CHAPTER 7: The Secret Father Maya Never Knew
The Blackwell mansion had never been this tense.
Not even during business wars.
Not even when competitors tried to destroy Arthur Blackwell’s empire.
Because this time, the enemy wasn’t outside.
It was buried inside the family.
And every secret that came out created another question.
Arthur stood alone in his office, staring at the phone in his hand.
Richard Sterling’s final words kept repeating in his mind.
“Ask her who Maya’s father is.”
Arthur hated secrets.
In business, secrets were weapons.
And now he realized…
The Sterling family had been collecting weapons for twenty years.
The next morning, Arthur found Lily in the garden.
She was sitting beside Maya, helping her with homework.
For a moment, Arthur simply watched them.
A mother protecting her daughter.
A child who had been forced to become stronger than she should have been.
He remembered Richard’s words.
Then he remembered Maya’s frightened face the night Victoria attacked her.
He didn’t want to believe there was another secret.
But he needed the truth.
“Lily.”
She looked up.
“Mr. Blackwell.”
Arthur glanced at Maya.
“Can we talk privately?”
Lily immediately became cautious.
“What about?”
Arthur hesitated.
“About Maya’s father.”
The color disappeared from Lily’s face.
Maya looked up.
“My father?”
Arthur quickly realized his mistake.
“Maya, I’m sorry. We can talk later.”
But the girl was already watching her mother.
“Mom?”
Lily forced a smile.
“Go finish your homework, sweetheart.”
Maya slowly walked away.
But she looked back.
She knew.
Something was wrong.
When they were alone, Lily stood.
“You spoke to Richard Sterling.”
Arthur didn’t deny it.
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“I knew this day would come.”
“Who is Maya’s father?”
Lily remained silent.
“Lily.”
Her eyes filled with pain.
“His name was Daniel Sterling.”
Arthur froze.
“Sterling?”
“Yes.”
“The Sterling family?”
Lily nodded.
Arthur took a step back.
“Victoria’s brother?”
“No.”
Her voice became quiet.
“Richard Sterling’s son.”
Arthur felt a chill.
Richard’s son.
Victoria’s nephew.
Maya’s father was connected directly to the family that had destroyed Lily’s life.
“How?”
Lily looked toward the mansion.
“It started before I escaped.”
Twenty years ago…
Before Lily became a maid.
Before Maya was born.
Before the Blackwell and Sterling families became enemies…
Lily Sterling was a young woman trapped inside one of the most powerful families in the country.
Her father controlled everything.
Her brother protected the family image.
And Victoria…
Was the only person who secretly cared about her.
At least, that was what Lily believed.
Then she met Daniel.
Daniel Sterling was different.
He hated the family’s cruelty.
He hated the way his father treated people.
And he hated the idea that wealth gave someone permission to hurt others.
For the first time in her life…
Lily felt free.
But the Sterling family saw love as betrayal.
Especially when Daniel chose someone they considered beneath them.
A servant’s daughter.
“Wait.”
Arthur interrupted.
“Daniel loved you?”
Lily nodded.
“He wanted to leave the Sterling family.”
“And Richard stopped him?”
Her silence answered.
“What happened to him?”
Lily looked away.
“He died.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“How?”
Lily’s hands trembled.
“The official story was a car accident.”
“But?”
“But I never believed it.”
At that moment…
Inside the Sterling mansion, Sebastian was looking through an old file.
A file that should have been destroyed years ago.
Inside was a photograph.
Daniel Sterling.
Lily.
And a baby.
Sebastian touched the photo.
“You should have disappeared forever.”
His phone rang.
Richard.
“Is Arthur asking questions?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
Sebastian smiled.
“He knows about Daniel.”
Richard’s face remained cold.
“Then it’s time.”
“Time for what?”
Richard looked out the window.
“Time to remind everyone what happens when they challenge the Sterling family.”
Back at the Blackwell mansion, Arthur continued questioning Lily.
“Why did you hide Maya’s identity?”
Lily looked at him.
“Because I was protecting her.”
“From who?”
“The same people who destroyed Daniel.”
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“Richard Sterling.”
Lily nodded.
“And Victoria?”
A long silence.
Finally, Lily whispered:
“Victoria knew.”
Arthur looked shocked.
“She knew Maya was Daniel’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she allow you to work here?”
Lily’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Because she was trying to protect us.”
Arthur frowned.
“Victoria?”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised him.
“She wasn’t always cruel.”
Lily looked down.
“Before she became the woman you know…”
A pause.
“She was my sister.”
That evening, Arthur went to speak with Victoria.
He found her standing by the window.
She looked older.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
“You knew about Maya.”
Victoria didn’t turn around.
“Yes.”
Arthur’s anger returned.
“And you said nothing?”
“I wanted to protect her.”
“By letting her and Lily live as servants?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
She turned.
For the first time, Arthur saw tears in her eyes.
“Because if Richard knew Maya was alive…”
She whispered:
“He would finish what he started.”
Arthur froze.
“What does that mean?”
Victoria walked closer.
“Daniel didn’t die by accident.”
Silence.
Arthur stared at her.
“You’re saying…”
“Yes.”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“My father killed my brother.”
The revelation hit Arthur like a storm.
The Sterling family wasn’t just hiding a child.
They were hiding murder.
A murder that protected their empire.
A murder that kept Lily silent.
A murder that left Maya growing up without knowing her own father.
Arthur looked at Victoria.
For the first time, he understood something.
Victoria wasn’t just the villain in this story.
She was also a prisoner.
But then he remembered Maya.
The child Victoria had hurt.
Pain explained actions.
It did not excuse them.
That night, Arthur made a decision.
He opened a secret company file.
The one he only used when someone threatened his family.
PROJECT: STERLING INVESTIGATION
Daniel walked in.
“Sir?”
Arthur looked up.
“I want everything.”
Daniel frowned.
“Everything?”
“Every transaction.”
“Every connection.”
“Every secret Richard Sterling has buried.”
Daniel understood.
“You’re going after them.”
Arthur looked at the photograph of Maya on his desk.
“No.”
A pause.
“I’m protecting her.”
But across the city…
Richard Sterling received a report.
A photo of Arthur.
A photo of Lily.
A photo of Maya.
He placed the papers down.
After twenty years…
The child they tried to erase was standing in their way again.
Richard smiled coldly.
“Prepare the announcement.”
Sebastian looked confused.
“What announcement?”
Richard replied:
“The one that will destroy Arthur Blackwell.”
Because Arthur thought he was exposing the Sterling family.
But he didn’t know…
The Sterling family had already prepared a weapon against him.
And the weapon was a secret about Maya.
May you like
A secret even Lily had never told anyone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
