Chapter 10 - THE FATHER WHO CAME BACK WITH A LIE
Z
For seventeen years, Kate Bennett had imagined what she would say if her father ever returned.
She had rehearsed angry speeches while washing dishes.
She had imagined walking past him without looking.
She had pictured asking why he abandoned two little girls and a wife who worked herself sick trying to keep them fed.
But when Thomas Bennett stood at the back of the courtroom, all Kate could think was that he looked smaller than she remembered.
Older.
Thinner.
His once-dark hair had turned almost completely gray.
He wore a cheap brown suit.
And he would not meet her eyes.
“Dad?”
The word escaped before Kate could stop it.
The prosecutor turned.
The judge frowned.
“Miss Bennett, please remain seated.”
Kate barely heard her.
Thomas lowered his head.
Then Preston Caldwell’s attorney spoke.
“Your Honor, Mr. Bennett has come forward with evidence that the Blackwell family falsified financial records and used threats to silence him.”
A murmur swept the courtroom.
Kate stared.
That was impossible.
Her mother had told her what happened.
Thomas stole money from Blackwell Shipping.
Isabella Blackwell covered the loss.
He had been spared prison.
Now he was accusing the people who saved him?
Damon rose slowly.
His lawyer placed a hand on his arm.
“Sit down,” she whispered.
He did.
But Kate knew that expression.
It was the same terrible stillness he had worn in the storage room.
The judge called a recess.
Kate stepped off the witness stand.
Thomas moved toward her.
“Katherine.”
She stopped.
Nobody had called her Katherine in that voice since childhood.
“Don’t.”
He froze.
“I need to explain.”
“You had seventeen years.”
“I know.”
“You missed birthdays.”
“I know.”
“You missed Rachel’s graduation.”
His face twisted.
“I know.”
“Mom nearly died.”
Thomas looked down.
“I heard.”
Kate laughed once.
It was a broken sound.
“You heard?”
“I wanted to come back.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
He looked toward Preston’s lawyers.
Kate followed his gaze.
And suddenly she understood.
“You’re working for them.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
He lowered his voice.
“Because the Blackwells destroyed our family.”
Kate stared at him.
“The Blackwells?”
“Yes.”
“You stole from them.”
His expression changed.
“Is that what your mother told you?”
Kate felt the first crack in her certainty.
Thomas leaned closer.
“I never stole that money.”
She said nothing.
“It was moved into an account under my name. I was supposed to sign paperwork and keep quiet.”
“By who?”
Thomas looked toward Damon.
“His mother.”
Kate stepped backward.
“No.”
“Katherine—”
“No.”
Damon approached.
“Stay away from her.”
Thomas straightened.
“And there he is.”
Damon stopped beside Kate.
“I said stay away.”
Thomas smiled bitterly.
“You sound just like your father.”
Kate glanced between them.
“You two know each other?”
Damon said nothing.
Thomas answered.
“Of course we do.”
Damon’s eyes darkened.
“Thomas.”
“What? You didn’t tell her?”
Kate felt sick.
“Tell me what?”
Thomas pointed at Damon.
“He found me three years ago.”
Silence.
Kate slowly turned.
“Damon?”
He did not deny it.
“You knew where my father was?”
“Yes.”
“For three years?”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
“I had reasons.”
Kate stepped away from him.
“Reasons?”
“Kate, listen—”
“You knew I thought he was gone.”
“I did.”
“You knew Rachel believed he abandoned us.”
“Yes.”
Her voice cracked.
“And you said nothing?”
Damon looked devastated.
“I was trying to protect you.”
Kate shook her head.
“No.”
“Your father was involved in something dangerous.”
“Then you should have told me.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You mean you wouldn’t.”
Damon did not answer.
That silence hurt worse than anything.
Kate turned and walked away.
She found Evelyn waiting in a private conference room.
Her mother took one look at her face.
“What happened?”
“Dad is here.”
Evelyn went still.
Kate watched her carefully.
“He says he didn’t steal the money.”
Evelyn’s hands trembled.
“Kate—”
“He says Isabella Blackwell arranged everything.”
Her mother closed her eyes.
And Kate knew.
There was something she had never been told.
“Mom.”
Evelyn sat down heavily.
“Your father made terrible choices.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“No.”
“Did he steal the money?”
Evelyn looked at her daughter for a long time.
Then whispered, “Not exactly.”
Kate felt the room tilt.
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn began to cry.
“Isabella was trying to stop a shipment.”
Kate frowned.
“What shipment?”
“I didn’t know at first.”
“Mom.”
“Blackwell Shipping was moving containers that weren’t listed correctly in the books.”
Kate’s heart began pounding.
“Illegal cargo?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Isabella discovered it. She wanted proof. Your father helped her copy the records.”
Kate sank into the chair.
“And the money?”
“It was moved to an account connected to Thomas. They were trying to trace payments.”
“Then why did Dad leave?”
Evelyn looked toward the door.
“Because someone found out.”
“Who?”
Her mother’s face turned pale.
“Damon’s father.”
Kate stopped breathing.
Victor Blackwell.
The man whose criminal empire Damon had spent years trying to escape.
Evelyn reached for Kate’s hand.
“Your father was threatened. Isabella told him to disappear until things calmed down.”
“Seventeen years?”
“No.”
A tear slipped down Evelyn’s face.
“That was his choice.”
Kate pulled her hand away.
“So both of you lied.”
“I wanted to protect you.”
Kate stood.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Her mother flinched.
Kate continued.
“You. Damon. Dad. Every single person decides what I’m allowed to know, then calls it protection.”
She walked toward the door.
Evelyn called after her.
“Katherine.”
Kate stopped.
“There’s something else.”
Her mother’s voice sounded frightened.
“Isabella Blackwell didn’t die in an accident.”
Kate turned slowly.
“What?”
Evelyn swallowed.
“She was going to testify against Victor.”
Silence.
“And three days before she met with federal investigators, her car went off a bridge.”
Kate felt cold all over.
Outside the conference room, Damon stood waiting.
He had heard enough to understand what had happened.
Kate looked at him.
“Did you know?”
His expression answered before he spoke.
“Yes.”
She stared at him.
Then whispered the question that changed everything.
“Did your father kill your mother?”
May you like
Damon closed his eyes.
“I’ve spent nineteen years trying to prove it.”
