Chapter 4
The next morning, the news broke.
Veridian’s official social media accounts posted a statement confirming I was the sole owner and CEO.
They included copies of the incorporation documents, my original business plans from college, and a timeline of how I’d built the company from a small startup into a global empire.
The internet exploded.
People were shocked.
Angry at the Morrisons for how they’d treated me.
Curious about the woman who’d hidden in plain sight.
By midday, the Morrisons were at my door.
I heard Diane’s shrill voice through the wood, yelling my name.
Brendan’s deeper tone, threatening to call the police.
I looked through the peephole.
Diane was red-faced, her hair a mess.
Brendan stood beside her, his jaw tight.
Jessica hung back, looking nervous, holding a designer bag like it was a shield.
I opened the door, crossing my arms.
“You have ten seconds to get off my property before I call the police,” I said.
Diane pushed forward, but I didn’t step back.
“You little liar,” she spat. “You tricked all of us! You made us think you were nothing, just to steal our company!”
“Your company?” I laughed, sharp and bitter. “I built Veridian in my college dorm room. You didn’t even know it existed until Brendan got a job there. You never cared about the company—you only cared about the money and the status it gave you.”
Brendan stepped in front of Diane, his eyes cold.
“We’re going to sue you for everything you have,” he said. “You defrauded us. You lied about your identity to get me to marry you. A judge will see that.”
“Go ahead,” I said. “I have all the proof. A judge will see that you married me because you thought I was easy to control. That you and your family abused me for years. That you embezzled money from the company I own.”
Diane flinched.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, but her voice shook.
“Arthur has the records,” I said. “The fake invoices you submitted. The money you siphoned into your personal accounts. You thought no one was watching, but I was. Every single penny.”
Jessica stepped forward, her voice trembling.
“Cassidy, please. We’re sorry. We didn’t know—”
“You knew,” I cut her off. “You knew how they treated me. You laughed when Diane poured that water on me. You made jokes about my clothes, my pregnancy, my ‘lack of class.’ You’re not sorry. You’re just scared you’re going to lose all the nice things you got from working at my company.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I’ll quit,” she said. “I’ll give back everything. Just please, don’t press charges.”
I looked at her, and for a second, I almost felt bad.
Almost.
Then I remembered the way she’d giggled while I stood there soaked and freezing.
“It’s too late for that,” I said. “You made your choice. Now you have to live with it.”
Brendan grabbed Diane’s arm, pulling her back.
“This isn’t over,” he said, pointing a finger at me. “We’re going to take that baby from you. A judge will see you’re unfit—hiding your identity, ruining our lives, putting your own greed above your child’s well-being.”
My blood turned to ice.
“You wouldn’t dare,” I whispered.
“Try me,” he said, a cruel smile on his face. “I have money. I have lawyers. I’ll make sure you never even get to hold her.”
They turned and walked away, Diane yelling curses over her shoulder.
I closed the door, leaning against it, my heart pounding.
They were going to try to take my baby.
The one thing that was mine.
The one thing I’d fought to protect.
I pulled out my phone and called Arthur.
“They’re going to file for custody,” I said, my voice shaking. “Brendan said he’ll take my daughter from me.”
Arthur’s voice was calm, steady.
“We won’t let that happen. I have the best family lawyer in the city on standby. We have proof of their abuse, their lies, their embezzlement. No judge will give them custody.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
I looked down at my belly, at the life growing inside me.
I wouldn’t let them win.
May you like
I wouldn’t let them take my baby.
I’d fight them with everything I had.
