Chapter 6 - The Name on My Birth Certificate
The secret led Elena to a sealed adoption-style record, an old hospital archive, and finally to one name her mother had hidden for twenty-five years.
Alexander Bennett.
He had not abandoned Elena.
He had died before she was born.
And Evelyn had married Franklin months later because she was pregnant, frightened, and convinced her daughter needed security.
Franklin had given Elena his surname.
Then spent twenty-five years behaving as though that surname made her his property.
But Alexander had left something behind.
Shares.
Property.
A trust.
Combined with Evelyn’s holdings, Elena—not Franklin—was the largest beneficial owner of the Ashford empire.
When Franklin discovered Elena knew, he called.
She answered.
“Come home.”
“No.”
“I raised you.”
“You controlled me.”
“I gave you everything.”
“You tried to sell me.”
Silence.
Then Franklin’s voice hardened.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed.”
“My mother?”
Silence.
Elena’s heart pounded.
“Was she one of your sacrifices?”
Franklin disconnected.
But Elena had recorded the call.
May you like
And she finally had enough to stop hiding.
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