Chapter 6 - The Birth Certificate Arthur Vale Wanted Destroyed

Arthur Vale entered with two attorneys.

No security.

That was deliberate.

Men like Arthur did not need guns when they believed paper was stronger.

He stopped when he saw Renner.

"Paul."

Renner said nothing.

Arthur looked at Mara.

Then at the ring case.

He understood.

"How unfortunate."

Dante stood.

"Sit."

Arthur smiled.

"I prefer standing."

Dante's voice remained quiet.

"That wasn't a preference."

Arthur sat.

Sienna stayed near the window.

Her eyes red.

Arthur saw the missing ring from her hand.

His expression tightened.

"You ended it."

Dante ignored him.

"Tell Mara why you think she is not Thomas Ellis's daughter."

Arthur looked at Mara.

"Because your birth certificate was amended."

Her stomach tightened.

"My father is Thomas Ellis."

"Legally."

Silence.

Mara stared.

Arthur continued:

"Biologically, there is a question."

Renner said:

"Arthur."

Arthur looked at him.

"You decided to grow a conscience."

Renner replied:

"Late."

"Still inconvenient."

Dante said:

"Document."

One attorney opened a folder.

Original birth certificate.

Father line blank.

Amended six months later.

THOMAS ELLIS.

Mara stared.

"My mother never told me."

Arthur said:

"Maybe she intended to."

Mara's voice sharpened.

"Do not talk about my mother."

Arthur smiled faintly.

"Fair."

Dante looked at Renner.

"Who is the biological father?"

Renner did not know.

Arthur did.

That was obvious.

Dante saw it.

"Who?"

Arthur leaned back.

"Gianni Marcel."

Silence.

Dante did not move.

Mara could not breathe.

Sienna covered her mouth.

Arthur continued:

"Your father."

Dante stared at Mara.

No.

Not romance.

Not possible.

Mara's mind moved faster than emotion.

If Gianni were her biological father—

she and Dante would be siblings.

Everything changed.

Then Renner said:

"He's lying."

Arthur's smile disappeared.

Renner stepped closer.

"Thomas had a DNA test done."

Mara turned.

"When?"

"Before he died."

"Why?"

"Because Arthur had already threatened him with this story."

Arthur looked furious.

Renner continued:

"Gianni was not Mara's father."

Dante's shoulders lowered almost invisibly.

Mara noticed.

So did Sienna.

Renner said:

"The biological father was another man."

"Who?"

He looked at Mara.

"Daniel Blake."

Her grandmother's surname.

Mara stared.

"Who was he?"

"Your mother's first husband."

Silence.

"She was married before Thomas?"

"Briefly."

"What happened?"

"He died before you were born."

"How?"

"Car accident."

Mara laughed bitterly.

"Real accident?"

Renner nodded.

"As far as anyone knows."

Arthur interrupted:

"The trust was created for Thomas's child."

Dante looked at him.

"Legal child."

"That can be challenged."

Renner shook his head.

"No."

Everyone turned.

He continued:

"Gianni revised the trust after the DNA test."

Arthur's expression changed.

"He did not."

"He did."

Renner took another copy from his coat.

BENEFICIARY:

MARA ELLIS, LEGAL DAUGHTER OF THOMAS ELLIS.

No biological condition.

No ambiguity.

Arthur stared at the page.

For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.

Mara understood.

He had come to destroy her claim.

The document destroyed his argument instead.

Dante looked at Arthur.

"You searched her mother's house."

Arthur said nothing.

"You paid Renner."

Silence.

"You planted surveillance."

Arthur finally spoke.

"I did not plant anything."

Renner nodded.

"Technically true."

Mara looked at him.

"Who did?"

"Petra arranged it."

Sienna's assistant.

Sienna went pale.

"Petra?"

Arthur looked at his daughter.

"She works for me."

Sienna laughed through tears.

"Of course she does."

Dante looked at Rafe.

"Find her."

Rafe left.

Arthur said:

"You cannot hold her."

Dante looked at him.

"I don't need to."

Then to Mara:

"Do you want police involved?"

Arthur's expression changed.

Mara stared.

The question mattered.

He was asking her.

Not deciding.

"Yes."

Dante nodded.

"Then police."

Arthur smiled faintly.

"You think this makes you moral?"

Dante looked at him.

"No."

A pause.

"It makes you accountable."

Arthur's attorneys shifted.

Then Arthur looked at Mara.

"You have no idea what that trust will do to your life."

Mara answered:

"I had no idea it existed an hour ago."

"You'll be hunted."

"Apparently I already was."

He stopped smiling.

Dante asked Renner:

"What happens next?"

"Trust verification."

"Where?"

"Marcel Private Bank."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

Arthur looked at the ring case.

Then at Mara.

"The ring must be present."

Dante nodded.

"It will be."

Arthur stood.

Sienna looked at him.

"Dad."

He turned.

She removed her engagement ring from the velvet case.

Not wearing it.

Holding it.

Then placed it on the table.

"You used my engagement."

Arthur's expression softened.

"I was protecting your future."

Sienna laughed.

"That sentence should be illegal."

Mara almost smiled.

Dante did.

Barely.

Arthur left.

And the billion-dollar ring stayed on the table.

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Between the housekeeper who never wanted to be seen—

and the man whose family had hidden her name inside it.