Nobody moved after Claire’s confession.

The words stayed in the air.

The baby was never mine.

Daniel looked like he had forgotten how to breathe.

“What does that mean?””

Claire sat down slowly.

“I don’t know how to explain this.””

“You better try.””

She nodded.

Her hands were shaking.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I was happy.””

Daniel looked away.

“Don’t.””

“I mean it,” she said quietly.

“For the first time in my life, I felt like everything was finally right.””

She wiped her tears.

“Then Michael contacted me.””

Daniel’s expression hardened.

“Why?””

“He said he needed to talk.””

“And you went?””

“Yes.””

The answer hurt him.

“I thought he was going to tell me something about the baby.””

Claire looked at the floor.

“But he told me something else.””

“What?””

She took a deep breath.

“He told me he had been lying to me.””

Nobody spoke.

Claire continued.

“Michael wasn’t my doctor.””

Daniel frowned.

“What?””

“He was never my doctor.””

The room exploded into confusion.

My father looked at her.

“Then how did you meet him?””

Claire closed her eyes.

“Through Victor.””

Everyone turned.

Victor’s face changed.

Just slightly.

But enough.

Daniel saw it.

“You.””

Victor shook his head.

“Don’t jump to conclusions.””

Claire stood.

“No.””

Her voice was stronger than before.

“For once, I’m telling the truth.””

Victor stared at her.

Claire continued.

“You introduced Michael to me.””

Victor said nothing.

“You told me he was a fertility specialist.””

Daniel looked confused.

“Why would he do that?””

Claire looked at him.

“Because you couldn’t have children.””

The room went silent.

Daniel froze.

“What?””

My mother gasped.

My father looked stunned.

Claire started crying.

“I’m sorry.””

Daniel shook his head.

“No.””

His voice was barely audible.

“You knew?””

She nodded.

“Michael told me.””

“When?””

“Before we got married.””

Daniel stepped back.

“So you knew I couldn’t have children.””

“Yes.””

“And you still married me?””

“Yes.””

For a moment, nobody knew what to say.

Then Daniel whispered:

“Why?””

Claire looked at him.

“Because I loved you.””

The answer sounded painful.

Not like an excuse.

Like regret.

“But Victor knew,” she continued.

Everyone turned.

“He knew Daniel wanted a family more than anything.””

Victor’s expression darkened.

“So?””

“So he found a way to create the perfect story.””

My father looked at him.

“What story?””

Claire pointed at the documents.

“The perfect heir.””

Victor laughed.

“You’re making this sound dramatic.””

“You used me.””

Victor shook his head.

“I gave you what you wanted.””

“No.””

Claire’s voice cracked.

“You gave me a nightmare.””

The room went quiet.

Then Daniel looked at Victor.

“You knew I couldn’t have children.””

Victor didn’t deny it.

“Yes.””

“And you knew Claire knew.””

“Yes.””

Daniel’s face tightened.

“So the fake pregnancy…”

“Was useful.””

Nobody expected him to say it so calmly.

Victor continued.

“Everyone wanted a perfect family story. I gave them one.””

My father looked disgusted.

“You manipulated everyone.””

Victor shrugged.

“People believe what they want to believe.””

Then Daniel’s phone rang.

Everyone looked.

He answered.

“Hello?””

A voice spoke.

Daniel’s expression changed.

“What?””

He walked away.

We watched him listen.

Then his hand slowly lowered.

“What happened?”” I asked.

He looked at my father.

“The board meeting.””

My father stood.

“What about it?””

Daniel’s face was pale.

“They already voted.””

Nobody spoke.

Victor smiled.

“Of course they did.””

Daniel turned toward him.

“You knew.””

Victor didn’t answer.

My brother looked at everyone.

“The company transfer is already approved.””

My father grabbed the table.

“When?””

“An hour ago.””

Impossible.

The entire night had been a setup.

The party.

The exposure.

The chaos.

Everything.

Victor had planned for us to be too distracted to stop it.

Then Daniel looked at the paperwork again.

“There’s one problem.””

Victor frowned.

“What?””

Daniel lifted the agreement.

“The transfer only happens if the deception was proven.””

Victor smiled.

“And it was.””

Daniel shook his head.

“No.””

He looked directly at Victor.

“Because you forgot one thing.””

“What?””

Daniel held up another document.

“The agreement says the deception has to be caused by the family member losing control.””

Victor’s smile faded.

Daniel continued.

“But you caused it.””

The room went silent.

Because for the first time that night…

Victor looked afraid.