Chapter 6
Clutching the divorce papers tightly, I marched into the Reed Group's headquarters to confront my father, Robert.
"Dad, who’s Liv Reed?" I demanded.
Robert looked puzzled. "Liv Reed? Who's Liv Reed?"
"Don't play dumb," I retorted, frustration igniting my anger. "Are there no decent men left in the world? Have you betrayed Mom too?"
"Be honest with me—do you have a mistress? Is Liv your secret daughter? How could you betray Mom like this? She supported you when you were struggling, stayed with you through thick and thin!"
"What are you going on about?" My father's expression tightened, his tone unwavering. "Your mother is the only woman I've ever loved! I've only got two children—you and Hudson. Where did you get this idea of an illegitimate daughter from?"
"Bennett's mistress claims she's the daughter of the richest man, Robert Reed! Her birth certificate names you as the head of household!"
"And you're still denying it?"
"Show me the birth certificate, then!"
At my insistence, my father furrowed his brow, then a look of realization crossed his face. "I know who Liv Reed is."
"She's a student I sponsored."
He summoned his secretary, who brought in Liv Reed's files for me to review. Finally, the truth surfaced.
Liv's real name was Liv Henry.
She was a child my father had financially supported for over a decade.
During my father's toughest times, Liv's father, Josiah Kelley, had generously helped him. After Josiah and his wife died in an accident, my father felt morally compelled to support their orphaned daughter.
Upon graduating college, Liv was accepted into the University of Manchester. Being a local resident could offer her greater benefits, from housing to tuition fee waivers. So, Liv asked my father to help her obtain local residency.
My father, treating her almost like family, used his influence to add her name to his household registry.
Liv, deeply moved, insisted on changing her surname and regarded my father as her godfather, wanting to express gratitude for his kindness over the years.
In fact, my father had sponsored many children over the years, and his encounters with Liv were infrequent, hence his initial confusion about her identity.
When I revealed that Liv was the woman Bennett had been involved with, he was so furious that he shattered a costly antique vase worth thousands.
"Dad, they've already tied the knot. Soon, she'll be at your door, wanting to chat about investment opportunities."
My father was livid. "They're dreaming!"
Sure enough, Liv soon called my dad, announcing her marriage and her wish to introduce her husband to him.
I was beside Dad when he took the call, his face pale with anger. Yet he held back his temper: "I'm not your biological father. You should take your husband to pay respects at Josiah's grave, to meet your real father, before coming to see me."
There was a pause on Liv's end before she spoke in a soft, pained voice. "Since my father passed away, you've felt like my real father, my only family."
"Dad..." Her voice was thick with emotion, filled with gratitude and pleading, evoking sympathy.
But my father found it utterly absurd.
Just as he was about to erupt into a furious tirade, I quickly grabbed the phone, putting it on mute to calm him down. "Dad, relax. Don't forget our plan!"
He took several deep breaths, slowly regaining his composure. "Alright, I'll text you the address. You can come with him when you're ready."
Though we were unsure how Liv had convinced Bennett he was meeting her family, spinning such a tale was undeniably audacious.
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