Chapter 2 - My Father’s Second FamilyMy father, Richard Bennett, had been one of the most respected businessmen in Boston.
Founder of Bennett Medical Systems.
Philanthropist.
Devoted husband.
At least that was the story.
After his death from a heart attack at fifty-eight, newspapers described him as a family man who built a billion-dollar healthcare company from nothing.
Now I was holding evidence that he had a daughter nobody knew about.
Victoria began speaking.
“Her mother’s name was Clara Morgan.”
Daniel frowned.
“Dad had an affair?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Twenty years ago.”
My stomach turned.
I was fourteen then.
Daniel was eleven.
Our father had been traveling constantly for work.
Chicago.
Denver.
Seattle.
Apparently one of those trips included Clara.
“How long?”
“About a year.”
Daniel paced.
“So Dad had another child and simply abandoned her?”
Victoria looked at him.
“That’s what I believed too.”
I caught the wording.
“Believed?”
She handed me another letter.
It was written by Clara.
Richard, I am not asking you to leave Victoria. I am asking you to keep the promise you made to Emily.
Another.
The payments stopped again.
Another.
I don’t care about myself. She needs the surgery.
I looked at Victoria.
“Surgery?”
“Emily was born with a congenital heart condition.”
Daniel sat down.
“Dad knew?”
“Yes.”
“Did he pay?”
“For several years.”
“Then what happened?”
Victoria swallowed.
“The payments stopped.”
“When?”
“Twelve years ago.”
Seven years before Dad died.
“Why?”
“I didn’t know.”
The room went cold.
I looked again at the recent bank statements.
“Is that why you’ve been asking me for money?”
Victoria began crying.
“I found Emily three months ago.”
Everything clicked.
The unexplained withdrawals.
The constant requests.
The secrecy.
I felt ashamed.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
Victoria looked at me.
“Because when I found her…”
May you like
She paused.
“…she was already dying.”
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