After the Fall A Leap into a Stranger's Arms novel Chapter 316

A flicker of pain crossed Nestor’s eyes. “I had the test done this afternoon. The results say she’s my biological daughter.”

Catherine’s heart thudded. A hazy memory rushed back. She lifted her right hand, staring at the faint scar on her palm.

“Dad, when I was fourteen, I was so mad you married Alice. I smashed a glass decoration in my room and cut my hand. Alice came in with tissues and cleaned up the blood for me. I was scared you’d get mad, so I hid it and never told you.”

Nestor’s eyes widened. His chest rose and fell in heavy breaths. “So that bloody tissue Alice gave me, it was yours? Not Shirley’s?”

Catherine nodded as the memory became clear. “Dad, Alice cut Shirley’s palm right in front of you so you’d see the blood and believe it was hers. But she actually kept the tissue she used to wipe my blood.”

Nestor felt a wave of fury and his body shook. This hurt more than anything. The child he’d raised all these years wasn’t his own.

Alice had lied to him, taken his love and his money, and made him push aside his real daughter for her and her child.

His grip tightened on the blanket. A raw, painful groan slipped out.

“That woman…”

“Dad, please calm down.” Catherine rushed to his side, worried. She felt a sting in her heart for her father, seeing him tricked and hurt by Alice’s schemes.

“They’re already married, Dad. It’s too late now,” Catherine added quietly.

Nestor felt overwhelmed, unable to process it all. He cursed himself. He had raised another man’s daughter, even helped her marry into a powerful family. When Shirley almost drowned and was rescued, he’d been so worried he didn’t even go see Catherine.

Looking back, he realized he’d spent years caring for someone who wasn’t his child, while breaking his real daughter’s heart.

“Catherine, I’m so sorry. That day you fell into the sea… If Lawrence hadn’t been there to save you, I would have lost you too. I really failed you.”

“Dad, it was Shirley who pushed me into the water,” Catherine said, her eyes burning with anger. “I’ll make sure she pays for that.”