Chapter 101
Then realization struck.
Nathaniel didn’t need leverage anymore. People feared him now. Pressure wasn’t always necessary.
“Vanessa?” Bianca asked. “Why would Roselind give you the mansion and not Serena p>
But Bianca did not get an answer. Vanessa couldn’t speak, and Nathaniel was fixed on her.
Coincidentally.” Nathaniel said, “Two weeks before your birthday was what Victor claimed to be Serena’s birthday… until she found her real family p>
He glanced around, letting the implication settle. “I always wondered why Victor and Roselind never truly celebrated Serena’s birthday. Why would they stay for barely an hour… then leave p>
His gaze returned to Vanessa. “To have dinner with you p>
Gasps were audible around her.
The people’s gazes seemed to burn through her frame.
“When you were twelve, you suffered a severe viral infection,” Nathaniel continued.
“Who donated blood to you p>
Vanessa swallowed hard.
“I don’t know! It was anonymous!” she cried. But, in reality, she knew.
Gavin scoffed and distributed another document to the reporters.
“It was Victor Kline,” Nathaniel said, motioning to her repeatedly. “You blamed Serena a while ago, said something about how he raised her, yet you were far closer to the Klines than she ever was p>
He closed in on her. With nowhere to retreat, Vanessa panicked.
Nathaniel seized her by the neck briefly, cutting off her breath.
“You can’t do this!” she screamed.
“I’ll sue you for assault—and him too!” she shouted at Silas.
“Go ahead,” Nathaniel said calmly. “I’d like to see you try p>
From where she was, she saw Silas’ dismissive look, his hands on his hips, like it didn’t bother him at all.
Nathaniel released her so abruptly that Vanessa stumbled and fell.
“Tell them,” Nathaniel demanded. “Tell everyone what Victor Kline was to you p>
“Lost your words?” he asked coolly. “Want me to finish it for you p>
“No!” Vanessa cried, her vision blurred, her body shaking.
She staggered upright, clumsily fixing her clothes.
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“Thirty years ago,” Nathaniel continued, “the Holts failed repeatedly to conceive. After IVF attempts failed, Vivian Holt left the country, then returned a year later with a baby p>
Eyes widened across the room, and speculations arose.
“Oh, my God p>
“Could she be p>
But before anyone else could say it, Nathaniel declared, “You are Victor Kline’s daughter. He gave you to the Holts in exchange for protection and political alliances that concealed his crimes p>
“No!” Vanessa screamed, drenched in sweat.
“Years ago, Mathew Holt and his allies in court dismissed Victor’s cases. Others were settled in secret p>
Nathaniel went on. “The confession
victor made was never about
Serena. It was about you p>
He pointed at her. “You are his blood p>
“That’s why Victor favored you. He protected you. While Serena bore his cruelty and his enemies’ hatred p>
Nathaniel yanked her arm. “Tell me, Vanessa, are you even human p>
A cry cut through the chaos.
“You!” Bianca shouted, her fingers shaking as she pointed to Vanessa. “All this time,
I blamed Serena, when you were Victor’s daughter p>
Her face flushed. “To think I wanted you for my son! In the end, I let a viper into my home p>
“Mother, stop,” Nathaniel warned. “Your emotions p>
Even Gavin tried to restrain Bianca, but she broke free, wiggling her body to get past the two men.
“You watched while I ended up destroying my son’s marriage!” Bianca screamed.
Vanessa tried to flee, but the crowd turned hostile. Insults flew.
Before she could escape, Bianca grabbed her hair and pulled her back.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Nathaniel grab Bianca’s waist, trying to pull her back. The sudden tug oply made Bianca cluten Vanessa tighter, dragging her closer. Bianca twisted her around, and another slap landed on her face!
“Your blood is poison!” Bianca yelled. “Victor’s blood flows in your veins p>
“How dare you?” Vanessa finally reacted. Furious and humiliated, she questioned Bianca and Nathaniel. “You don’t have solid evidence to prove I am Victor’s daughter p>
At that moment, a police officer stepped forward.
Relief flashed across Vanessa’s face. She gritted her teeth and said, “Officer, I am Vanessa Holt, the daughter of your city councilor. I’m being assaulted. Please, arrest them “
“Miss Vanessa Holt,” the officer said,
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handing her a white envelope. “This is a court issued warrant connected to the ongoing investigation into Victor Kline’s unresolved cases and undisclosed beneficiaries. Ito authorizes the collection of your DNA for comparison against existing records p>