Chapter 572 - 168 Blood and Lies

Chapter 572: Chapter 168 Blood and Lies

Claire’s POV

The feds had nearly tracked down Lila’s safe house. Thank God Connor’s contacts in law enforcement tipped me off in time. Now I needed to handle this trust fund situation. Had Beckett really managed to freeze me out of Lila’s inheritance? He hadn’t shown me any actual court documents – this could all be an elaborate bluff from the Sullivan family’s legal team.

Perhaps I could exploit his desperate need to find his precious little sister. A negotiation might work in my favor. I grabbed my purse, ready to face that sanctimonious fool who thought he could outmaneuver me.

"MOM! MOM!" Justin’s voice boomed through the penthouse as he slammed through the front door. "There you are!"

"Keep your voice down! What do you want?" This kid had some audacity storming in here like he owned the place.

"Mom, I confronted Connor at his private club and told him he’s my father," Justin said, his face red with rage. "But he laughed in my face. I demand the truth – no more games. Who is my real father?"

"I explicitly told you to stay away from him!" I rose from my chair, clutching my purse, ready to leave. This interrogation could wait until later.

Before I could take a step, Justin shoved me back into the leather armchair. The unexpected force of his push caught me completely off guard.

"Have you completely lost your mind? Get out of my way," I snapped, but he towered over me, his posture unyielding.

"You’re going to tell me everything – about my father, about that psychopath who calls you Pudge – and you’re telling me right now!" Justin’s voice dropped to a menacing growl that reminded me uncomfortably of the enforcers who worked the casino floors.

"We’ll discuss this later, Justin. I have business to attend to," I tried again, but he blocked my path like a bouncer.

"I’m not budging until you give me answers," he insisted, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Or did you sleep with so many men in the families that you can’t even remember who knocked you up?"

His crude words hit like a slap. "Show some respect! I’m still your mother!" I shot to my feet, meeting his hostile glare.

"Right now, you’re just some crime family whore who doesn’t know her bastard son’s father," he spat back. I raised my hand to strike him, but he caught my wrist mid-swing. "And I’ve been thinking – if I’m not connected to the Sullivan bloodline, maybe Lila isn’t either. So why did Nathaniel only demand a DNA test from me?"

"You ignorant child," I hissed through clenched teeth. "Listen very carefully, Justin. You will show me the respect I deserve as your mother, whether you like it or not. Want to know why Nathaniel never questioned Lila’s paternity? Because she is Sullivan blood – I’m just not her biological mother. As for you, yes, you’re my son, conceived with a worthless street dealer just like you’re becoming. I was fool enough to think I loved him."

Justin’s expression froze as I continued ruthlessly, "There’s your precious truth – you’re nobody’s heir. If you want to find dear old daddy, try the morgue. And guess who’s responsible for putting him there? Connor. He didn’t pull the trigger personally, but he ordered the hit. Now you know everything. Move aside."

Justin stood there speechless as I pushed past him and stormed toward the elevator.

I needed to confront Beckett immediately, but first I had to verify this inheritance freeze. The family’s private law firm was my next destination. The senior partner seemed prepared for my arrival, legal documents arranged precisely on his mahogany desk. Within a short while, I had my devastating answer – Beckett had indeed checkmated me. I wouldn’t access a single dollar of Lila’s trust fund.

Fine. If I couldn’t secure what I wanted through legitimate channels, I’d find alternative methods. I drove to Beckett’s estate compound and called him from my car.

"I’m at your front gate. Keep that wife of yours out of earshot," I said curtly before ending the call.

Minutes later, he emerged from the main house and approached my vehicle with the cautious gait of someone expecting trouble.

"What do you want, Claire?" His tone was arctic, stripped of any pretense of family courtesy.

"Aren’t you going to invite me inside for coffee?" His expression remained granite. "I’m here regarding your beloved little sister – isn’t that what you call her?"

"Where is Lila?" He leaned down to my window, his voice carrying the quiet authority that made him feared in boardrooms and back alleys alike.

"That information has a price. How much are you willing to transfer?"

"State your terms, Claire. Or let me guess – cash? Everything always comes down to money with you."

"Not everything," I laughed bitterly. "I want a substantial ownership stake in your legitimate operations, the family compound, and a guaranteed lifetime pension that would make a senator jealous."

"Why the compound? You’ve always despised that old place. And company shares? You hate actual work. What’s your real agenda?"

"Simple – to make all of you miserable! I want access to waltz into those corporate offices whenever I please. And I want the compound because I know how much your sentimental father treasured that property."

"Those demands are ridiculous. I’ll authorize the pension, nothing more. Accept it or we’ll locate Lila without your assistance."

"You might eventually find her," I said with calculated nonchalance, "but she might not be breathing when you do."

His face darkened with barely controlled violence. "The pension plus a reasonable percentage of the legitimate businesses. Tell me her location immediately."

The counteroffer wasn’t terrible. "Agreed. But I determine the pension amount. Have your lawyers prepare the contracts, and once everything’s properly executed, I’ll reveal where she’s hidden." I started the engine and pulled away, leaving Beckett seething behind the wrought iron gates.

Now I needed to discover exactly where Connor had stashed that little princess. I still had unfinished business with Lila.

I stopped by Connor’s private gentleman’s club, immediately regretting the decision. He was insufferable as always.

"Well, well, what brings you here, Pudge? How did that heart-to-heart with your bastard go?" Connor’s laughter scraped against my nerves like fingernails on concrete.

"You moron! Couldn’t you keep your mouth shut about the past?" I snapped.

"I refuse to play daddy to another man’s spawn, especially worthless trash like Justin. Bad blood runs in families," he smirked while lighting an expensive cigar.

"You’re absolutely impossible." His amused chuckling was maddening. "I need Lila’s exact location."

"So you can eliminate her permanently? Not happening, sweetheart. But I expect you at the family lawyer’s office tomorrow at the appointed time. Your precious daughter is going to become my wife, and once those papers are signed, I’ll transfer the agreed payment."

"Don’t even think about double-crossing me, Connor," I warned with steel in my voice.

"Don’t double-cross me, Claire," he countered, his tone infinitely more dangerous.

I left for home, my mind spinning with possibilities. Somehow, I would orchestrate everything to work exactly as I envisioned. Everyone would pay their debts – one way or another.