NovelUSAChapter 397 Victoria woke naturally, sunlight spilling across the room. She only stirred when the doorbell rang, signaling someone at the door. She listened as the housekeeper answered, and soon after, Stein stepped inside.
The housekeeper was already preparing Victoria's second meal of the afternoon. Ever since she becpregnant, her appetite had grown astonishingly-her face and figure had filled out visibly, a healthy, maternal glow replacing her former slenderness.
"Hey, big brother..." Victoria greeted Stein, rising from the chaise lounge.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut Stein gently pressed her back down. "You need to rest more, Victoria. Don't stand on ceremony with me." His eyes scanned the apartment. "It was a bit rushed finding this place, but if we cacross somewhere better, we'll move you." Victoria felt a swell of gratitude. "No, really. This place is wonderful." It truly was: a spacious, high-floor apartment in the heart of downtown, over two thousand square feet. Victoria lived here with only Yasmine and a live-in housekeeper. Sometimes, the wide open rooms felt almost lonely. When Stein brought her from Starfall City to Echo City to await the birth, he'd arranged everything, making sure she had a safe haven. He'd originally bought the apartment as a gift, but Victoria had insisted on paying for it herself. Stein, unable to sway her, had finally relented.
"So, when's your due date?" he asked. "I've already lined up the best OB-GYN in the city for you. When the tcomes, you'll be in good hands." Victoria's eyes misted with emotion.
The housekeeper brought Stein a cup of tea, assuming, as many did, that he must be Ms. Turner's husband. "Thank you, big brother," Victoria said softly.
Stein looked at her with gentle affection. "You call'big brother,' and still thank me?" Victoria brushed away a tear. "I wish you really were my brother. Too bad the Simms family could never produce someone as decent as you." She didn't mean to disparage her own father, but if Simms ever had a son, she imagined he'd have inherited all the worst traits.
Stein's gaze flickered, something unreadable in his eyes. "How do you think Simms has treated you?" A bitter smile touched Victoria's lips. "How else? He's never once treatedlike his own daughter." Simms's lover, Yulia, and her niece, Violet, had always been the real recipients of his affection. He doted on Violet a hundred times more than he ever did on Victoria.
So really, there was nothing more to say. She didn't want to talk about him.
Stein nodded, his voice calm and measured. "Have you ever considered that maybe... he's not your biological father?" Victoria stared at him, stunned. For a moment she was speechless, then shook her head. "If he weren't my real father, my grandfather would never have handed the company to him." Her grandfather had passed away only after she grew up. She'd never thought him a foolish man-he'd never entrust the family legacy to an outsider.
Stein didn't argue. Instead, he produced two documents from his briefcase. One was a genetic test-Victoria and Simms.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"This paternity report shows that you and Simms are not biologically related. He isn't your father."
Victoria stared at the report in disbelief. She'd never once om questioned her parentage, Only assumed that Simms's coldness was because of his strained relationship with her mother, or his affairs.
Stein had always treated her kindly-she didn't think for a moment that he wanted to sow discord between her and Simms. There was no need; she and Simms had always been at odds. "And the other document?" she asked, noticing the second report.
"It's for you and me," Stein replied.
Victoria blinked, confused.
Stein spoke slowly. "To put it simply, we share the sfather." Victoria sat, stunned.
Stein's voice was steady. "Before my father met your mother, he was in love with someone else. But he never with someone knew she was pregnant. She broke it off-my mother, that is-because she felt she wasn't good enough for him." Listening to Stein recount these old family secrets, Victoria felt as if she were hearing the plot of a -one that, until now, she'd never imagined she was a part of.
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