Truth Laid Bare

LAUREN

It didn’t feel real. But it was him. My father. Alive, standing before me.

He blinked, disoriented, his gaze locking onto mine with a mixture of confusion and fear. “Lauren…”

The ropes around my wrists were biting into my skin as I pulled harder, adrenaline coursing through me.

~Come on, break!~

My heart pounded as the knot began to give way, the bindings loosening just enough for me to yank free. I stumbled forward, barely able to catch my balance as I ripped at the ropes around my legs, my fingers fumbling but determined.

“Lauren, no—” my father rasped, but I wasn’t listening.

I had to get to him, had to see him, touch him.

“Hold on!” I gasped, finally freeing my legs and bolting across the cold, unforgiving concrete. I nearly collapsed as I reached him, grabbing his arms, pulling him close.

“Dad, are you okay? What… what’s happening?”

He coughed, his frail body trembling as he looked into my eyes, those same eyes I thought I’d never see again.

“I... I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“I thought you were dead,” I whispered, my throat tight. “How are you here?”

Vincent shook his head, his face a mixture of sorrow and exhaustion.

“She... Ginny... she took me from the hospital. I tried, Lauren, I tried to escape, but...” His eyes darted toward her, fear flickering across his face. “She said if I didn’t do what she wanted, she’d come after you. I had no choice.”

My breath hitched. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to let them fall.

I glanced back at Ginny, who was watching us like a predator, her arms folded across her chest, waiting.

“What does she want with Mason? Why is she doing this?”

Vincent squeezed my hands, his voice dropping to a strained whisper.

“Because Mason is the key to everything she’s after. He’s powerful in ways you don’t understand. She’s obsessed with controlling him… using him.” He shook his head, his eyes filled with both fear and love. “But you can’t give him up, Lauren. You can’t. Not for me.”

My breath caught in my throat. “But if I don’t… she’ll—”

“Let her,” he said, cutting me off, his tone firmer now. “I’m sick, Lauren. I don’t have much time left. I’ve lived my life. You… you’ve got your whole future ahead of you. And Mason is your future.”

His words hit me with a force I wasn’t ready for.

“I can’t lose you again,” I whispered, my voice shaking.

“You won’t,” he said softly. “I’ll always be with you. But Mason, he’s the one who matters now. Don’t let her take him from you.”

I felt the tears pooling in my eyes once more. How could I give up my father’s life after everything he had done for me?

Dad lifted my head with his hands and looked into my eyes.

“I have lived a good life, Laurie. I am so proud of you, I hope you know that,” he said. “Nothing in my life has brought me more happiness than being your father and, as your father, it’s my duty to protect you. Let me protect you, Lauren. Please.”

The air around us seemed to freeze, heavy with the weight of his words. I looked into my father’s eyes, seeing the truth in them, the resignation, the acceptance.

He was telling me to let go. To save myself, save Mason, and let him face whatever fate Ginny had planned.

Ginny’s voice sliced through the tension.

“Touching. Truly. A family reunion for the ages, but I don’t have time for this.”

Ginny motioned towards her men and they came forward, roughly grabbing my father and I. I pushed them off and put my arms around my dad's shoulders to help him stand.

“Really, Vincent,” she said, venom in her voice. “How long are you going to go on with this charade, huh?”

Ginny circled closer to us as though she was stalking her prey.

“Don’t Ginny,” my dad said, his voice hardening in a way I’d never heard before.

Ginny threw back her head and laughed.

“Don’t what, Vincent? Tell her the truth? Finally open up her eyes to the fake facade of her life?”

I looked at dad and wondered what Ginny could be talking about. She was clearly crazy, but I saw a different kind of fear in my father’s eyes.

“What is she talking about dad?”

“Looks like daddy dearest has kept some secrets from his precious little girl,” Ginny said. “But, don’t worry, I’m here to set the record straight.”

Her face hardened, her smile fading as she glared at me.

“I’m not your mother,” she spat out, her voice filled with hatred.

“What?”

“I’m not your mother, Lauren,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “And Vincent isn’t your father.”

“That’s not true.”

But part of me knew it was.

Ginny gave me a sympathetic look that lasted only a moment.

“I don’t have to pretend to be your mother anymore, Lauren.”

“You haven’t been my mother for a long time! But you don’t get to say that Dad isn’t my father.”

My voice broke, my body tense. I looked at my dad trying to find an answer in his eyes, but when he looked at me, all I could see was guilt.

“She’s lying dad,” I whispered, my voice pleading. “Please tell me she’s lying.”

Dad stepped closer to me and held me in his arms. He didn’t answer right away, instead just holding me as tightly as he could.

“It’s the truth, sweetheart. The truth we never told you,” she said, her voice echoing through the warehouse as she moved closer to me. She reached out, brushing a finger across my cheek.

“You’re not our daughter. That’s why you’re here. So you can finally know the truth. I’m just waiting for the one who orchestrated all of this.”

I couldn’t process what she was saying to me. All I could do was cling to my father. I couldn’t comprehend that he wasn’t my biological dad. It just didn’t make sense.

“Dad, what is she talking about?”

He held me even tighter, rubbing my back as he spoke.

“You will always be my daughter Lauren,” he said. “Nothing will ever change that.”

I leaned more into his embrace, the reality of Ginny’s words washing over me.

“Biology doesn’t change the fact that I love you Lauren, you are my pride and joy. I’m thankful everyday that I have the honor of being your dad.”

The news threw me off kilter, but I still found comfort in my dad’s embrace. The fact that he was not my biological father didn’t change a thing. He was the one who raised me, the one who took care of me when I was sick, and taught me how to ride a bike.

Whatever reaction Ginny was intending to get out of revealing the truth, I won’t give her the satisfaction.

No matter what, I loved my father. With all my heart.

“I love you too, Dad.”

I hugged him tighter and I could feel him release the tension in his body.

“Could you two get any more annoying?” Ginny said, letting out an exasperated sigh as she rolled her eyes.

“Nothing you say could hurt me Ginny,” I said, finding my confidence once more with my dad by my side.

Ginny smirked. Her look alone sent a shiver down my spine. It was clear she had more up her sleeve and I wasn’t sure I was ready to find out exactly what it was.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg, dear Laurie,” Ginny sneered. “You have no idea just how clueless you’ve been. Walking through your life like you had any choice in what happened to you. You never had a choice. You never had control.”

Her words cut deep, but amidst the shock and anger, a new question bubbled to the surface. If Ginny wasn’t my real mother… then who was?

“Then who are my real parents?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. The words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, even Ginny seemed caught off guard by my question.

She smiled, a slow, twisted grin that made my skin crawl.

“Ah, now there’s the curiosity I’ve been waiting for. You’ll find out soon enough. But trust me, when you do, you’ll wish you hadn’t asked.”

She flicked her head towards her men once more. They restrained my dad and I as Ginny stepped even closer. It took all my self restraint not to spit in her face as she leaned towards me.

“You thought you knew who your father was, you were wrong.”

“I know exactly who my father is,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Sure, you do sweetie,” she said in a mocking tone. “I’m sure you think you know exactly who your husband is too. The man you share a bed with, the man you love.”

I pulled back from her. Clearly, there was something she wanted from Mason, that much was obvious, but what was she insinuating?

I knew Mason was one of the most feared men in England, but that had everything to do with his reputation as a cutthroat businessman.

~Right?~

Outside, a car screeched to a halt. The engine rumbled aggressively before it cut out suddenly and a door opened then slammed.

“Speak of the Devil,” Ginny said. “I wonder if he’s dressed in his classic Armani?”

Ginny flicked her wrist and the men started to carry us away. I struggled against their grip, but it was no use. My dad and I were at their mercy whether we liked it or not.

“Where are you taking us?” I yelled out.

“Oh,” Ginny said. “I’m just making sure you have a front row seat to the show.”