The Last Gift

Part 3 — The Woman He Lost

Two weeks later, I walked into the headquarters of Bennett Holdings for the first time in six years.

The building stood in downtown Seattle, overlooking the waterfront.

My father’s name was engraved above the entrance.

The moment I stepped inside, the receptionist stood up.

“Good morning, Ms. Bennett.”

I smiled.

“Good morning.”

Within minutes, the executive board had gathered in the conference room.

My father’s former business partner, Richard Hayes, approached me.

“Claire, your father would have been proud to see you here.”

I glanced at the empty chair at the head of the table.

“I hope so.”

Richard opened a folder.

“We’ve been waiting for your decision regarding the acquisition of Moretti International’s shipping division.”

I raised my eyes.

“Moretti International?”

“Yes. Their company has been struggling since the recent scandal. Several investors are withdrawing.”

I slowly closed the folder.

“Interesting.”

Richard studied my expression.

“Would you like us to proceed?”

I thought about Vincent.

About the nights I had waited for him.

About the birthdays he had forgotten.

About the hospital room where twenty armed men had been stationed to keep his wife away.

Then I smiled.

“Prepare the acquisition proposal.”

Richard nodded.

“Understood.”

“And Richard?”

“Yes?”

“I want every transaction examined carefully. No personal favors. No special treatment.”

He smiled.

“Your father used to say the same thing.”

For the first time, I felt that I was finally becoming the woman my father had hoped I would be.

In Chicago, Vincent was sitting across from Marco Bellini.

Marco looked exhausted, but he still wore a confident smile.

“You wanted the truth, Vincent. Here it is.”

He pushed a thick envelope across the table.

Inside were bank transfers, photographs, and several recorded messages.

Vincent examined the documents.

The first payment had been made to Marco six months earlier.

The second had been sent to an offshore account.

The third came from a company controlled by Eleanor’s younger brother, Anthony.

Vincent’s jaw tightened.

“Why would Anthony pay you?”

Marco leaned back.

“Because he wanted Sophia to become your son’s mother.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It does when you understand the plan.”

Marco smiled coldly.

“Anthony wanted an heir he could control. He knew you were becoming increasingly dependent on Sophia. He also knew your mother desperately wanted a grandson.”

Vincent looked at the photographs.

One showed Anthony meeting Sophia outside a private hotel.

Another showed Sophia handing Marco an envelope.

“Did Anthony know the baby wasn’t mine?”

Marco nodded.

“He knew from the beginning.”

Vincent’s hand tightened around the photographs.

“Where is Anthony now?”

“Probably enjoying his vacation in Monaco.”

Vincent stood.

“Find him.”

But before his men could move, another message arrived.

His assistant had sent a financial alert.

BENNETT HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC ACQUISITION OF MORETTI INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING DIVISION.

Vincent stared at the screen.

Bennett Holdings.

He recognized the name immediately.

It was the company Claire’s father had once owned.

He opened the announcement.

The photograph showed the new chairwoman standing in front of the company’s headquarters.

Elegant black dress. Calm expression. Confident eyes.

It was me.

Vincent slowly lowered his phone.

“Claire…”

Marco laughed.

“Looks like your wife has been busy.”

“Ex-wife,” Vincent corrected quietly.

For the first time, the word sounded unbearable.

The following morning, Vincent boarded his private jet to Seattle.

He didn’t bring his usual entourage.

He didn’t arrange a grand entrance.

He simply wanted to see me.

When he arrived at Bennett Holdings, the receptionist informed him that I was in a board meeting.

“I’ll wait,” he said.

Nearly two hours passed.

Finally, the elevator doors opened.

I stepped out with Richard and two executives.

My eyes landed on Vincent.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

He looked thinner. His expensive suit was wrinkled, and the confidence that once defined him seemed strangely absent.

“Claire.”

I turned to Richard.

“Please give us five minutes.”

Richard nodded and walked away with the others.

Vincent stepped forward.

“You look well.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“I know.”

He swallowed.

“Can we talk somewhere private?”

I gestured toward my office.

Inside, Vincent looked around at the glass walls, the waterfront view, and the photographs of my father.

Then his eyes settled on the corporate documents on my desk.

“You own Bennett Holdings?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I gave him a small smile.

“You never asked.”

He looked down.

“I made mistakes, Claire.”

“That’s an interesting way to describe five years of betrayal.”

“I know.”

“No, Vincent. You don’t.”

He took a breath.

“The DNA report was real. Sophia admitted everything. The baby is Marco’s.”

I nodded.

“I already knew.”

His expression changed.

“You knew before I did?”

“That’s why I left the report.”

He stared at me.

“Why didn’t you confront me?”

I looked directly into his eyes.

“Because I was tired of presenting evidence to a man who had already decided not to believe his wife.”

Vincent looked as if I had struck him.

“I never wanted to lose you.”

I laughed softly.

“Then why did you make it so easy?”

He reached for my hand.

I stepped back.

“Please don’t.”

His hand fell.

“I can fix this. We can start over.”

“There’s nothing to start over, Vincent.”

“Claire, I still love you.”

For several seconds, I simply watched him.

Then I answered quietly.

“You loved having me. You loved knowing I would always be waiting at home. But you stopped loving the person standing in front of you a long time ago.”

His eyes reddened.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life making this right.”

I opened the folder on my desk and slid a document toward him.

It was the acquisition agreement.

Bennett Holdings had officially purchased a controlling interest in his shipping division.

Vincent stared at the signature.

Then he looked at me.

“You’re buying my company?”

“I’m buying a business opportunity. Nothing more.”

“You knew this would happen?”

I shook my head.

“I didn’t come to Seattle to destroy you. I came here to rebuild myself.”

He stood motionless.

Then he asked the question I knew he had been afraid to ask.

“Is there someone else?”

I looked toward the rain-covered windows.

“There’s someone I need to become before I think about loving anyone again.”

Vincent nodded slowly.

For once, he had no argument.

As he reached the door, I spoke one final time.

“Vincent.”

He turned.

“Congratulations on becoming a father.”

His eyes filled with tears.

I continued.

“But don’t confuse the child with the lie. That little boy deserves a chance at a good life. Whatever happened between you and Sophia is not his fault.”

Vincent lowered his head.

Then he walked out.

I returned to my desk and looked at the photograph of my father.

For five years, I had believed losing Vincent would mean losing everything.

I had been wrong.

I hadn’t lost everything.

I had simply lost the man who never understood what he had.

And now, for the first time, I was free to decide what my future would look like.

The last gift I gave Vincent was the truth.

The greatest gift I gave myself was the freedom to walk away.

The End.