciano smiled.
“Anthony was useful.”
“Where is he?”
“Dead.”
Olivia's eyes widened.
Luciano continued.
“He became inconvenient.”
Vincent didn't react.
“Then why are we here?”
“Because the final signature requires Olivia.”
Michael's warning echoed in Vincent's mind.
Olivia stepped forward.
“I won't sign anything.”
Luciano smiled.
“You will.”
Grace shouted.
“Don't!”
Luciano raised a hand.
A guard stepped toward Grace.
Olivia immediately stopped.
“Wait.”
Vincent looked at her.
“Don't.”
Olivia looked at her mother.
Then at Luciano.
“What exactly do you want me to sign?”
“A transfer.”
“To what?”
“Your inheritance.”
Olivia frowned.
“I don't have an inheritance.”
“You do.”
Luciano held up another document.
“You are the legal heir to the Bennett and Varela estates.”
Olivia stared.
“This is insane.”
“No.”
Luciano's expression became cold.
“This is blood.”
Vincent stepped forward.
“You won't touch her.”
Luciano looked amused.
“You sound protective.”
Vincent didn't answer.
“She's not yours, Vincent.”
Vincent's eyes hardened.
“She doesn't need to be mine for me to protect her.”
Olivia looked at him.
Something changed in her expression.
Luciano noticed.
“You care about her.”
Vincent remained silent.
Luciano smiled.
“That makes this easier.”
He raised the gun.
But before he could aim, the lights went out.
A shot echoed.
Then another.
Vincent moved.
His men stormed the room.
Grace dropped to the floor.
Olivia ran toward her.
Vincent intercepted Luciano.
The two men fought brutally but silently.
Luciano tried to reach a hidden weapon.
Vincent knocked it away.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Luciano laughed.
“You sound like your father.”
Vincent froze.
Luciano whispered.
“Your father knew the truth too.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“What truth?”
“Your father wasn't killed by Michael.”
Vincent stopped.
“What?”
Luciano smiled.
“Ask your mother.”
Then he escaped through a concealed passage.
Vincent's men chased him.
But he was gone.
Grace clung to Olivia.
“My baby.”
Olivia cried against her shoulder.
“I thought I lost you.”
Grace held her tightly.
“I thought I lost you first.”
Across the room, Vincent stood alone.
Michael's secrets.
His father's secrets.
Anthony's betrayal.
Luciano's revelations.
Everything was connected.
And somewhere beneath it all was a truth Vincent had never been told.
His own father had known.
His mother had known.
And perhaps Michael had known too.
Vincent turned toward Grace.
“What happened twenty years ago?”
Grace looked at him.
May you like
Her face went pale.
“You're finally ready to hear it.”
