Chapter 459

Chapter 459:

Weston’s shattered state made Brielle’s chest tighten with panic. She cried out in a trembling voice, “Dad p>

“Don’t call me Dad!” Weston’s words cracked like a whip, his gaze blazing with rage.

For years, Brielle had relied on Weston’s boundless affection. Now, staring at the naked contempt twisting his features, she felt her world collapse.

Brielle didn’t understand that every bit of tenderness Weston had ever shown her was rooted in the belief that she was his daughter.

The moment Weston learned that Brielle shared no blood with him, the warmth in his heart toward her withered.

“Brielle, I’ve given you nothing but kindness,” Weston said coldly, “more than you ever deserved. Why betray me? Why sneak into the tech center’s top floor and then hand classified files to Elmore p>

“Sneak in? Dad, didn’t you give her the key?” Shepard said in shock.

“Wrong!” Weston barked. “She stole the key from me p>

Rеаd 𝘁𝗵𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘁е𝘴𝗍 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘯𝗱s о𝗇

Shepard had always believed Brielle entered the tech center because Weston had allowed it. Now that he knew the truth, his gaze toward her hardened with disgust. “After everything he’s given you, you turn out to be a treacherous snake p>

“It isn’t like that!” Brielle cried as she bolted toward Weston, her hand outstretched to grab his. But before her fingers could reach him, he shoved her aside without hesitation.

She tried again. “Dad, I didn’t do it on purpose. I p>

She wanted to explain that Elmore had left her no choice, that his threats had trapped her. But the frozen disgust in Weston’s eyes strangled the confession before it could leave her lips.

That was when Shepard’s voice cut in, sharp as ice. “Are you about to claim Elmore threatened you and forced you to do it p>

Brielle’s eyes lit up at once, and she nodded frantically. “Yes! He forced me! Elmore threatened me; that’s the only reason I p>

“Is that so? Then tell me — what could he possibly hold over you that would make you betray us?” Shepard asked.

The real answer — that Elmore had dangled her true parentage over her head — was something she couldn’t bring herself to say.

If the Chadwick family learned the truth, she would lose her status as a member of the family.

She couldn’t even bring herself to imagine what life would look like if she lost her place in that house. The thought alone sent waves of panic through her.

Her silence stretched on, and the mockery in Shepard’s eyes deepened.

Recalling what he had uncovered in his own investigation, Shepard turned toward Weston. “Dad, do you want to know why Brielle delivered those documents to Elmore p>

Before Weston could respond, Shepard continued, “Because she is Elmore’s biological daughter p>

“What did you just say?” Weston’s voice shook, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Brielle felt her entire world shatter in that instant.

Shepard knew. How did he find out? Did Elmore tell him everything?

No. That couldn’t be.