All Chapters of A Family Built on Lies: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

After that, I double-checked the buyer's information with the woman several times."Could you leave me your contact information and phone number so I can reserve the property for you?"It wasn't until I saw the information she'd filled out and confirmed that the buyer's name and ID number matched my father's that I finally gave up hope.It really was my father, Austin Bennett.The woman handed me the paperwork and smiled. "Young man, I hope you treat your partner just as well someday. It's not easy being a woman in this world."Next week is my thirty-fifth birthday. He said he'd give me anything I wanted."The apartment is a little old, but it's right in the city center. Once I renovate it, it'll be just right for the two of us to live in."The woman's "kind" words pierced my heart like a needle.The property my grandmother, Renna Patterson, had left my mother, Jenna Bennett, as her own little refuge was now about to become a gift from Dad to another woman.I suppressed my dis

The next day, I went to Dad's company under the pretext of delivering some documents, intending to gather more evidence.But I was stopped before I even made it through the entrance.The new receptionist didn't even look up. "Do you have an appointment?""I'm here to see Austin Bennett." I held up the insulated lunch container in my hand. "I'm bringing him lunch."She let out a mocking laugh and shot me a scornful glance. "Mrs. Bennett just brought him food. She's in his office with him right now. Who are you? Looking for a sugar daddy? Well, our CEO isn't into that kind of thing!"I froze.Mrs. Bennett?But my mom was clearly at home.Before I could react, the elevator chimed, and the doors opened. Kendra stepped out carrying a Hermes bag. Several employees gathered around her, calling her "Mrs. Bennett."When she saw me, she stopped in her tracks."What are you doing here?" She looked me up and down, taking in my work clothes. "I told you I'd buy it, and I will! Following m

The moment those words left her mouth, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone seemed to stop breathing as their eyes darted back and forth between the two sides.When Dad finally came to his senses, he abruptly released Kendra. His face turned deathly pale, and sweat broke out across his forehead."W-Why are you two here?! I told you... not to get involved in the company's mess… Whatever this is, we can talk about it at home!"Before I could respond, Kendra rushed to his side. "Go home?"She yanked her arm out of his grasp, her voice shrill enough to pierce the air. "Why should we go home? We're settling this right here, right now!"She stormed toward us in her high heels, her finger nearly jabbing me in the face. "You again! You little brat! Why won't you leave me alone?"What? You saw my husband about to give me a house and a diamond ring, and now you're jealous? Envious? So you came here to ruin everything?!"The spotlights and every camera in the room turned toward us. Even t

"A lawyer's letter?" Dad jerked his head up, as if he'd just grabbed the last lifeline available to him.His panicked eyes swept across the cameras in the room before he suddenly pointed at Kendra, who was still reeling in shock. His voice rose sharply. "It's her! That witch seduced me! She tricked me!""Austin, you're not even human!" Kendra came to her senses and screamed as she lunged at him. "Who was the one practically worshipping me every single day?! Who was the one saying the sight of that old hag at home made him sick?!""Bullshit!" Dad shoved her away, his face twisted with rage. "If you weren't a little bit pretty, would I have ever looked at you? Who the hell do you think you are? You're nothing but a gold digger who sleeps her way to the top!""I'm a gold digger?! Then you're a lying freeloader! You stole your wife's money to support me! You're even more disgusting than I am!"Kendra had completely lost it. She grabbed the velvet ring box from the table beside her and

Three months later, my dad's case went to sentencing.Embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, tax evasion, bribery... He was convicted on multiple charges.Fifteen years.He stood in the dock, and when he heard the sentence, his legs buckled. He nearly collapsed.He whipped around and stared at Mom and me in the gallery, his eyes fixed on us as his trembling lips struggled to form words.Mom held my arm. She didn't look at him once throughout the entire proceeding.We applied for compulsory enforcement of the judgment.The court quickly froze and liquidated all the assets in his name. The downtown apartment that had nearly been given away finally returned to Mom in its entirety.Kendra didn't get off lightly, either.The enormous sums she'd squandered were deemed proceeds of crime, and she was required to repay every last cent. Her designer handbags, jewelry, and luxury cars were seized and auctioned off one by one.She tried to come to us, crying and claiming that she, too,