Free Read Novels Online Home

Love Deserved (Rock N Roll Heiress Book 3) by Kelli McCracken (24)

Epilogue

~Mia~

My knee bounced as I sat on the sofa inside my family’s lawyer’s office. I wasn’t nervous about speaking with Jarrett Michaels. He had been the family lawyer since I turned sixteen. What had me on the edge of my seat anxiously waiting to see him was the fact that he wouldn’t divulge the information he had to share over the phone. Whatever news he had, it was colossal.

Shaelee’s whimper drew my attention to her and Ayden. He sat beside me holding our daughter as he tried to rock her to sleep. It was hard to believe she was already two and a half months old. She still looked tiny when she was in her daddy’s hands.

Across the room, Andi and Bentley chatted with my father. She’d come with me on several occasions to speak with Jarrett about work-related legal matters. Bentley and Ayden were just along for the ride. We planned to go out to lunch once we finished here.

I gazed at my father again as my heart pinched. The man had lost so much in his lifetime. Losing my mother was the hardest thing. To think she’d been taken from him over a pack of lies.

My stomach flipped.

The door to Jarrett’s office opened as he walked into the waiting room. “Hello, everyone. Thank you for patience. I was on a phone call verifying the last bit of information I have to discuss with you. Would you all please follow me into the conference room?”

One by one, we stood and made our way to the room. Inside, we found seats around the large oval table. Ayden kept Shaelee in his arms as we sat beside each other. I assumed he wanted me to be free to sign papers if Jarrett had something that needed my signature.

Andi sat beside me as Bentley took the seat beside her and my father. Once everyone was seated, we focused on Jarrett, who opened a file in front of him.

“Before we begin, let me just say that I have verified as much of this information as possible. What I’m about to tell you is, without a doubt, true and undeniable.”

“You’re beginning to worry me, Jarrett.” My father had humor in his voice, but I knew it was just a cover-up to how he really felt. He was nervous. I could tell by the way he twisted his wedding ring on his finger. Even though it had been years since my mother passed, he never removed his ring.

“Trust me, Shane. The information I’m about to hand you is far better than you could hope to receive.”

“Okay then. Out with it, man. You have us on the edge of our seats.”

Jarrett nodded. “Approximately one month ago, Selena Giles met her fate. She passed away in the Arizona Correctional Complex around seven a.m.”

“That is . . . unfortunate.” My father’s gaze moved to the table as he placed his hands atop it. “What does her death have to do with us?”

Jarret peeked over the paper in his hands and glanced toward my dad and then me. “According to the letter I received from her lawyer, Selena Giles made some deathbed confessions.”

“If this is about Izzy, let me stop you from going any further.” Dad regarded me before he looked at Jarrett. “The results of the DNA test I had performed a couple months ago came back in April. I know I’m not biologically Izzy’s father.”

“That’s correct. It was one of Selena’s confessions before she died.”

My dad’s forehead wrinkled as he frowned at Jarrett. “You said it was one of her confessions. What else did she share?”

“After you brought the paternity issue to me a few months ago, I decided to search into this situation further.” Handing my father one of the papers from the file he had, Jarrett cleared his throat before he continued, “It appears that Selena was ready for you if you asked for a DNA test. She had a way to cheat the tests if you ever asked for proof.”

“How?” Dad waited for Jarrett to answer.

“It seems that Selena kept your wife doped up so she wouldn’t know what was happening. In fact, she drugged your wife the night she gave birth. Your wife had no idea what really happened.”

“And you do?” I didn’t mean to sound rude with my question, but the news Jarrett delivered to us was hard to process. I was skeptical of everything.

Jarrett tapped his fingers against the folder in front of him. He observed me a moment before nodding his head. “Selena confessed that the night you were born, your mother delivered you, but she delivered another baby too.”

Every nerve in my body tingled. “Are you saying I have a twin?”

“Yes. Selena sold the child to a couple on the black market. They couldn’t have children, and due to the husband’s previous suicide attempts, they couldn’t adopt. After getting in contact with Selena, she promised them a child and said it would be available in a few weeks.”

“Morgan never said anything about knowing she was pregnant with twins. She couldn’t have known.” My father raked his fingers through his hair and released a breath. “So you’re saying I have another child out there who was adopted by this couple?”

“Yes. Selena made a deal with them to have access to the child’s DNA. She had been planning to claim you as her child’s father all along, and this was the way she could fake a test,” Jarrett answered.

My father gripped the arms of his chair and leaned forward. “Are you sure about this?”

“It’s why you’re here. I had one of the private investigators I work with track down this couple and interview them. Unfortunately, both the husband and wife have died. After some digging, we were able to locate the file they kept on the adoption. Shane, we tracked down the child they received from Selena.”

“Did you tell this person who they are?” Dad folded his hands in his lap and spun his thumbs in a circle. I wanted to tell him everything would be okay, but I was as stunned as he was to learn the truth.

“I haven’t spoken with this person. They have no clue about this because my investigator was able to collect some DNA without their knowledge. We tested it against yours.”

Jarrett’s explanation had my dad snorting. “Are you talking about the sample I used for the DNA test I had performed on Izzy and me?”

“Yes. The results came in yesterday, so I spent yesterday and today confirming everything. You can have another test done to double-check that the information is correct, but I was thorough.”

“So I have another child out there. Who? Is it a girl or boy? Do they know I’m their father?”

Jarrett laughed as my dad shot off one question after the next. It was easy to see how excited he was to learn he had another child. I couldn’t deny being any less thrilled. Izzy hated me all of her life. Was it possible that I had a sibling who might actually care about me as much as I did them?

“Shane, I need you to take a deep breath. In fact, everyone in the room should take one.” As we all did as he asked, Jarrett pointed to the paper he handed my father. “The name of your child is in that letter.”

My father lifted the sheet of paper and began reading it. We sat in silence as anticipation built inside me. I couldn’t wait to find out who my sibling was. More than that, I was about to find out if I had a twin brother or sister.

A few seconds later, the paper fell from my father’s hands. He covered his mouth with the other and stared blankly. “I can’t believe this.”

“Dad? What’s wrong?”

He tried to answer me, but no words came out of his mouth. After several seconds of trying to respond to me, he finally stood and walked over to the chair where I was seated. Then he handed me the letter.

“You won’t believe this unless you read it yourself.”

Taking the letter in my hand, I began reading the regular jargon the letter contained. It was similar to the one Ayden received. When I came to the part where the child was announced, I had to flip to the second page. As soon as I read the name, it hit me.

“Oh, My God.” Covering my mouth, I glanced at my father. “This is real?” Once he nodded, we both glanced at the person beside me. Andi’s brows knitted as confusion covered her face.

“What’s wrong? Do I know this person?”

“Better than anyone.” I laughed at the thought. No wonder we were always close. “It’s you, Andi. According to the DNA test, you’re my twin sister—fraternal—but a twin nonetheless.”

It took a minute for the news to sink in, but once it did, Andi’s eyes welled with tears. My father handed her the letter that verified the information we just learned. As she read it, she covered her mouth with a shaking hand.

“Bernadette and Alan Williams were my adoptive parents. I knew I was adopted, but I never knew who my birth mother was. I always assumed it was some woman who was too young to care for me.”

Dad placed his hand on her shoulder as she gazed at him. “You were a victim like we were, Andi.”

A wide range of emotions hit my best friend. I could see how excited she was to learn the truth. We’d always felt like sisters more than Izzy and me. Guess this explained why. Still, I knew the news had to upset her to a point. It wasn’t that she didn’t want it to be true. Andi’s entire life had been a lie.

“I can’t believe this. I wish . . .” Her voice cracked as tears formed. “If only I had known Morgan was my mother. I would have spent more time with her before she died.”

“At least you had a chance to meet her and get to know her. She loved you, Andi. It’s why she asked Dad if you could live with us when you were younger.”

“Do you think my adoptive mom knew where I came from? After all, she was one of Morgan’s dancers.”

“Both of your parents were good people.” My father placed his hand on Andi’s back and patted it. “If they had known, they would have returned you.”

“I guess in a way they did. It’s why I ended up at Music Haven after they died.” Andi gazed at our father just as he motioned her to stand. As soon as she did, he wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to his chest. “I may have gone through hell when I lost your mother, and I went through a lot of hell while raising a child that wasn’t mine. But to find out I have a daughter as kind and wonderful as you. . . The pain and suffering were worth it.”

Andi hugged our father just as tightly as he did her. They had a special moment that I admired. Nothing about it made me jealous. If anything, I was happy to share my father with my best friend.

As soon as they broke their embrace, Andi’s arms went around my neck. “I guess this is why we’ve always felt more like sisters than friends. We really are related.”

“I’m glad it’s you, Andi. You’ve always been more than a friend. You’ve been by my side for as long as I can remember. That’s what a real sister does.”

We hugged for what seemed like forever, just crying and laughing about the many things we’d experienced over the years and how we should have known back then that we were related. None of it mattered now. The one person who’d caused so much pain in my life was finally out of it. The child she lost wasn’t my niece or nephew, but it had been Wesley’s kid. I felt sorry for him in that aspect, but I wouldn’t dwell on it.

I smiled as Ayden and Bentley joined our celebration. My life was finally complete. I had a sister I adored, a father who was back in my life, and a husband that loved me. Best of all, I had a beautiful baby girl to raise. One day she would inherit Music Haven, and I would be the one teaching her how to run the business. It was everything I ever wanted.

Music Haven was a place where dreams came true. I made sure it happened for others. Fate made sure it happened for me.

The End

* * *

Coming Soon: Rock-N-Roll Heiress Prequel. Visit for details.

Search

Search

Friend:

Popular Free Online Books

Read books online free novels

Hot Authors

Sam Crescent, Zoe Chant, Mia Madison, Lexy Timms, Flora Ferrari, Alexa Riley, Claire Adams, Sophie Stern, Leslie North, Amy Brent, Elizabeth Lennox, Jenika Snow, C.M. Steele, Frankie Love, Madison Faye, Jordan Silver, Mia Ford, Kathi S. Barton, Michelle Love, Bella Forrest, Delilah Devlin, Dale Mayer, Amelia Jade, Sarah J. Stone, Alexis Angel,

Random Novels

Shot at Love: Renegades 8 (The Renegades Hockey Series) by Melody Heck Gatto

The Dragon's Pet by Loki Renard

Honey (Full Throttle Series) by Hazel Parker

The Vampire's Secret Baby (Bound by Fate Book 2) by Jasmine Wylder

His Hand-Me-Down Countess: The Lustful Lords, Book 1 by Sorcha Mowbray

by Mara Lynne

Softhearted (Deep in the Heart Book 2) by Kim Law

Bleeding Love by Harper Sloan

His Guilt: A Mafia Romance (Downing Family Book 6) by Cassie Wild

His Cocky Cellist (Undue Arrogance Book 2) by Cole McCade

Kiss Me Forever (Dreamspun Beyond Book 17) by M.J. O'Shea

Korus (Warriors Of Cadir) by Stella Sky

Her Hero Was A Bear: A Paranormal Werebear Romance (Bears With Money Book 5) by Amy Star, Simply Shifters

The Perks of Hating You ( Perks Book 2) by Stephanie Street

Getting Rowdy: A Club Irons Novel (Irons Series) by Drew Sera

Mack's Witness (Hearts & Heroes Book 2) by Elle James

All the Little Children by Jo Furniss

Malcolm and Icelyn's Story (Uoria Mates V Book 4) by Ruth Anne Scott

Corps Security in Hope Town: Deliverance (Kindle Worlds Novella) by S.R. Watson

Come Back To Me: The Crimson Vampire Coven (The Crimson Coven Book 15) by B.A. Stretke