Chapter 12 - The Daughter Nobody Claimed|
Seline had been twenty-four when she first met Thomas Bell.
At the time, she worked for a private financial firm in Paris and had no knowledge of the Donna council beyond rumors about its influence over several international businesses.
Thomas approached her with a proposition.
He said her mother had once worked for a wealthy American family. He claimed the family had taken advantage of her, concealed her identity, and left her with nothing.
He offered Seline the chance to recover what belonged to her.
She had believed him because she wanted to.
Now she stood in Thomas's office, staring at the photograph of herself as a child.
"Who is the woman beside my mother?"
"Margaret Ashcroft."
"And Helena?"
"Your aunt."
Seline laughed in disbelief.
"My aunt?"
"Your mother was Helena's younger sister. She was born into the Vale family, but the records were changed after the succession dispute."
Seline looked at the photograph again.
The child in the picture wore a small silver pendant shaped like a dark oval stone.
The same shape as the Donna necklace.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Your mother tried to keep you away from the council. She believed that if you were raised outside the family, you would be safe."
"Safe from what?"
"From the people who wanted control of the trust."
Seline looked at Thomas.
"Did you know who I was when you introduced me to Damian?"
"Yes."
The answer stunned her.
"You arranged everything."
"I created an opportunity."
"You used me."
Thomas remained calm.
"I gave you access to the people who stole your inheritance."
Seline's expression hardened.
"And what did you get?"
"The trust."
He explained that he had spent years searching for the original Vale beneficiary. He believed that if Seline could be installed as Donna, he could use her family connection to challenge the Ashcroft custodianship and gain control of the legacy companies.
Damian's pride made the plan possible.
His affair made it easier.
The public transfer of the necklace had been designed to force the council into a legal dispute before Vivien could activate the trust's safeguards.
But Thomas had underestimated one thing.
Vivien had never relied on the necklace to establish her authority.
She had relied on the people who trusted her.
Seline sat down.
"Did you ever intend to let me keep the necklace?"
Thomas did not answer.
She understood.
The necklace had never been her prize.
It had been bait.
A quiet knock sounded at the door.
Damian entered, holding a folder.
"I've seen the financial records."
Thomas's expression remained unchanged.
"Then you understand the restructuring."
"I understand that you used my signature to move money into companies I never approved."
"You authorized the framework."
"Not the transfers."
Thomas stood.
"Be careful, Damian. You are not the only person whose reputation can be destroyed."
Seline rose.
"Enough."
Both men looked at her.
She removed the Donna necklace and placed it on the desk.
"I am finished being used by either of you."
Thomas's eyes narrowed.
"You have no idea what you've just surrendered."
Seline looked at the dark stone.
"Perhaps."
Then she turned toward Damian.
"But at least this time, the decision was mine."
May you like
She walked out without the necklace.
And for the first time since the Black Summit, nobody tried to stop her.
