is face a mask of controlled anger.

“Katie, gossip hurts people. And worse, you let yourself be used to do it.

You should be ashamed.”

Katie’s face crumpled as she gripped the edge of the table.

Thomas turned to Evelyn.

“And you, Mother. How could you?

Spreading lies, stirring the pot.”

Evelyn’s expression didn’t waver. “Lies?

Are you saying you don’t know the truth, Thomas?”

“I don’t care what happened before we met.

Olivia has been the best wife and mother anyone could ask for.”

Evelyn tapped her nails against the table.

“One of your children isn’t even part of this family. And unless we do a DNA test, I’ll leave this house, and none of you will inherit anything.”

Gasps filled the room. My heart pounded as Thomas froze, his face pale.

Evelyn’s words hung over us like a storm cloud, ready to shatter the fragile peace we had left.

***

That night, the house buzzed with quiet confusion.

No one truly understood what was happening, except for me and Thomas. He had barely spoken since Evelyn’s declaration.

I found him sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his chest.

“Thomas, are you okay?” I asked, kneeling beside him.

“I can’t face this, Olivia. It’s too much.

If the truth comes out…”

I placed my hands over his, steadying him.

“You won’t have to. I’ll handle it.”

“You don’t have to do this alone.”

“Yes, I do. For our family.”

I left the room and made my way to Evelyn’s quarters.

The hallway seemed longer than ever.

As I approached, the murmur of voices stopped me in my tracks.

I froze, straining to hear.

“You understand this is the only way to keep everything in the family?” Evelyn’s unmistakable tone cut through the silence.

I crept closer, my heart hammering in my chest.

“If I reveal that Olivia’s eldest son, Jack, isn’t from Thomas, he’ll be excluded from the will,” she continued. “That’s when you’ll get your rightful share.”

A second unfamiliar voice replied.

“But how do you plan to do that?”

I nearly gasped.

Morrison?! What is he doing here, and how was he involved?

“I’ve already done it,” Evelyn said, her voice calm, as if discussing the weather.

“I considered all the options when I found out you were my grandson.

Your father, Garrett, doesn’t know. Your grandfather never suspected either; he’d never have accepted another grandson. So, I convinced him to name you as the overseer and ensured the will specified the inheritance was for blood relatives only.”

I clutched the doorframe for support, my mind reeling.

Grandson?

Morrison is Garrett’s son?!

“But how did you know Jack isn’t Thomas’ son?” Morrison asked, his voice trembling.

“Thomas told me,” Evelyn replied coolly.

“He met Olivia when she was already pregnant. He decided to raise the child as his own but asked me to keep it from his father.”

My knees felt weak, but I forced myself to stand tall.

I couldn’t let her continue this.

I shoved the door open. Evelyn was startled but quickly masked her reaction.

Morrison turned, his face paling when he saw me.

“We need to talk,” I said, my voice trembling with anger.

Evelyn tilted her head.

“I assume you heard everything.”

“Yes. And it stops here. You will stay in this house.

I will give Morrison my share of the inheritance if that’s what it takes.

But there will be no DNA tests. No one else needs to know.

Especially not Jack. I won’t let my eldest son’s life be destroyed.”

Evelyn scrutinized me.

“And Morrison?”

“He will take the money and disappear.

No drama, no revelations.”

After a long pause, she nodded. “Fine. But remember, this was your condition.

No mistakes.”

***

The next dinner, Evelyn sat at the head of the table, lifting her glass with a serene smile.

“I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday,” she began, her tone light.

“I think I may have had a little too much cider and said things I shouldn’t have.”

The room froze before everyone murmured polite agreements. Katie’s voice broke the silence.

“Grandma, are you staying in the house?”

Evelyn turned to her, smiling warmly and patting her hand.

“Yes, sweetheart. Yesterday, I was in a bad mood and made a terrible joke.

I’m so sorry if it upset anyone.”

Katie’s face lit up.

“Alright, Grandma.”

“We’re staying, all of us,” Evelyn continued, her voice softening. “We’re one big, happy family, aren’t we? That’s what Leonard wanted for us, to be together.”

Thomas picked up the conversation, telling a story.

Laughter followed.

I glanced at Jack, so carefree, unaware of the truth. I prayed he never would.

Morrison sat silently, pushing food around his plate.

His focus wasn’t on family. It was on the money Evelyn promised him.

Evelyn’s eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of triumph in her gaze.

She had won.

We all kept eating, pretending.

Under the table, Thomas squeezed my hand. I realized then—it wasn’t always right to disturb the balance of life. My family deserved peace and love, no matter what secrets I had to keep to protect it.

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Source: amomama