Chapter 2: The Baby That Wasn't Daniel's
For several seconds, Daniel Carter didn't move.
He held the document with both hands, staring at the words as though they might rearrange themselves into something less devastating.
Brianna reached for his arm.
"Daniel, don't listen to him.""
Daniel pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
Her hand dropped.
The ballroom remained silent.
Even the waiters had stopped moving.
Richard glanced at Margaret.
"Would you read the first paragraph?""
Margaret adjusted her glasses.
"This document is a preliminary report from a private medical laboratory. It concerns a prenatal paternity investigation conducted on November eighteenth.""
Brianna's face drained of color.
Vanessa immediately stepped between her daughter and Richard.
"This is outrageous. You had no permission to investigate my daughter!""
Richard looked at her coldly.
"I didn't need permission to investigate a matter that could affect my company and my family.""
Daniel raised his head.
"What does this have to do with my company?""
Richard gestured toward the paper.
"Keep reading.""
Margaret continued.
"The submitted samples indicate that the alleged biological father is not Daniel Carter.""
A champagne glass slipped from someone's hand.
It shattered against the marble.
Brianna began shaking her head.
"No. No, that's impossible.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Is it?""
"Daniel, please. This is a mistake.""
"Then tell me whose baby you're carrying.""
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Vanessa grabbed her daughter's hand.
"Richard, stop this immediately.""
Richard didn't even look at her.
"Why? Are you afraid of what comes next?""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"You've always hated us.""
Richard gave a short, humorless laugh.
"That's an interesting accusation from someone who has spent twelve years taking advantage of my hospitality.""
"Richard!""
"Would you like me to remind everyone how you came into this family?""
Vanessa went pale.
Brianna looked between them.
"Mom, what is he talking about?""
Vanessa squeezed her hand.
"Nothing, sweetheart. He's trying to frighten you.""
Daniel placed the document on a nearby table.
"Richard, I want an explanation.""
"You'll get one.""
Richard turned toward the guests.
"I apologize for interrupting the evening. But since certain members of this family have chosen to make private matters public, I see no reason to continue pretending.""
He looked directly at Brianna.
"Three months ago, I received information suggesting that someone had been using the Williams family name to secure financial arrangements with several business partners.""
Brianna blinked.
"What?""
"At first, I assumed it was a misunderstanding. Then I discovered that my granddaughter's engagement was being used to promote a business transaction.""
Daniel's eyebrows drew together.
"What transaction?""
Richard handed him another document.
"Your company has been negotiating a merger with Williams International. A merger that would have given Carter Global access to several of our most valuable property assets.""
Daniel glanced at the pages.
"That's confidential.""
"Not anymore.""
Brianna looked toward her mother.
Vanessa suddenly seemed very interested in the floor.
Richard continued.
"Your engagement announcement was used to reassure investors that the two families had a personal relationship. But there was one detail I found particularly interesting.""
He paused.
"Neither you nor your fiancée ever discussed the merger with me.""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"I was working with your financial director.""
"Which one?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Mr. Harrison.""
Richard nodded.
"An employee who was dismissed three weeks ago.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Why?""
"Because he was transferring confidential company information to an outside account.""
Richard took another paper from Margaret.
"And the account belonged to a company registered under Vanessa Williams.""
Vanessa stepped backward.
"That's a lie.""
"Would you like to see the bank records?""
"No!""
The word escaped her too quickly.
Everyone heard it.
Richard's eyes hardened.
"Then perhaps we should discuss the other documents.""
Brianna suddenly grabbed Daniel's hand.
"Daniel, we need to leave.""
He looked at her.
"You're not going anywhere until you answer one question.""
"Please.""
"Whose child is it?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
She glanced toward the photographs.
Then toward the guests.
Finally, she looked at her mother.
Vanessa gave her a tiny shake of the head.
But Brianna was panicking.
"It's Christopher's," she whispered.
Daniel closed his eyes.
For a moment, he seemed unable to breathe.
Then he laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
It was the hollow laugh of someone who had just realized his entire future had been built on a lie.
"My brother?""
Brianna nodded.
"I'm sorry.""
"How long?""
"Daniel—"
"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SLEEPING WITH MY BROTHER?""
"Since before the engagement.""
Daniel stared at her.
"Before?""
Brianna began sobbing.
"I didn't plan for this to happen.""
"Then why did you accept my proposal?""
"Because I love you!""
He stepped away.
"No. You love what my name can give you.""
Vanessa rushed forward.
"Daniel, you're being emotional. Brianna is pregnant. This is not the time to make decisions.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Stay out of this.""
"Excuse me?""
"You heard me.""
Vanessa's face reddened.
"You need to remember who you're speaking to.""
Daniel looked at Richard.
"I want to know who gave you these photographs.""
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced toward Amara.
She had remained quiet throughout the confrontation.
Her hands rested on her lap.
Her face was pale, but her eyes were clear.
Richard finally spoke.
"Your fiancée made the mistake of assuming that everyone who worked for her could be bought.""
Brianna turned sharply toward Amara.
"What?""
Richard continued.
"An employee at one of the hotels recognized Brianna. She was concerned because the same man had been visiting her repeatedly while Daniel was traveling for business.""
Brianna looked at Amara.
"Did you do this?""
Amara shook her head.
"No.""
"You're lying!""
"Brianna, I didn't even know about the photographs until tonight.""
"You're always pretending to be innocent!""
Amara looked at her sister.
"Why would I need to pretend?""
Brianna's expression twisted.
"Because you hate me!""
For the first time that evening, Amara allowed herself to speak loudly.
"No, Brianna. I don't hate you. I just don't understand why you need to hurt me to feel important.""
The words landed harder than a scream.
Brianna stared at her.
Daniel looked down at his shoes.
Richard placed a hand on Amara's shoulder.
"There's something else.""
Brianna let out a frustrated cry.
"What now?""
Richard opened the leather folder again.
"Daniel, I want you to look at the final page.""
Daniel took it.
His eyes moved across the text.
Then he looked at Richard.
"Is this real?""
"Every word.""
"What does it mean?""
"It means your proposed merger with Williams International is no longer possible.""
Daniel frowned.
"Why?""
Richard's expression became almost gentle.
"Because I never intended to sell my company to Carter Global.""
Daniel stared at him.
"Then why did you let the negotiations continue?""
"To discover who was attempting to manipulate the arrangement.""
Richard turned toward Vanessa.
"And I found the answer.""
Vanessa's face had become frighteningly still.
Richard addressed the guests.
"Several weeks ago, I discovered unauthorized transfers from one of our development accounts. Nearly eight million dollars had been redirected through a chain of shell companies.""
A murmur spread through the ballroom.
Vanessa shook her head.
"This is ridiculous.""
"Unfortunately, the records disagree.""
Richard handed Margaret another document.
"All transactions were approved using a digital authorization linked to Vanessa's office.""
Brianna looked at her mother.
"Mom?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
"Mom, tell me he's lying.""
Vanessa grabbed her daughter's arm.
"Not here.""
That response was enough.
Daniel stepped back.
"Your family has been stealing from his company?""
Vanessa snapped.
"Your company was going to benefit from the merger!""
"That's not an answer.""
"You have no idea what I've had to do to keep this family comfortable!""
Richard's voice turned ice-cold.
"Comfortable?""
He pointed toward Amara.
"You made that girl feel like a burden while spending money she helped earn.""
Vanessa scoffed.
"Amara has never earned anything.""
Richard's expression changed.
For the first time that night, he looked almost disappointed.
"That is where you are very, very wrong.""
He turned toward his granddaughter.
"Amara, sweetheart, would you come forward?""
Amara wheeled herself closer.
Richard took a breath.
"I've kept my promise to you for three years. But I believe tonight is the night we stop allowing people to mistake your humility for weakness.""
Amara looked at him.
"Grandpa, are you sure?""
"Absolutely.""
He faced the guests.
"Some of you know that Williams International has been developing a major sustainable housing project. What you may not know is that the project was designed by the founder of one of the most successful independent architectural firms in the country.""
He paused.
"That founder is sitting right here.""
The room became still.
Richard placed a hand on Amara's shoulder.
"Her professional name is A. Morgan.""
A woman near the front gasped.
Daniel looked at Amara.
Brianna blinked repeatedly.
"What?""
Richard continued.
"Her firm designed the Lakeshore Residences, the Westbridge Hotel, and the award-winning Evergreen Towers development.""
A businessman near the fireplace suddenly stood up.
"You're talking about A. Morgan?""
Richard nodded.
The man approached.
"Good Lord. I've been trying to arrange a meeting with that woman for six months!""
Amara offered him a polite smile.
"I've received your emails, Mr. Bennett. My office is reviewing your proposal.""
He stared at her.
"You're A. Morgan?""
"Yes.""
Brianna's champagne glass slipped from her fingers.
It struck the floor.
"No," she whispered.
Richard looked toward her.
"Yes.""
Brianna shook her head.
"She can't be.""
"Why not?""
"Because she's—"
She stopped.
Richard finished the sentence.
"Disabled?""
Nobody moved.
"Yes, Brianna. She is. And she is also the woman responsible for a substantial portion of the work that made this family's latest development projects possible.""
Amara looked down.
She hadn't wanted this announcement.
But something about seeing Brianna's expression made her realize that she no longer needed to hide.
Daniel approached her.
"Amara, I had no idea.""
She looked at him.
"You didn't ask.""
He lowered his eyes.
Richard turned toward Margaret.
"There's one final announcement.""
Margaret handed him a sealed envelope.
Richard opened it carefully.
"Effective immediately, I am transferring my controlling interest in Williams International into a new trust.""
Vanessa looked up.
"To whom?""
Richard glanced at Amara.
"To my granddaughter.""
The room erupted in whispers.
Brianna looked as though someone had struck her.
"WHAT?""
Richard raised his hand.
"Amara will become the majority shareholder and chairwoman of Williams International, subject to the final legal filings.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"You cannot do that!""
Richard looked at her.
"I already have.""
Brianna shook her head.
"Grandpa, what about me?""
Richard studied her for a long moment.
"What about you?""
"I'm your granddaughter too!""
"Then you should have behaved like family.""
Brianna began crying harder.
"You're giving everything to her?""
Richard nodded.
"To the person who never demanded it.""
Then he leaned closer to Amara and whispered something only she could hear.
"There's one more thing, sweetheart. Something I discovered about the accident.""
Amara froze.
Her fingers tightened around the armrests.
"What accident?""
Richard looked toward Margaret.
May you like
"Bring me the original police report.""
And suddenly, the night became much more frightening than anyone had expected.
