Chapter 2Dad Threatened Me With Mom’s Life, My Reply Stunned Him

Marcus clearly hadn't expected me to cut straight to the point.

Sabrina lowered her head, biting her lip in silence.

Marcus wiped away his meager tears, and his tone suddenly went cold.

"Since you've already guessed, I won't beat around the bush."

He stood up straight, looking down at me.

"There is something you must do."

"You aren't our biological child, which means the inheritance rights to the Lockhart Group belong to Sabrina. You need to sign them over."

Lying on the hospital bed, the surgical incision in my side throbbed with a dull ache.

But I didn't let my anger show. I just stared at him.

"Marcus, have you forgotten?"

"My grandfather was the one who designated me as the sole heir to the Lockhart Group."

"If there is to be any change, we should wait until Mom wakes up, go to the family estate, and let Grandfather handle it."

Marcus snapped, "Absolutely not!"

"Your grandfather is old and in poor health. We shouldn't trouble him with such minor family matters."

"We can settle this quietly among ourselves."

Handing over a multi-billion dollar conglomerate is a minor family matter?

Sabrina finally looked up, her face pale. "Fiona..."

"I know this is a lot to take in. I understand if you can't accept it right away."

"But blood is blood. You can't change facts."

"I am their biological daughter. That is the truth."

The tears began to flow again.

"I'm not trying to fight you for anything. I just think fate is finally being fair."

"You've enjoyed twenty-four years of being a pampered heiress. Luxury cars, mansions, private schools, bodyguards following your every step. Your biggest worry was probably which diamonds to wear."

She wiped her eyes, her voice cracking.

"But me? I grew up in a foster home, wearing rags, sleeping in a cramped, drafty bed, with chilblains all over my hands in the winter."

"Why did you get to live in luxury from the moment you were born, while I had to beg for a scrap of affection?"

Her voice grew louder, venting years of repressed bitterness.

"Now I just want what was always meant to be mine. Are you really going to deny me that?"

"Fiona, you are incredibly selfish!"

Marcus, overwhelmed with pity, pulled her into a tight hug.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. Dad's here."

He glared at me. "Fiona, look at what you've done!"

"Do you have any idea how much Sabrina has suffered? You can't even begin to imagine!"

"You've stolen her life for twenty-four years. Returning her inheritance is only right! What is there to hesitate about?"

I watched their touching display of fatherly love.

A slow smile crept onto my lips.

"Marcus, you are nothing but a son-in-law who married into the Lockhart family."

"You have absolutely no right to interfere with the company's succession."