Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask novel Chapter 495

495 Chapter 91 Stolen Baby Secret

Daniel’s POV 1

The moment Lila drifted into sleep, I slipped back into the living room. An important discussion with her brother couldn’t wait any longer.

“I’ve witnessed plenty of brutal things in my years working between the police and our families, but what this woman does to Lila crosses every line,” I stated firmly, settling into the leather couch in Beckett’s penthouse

office.

“It was even more savage before,” Beckett replied, his voice heavy with old pain. “Lila would receive vicious beatings for the smallest infractions against Claire’s twisted rules. When she was young, Claire thrashed her with a leather belt for accidentally knocking over some antique piece during a family gathering. Her body was covered in buckle marks for an extended period. Claire always threatened worse punishment if she told our father about the family discipline. I’d already moved out to handle our overseas operations by then, only discovered it when I noticed Lila wearing long sleeves during summer heat at the compound. I nearly went after Claire myself when I found out, but my father returned from his business trip, and we had a massive confrontation. Lila begged me not to tell him anything.”

“That incident wasn’t isolated,” Katarina added softly from her position near the window. “It wasn’t the first time, the last time, or even the worst. I’m constantly amazed that Lila grew into such a compassionate person despite everything she endured in that house.”

“Shortly before she finally escaped that compound, Claire had beaten her with a wooden cane from grandfather’s study. When she left for college, her back was still marked from the assault,” Beckett continued, lost in

495 Chapter 91 Stolen Baby Secret

painful recollections of his family’s internal warfare.

Bile rose in my throat as disgust washed over me. “Your father never discovered these beatings?” I asked incredulously.

“Never. His marriage to Claire is miserable, so he buries himself in managing our legitimate businesses across the city. Lila refused to tell him and wouldn’t let me say anything either. I was terrified of what Claire might do to her if I spoke up and she remained under that roof.”

“Why not report it to authorities?” I demanded, though I already

answer in our world.

suspected

“Becau

cha

olice captain’s wife is Claire’s closest friend from their That captain would do anything his wife asked, including any Sullivan family business or Justin’s messes with other Beckett’s expression revealed his helplessness within the web of

tion.

me about your biological mother,” I pressed. “She died during dbirth, but was there an autopsy by the family doctor?”

No autopsy. My father couldn’t bear it. We had left the estate that morning for a meeting, with my mother staying home with the trusted housekeeper. The baby wasn’t expected for some time. When we returned from the negotiations, the housekeeper said mother went into labor suddenly. There wasn’t time to fetch our family physician from his practice downtown.”

Beckett paused, collecting himself. “She called a midwife instead, someone

Claire supp

manage

shor

die

her previous work in our money

by was stillborn, and my mother died

his doctor friend who determined she y apparently suffocated with the

Its neck.

<

495 Chapter 91 Stolen Baby Secret

“Nathaniel still blames himself for not being there during the family crisis,” Katarina murmured, squeezing her husband’s hand supportively.

“How did Claire enter the picture in your family’s organization?” I asked.

“She worked in our art acquisition division. My grandfather was still running everything then, managing all our legitimate fronts and underground operations. My parents had separated briefly because my mother suspected infidelity with someone from a rival family. During that time apart, Claire grew close to my father and they were together several times during s trips.”

Beckett’s

things w

everyt

was

d distant. “Father eventually regretted it, ended

nd reconciled with my mother. He confessed

other forgave him. Soon after, mother discovered she hen Claire announced she was pregnant too.”

n–law knew about Claire’s pregnancy,” Katarina interjected. he city, and periodically, Nathaniel’s father would visit her y and check on her condition while maintaining family secrecy.”

ter my mother died, father went to see Claire and discovered iven birth recently. When he returned home, he was already ied to her. That’s when our nightmare began under her reign,” kett finished grimly.

Did your father search for the midwife after the tragedy?” I asked, remembering they’d mentioned her absence when they arrived home.

“He tried. But

without a

“And th

“No

the city completely. Disappeared

in our circles.”

nd she say about that day?”

de funeral, she told father she couldn’t continue ily–too traumatized by what happened–and she quit

495 Chapter 91 Stolen Baby Secret

her position.”

“Do you know where she is now?”

“In the cemetery. Shortly after leaving the estate, she was found in the city river. Police ruled it an accidental drowning, but we know better.”

“How long had she worked for your family’s household?” The circumstances were becoming increasingly suspicious in typical family

fashion.

“Not long

“What

mid

1. Just long enough to gain trust.”

ituation,” Jude commented, eyes wide. “Nobody saw this the housekeeper who conveniently died afterward.”

r something even more disturbing?” Katarina looked between registered Lila with the exact same name as my

in–law’s deceased daughter.”

the baby who died was going to be named Lila?” Jude looked

ified.

xactly. Nothing could persuade her to choose a different name. She insisted, and Lila received the name of her half–sister who died at birth,” Katarina confirmed.

“That woman has serious psychological issues,” Jude muttered, matching my own thoughts about Claire’s obsession.

“Indeed

rath

I

la grew up with this woman as her tormentor ded her whenever possible, but eventually, ompound anymore. Claire’s cruelty

turning my father against me constantly drove me

my grandparents‘ estate upstate. I told them everything ily situation.”

495 Chapter 91 Stolen Baby Secret

“That’s why when my grandfather died, he left nothing to Justin in his will. He believed bad people with money and power only become more dangerous people. He left substantial funds for Lila, plus shares in all our legitimate companies. The same for me, but nothing for Justin or my father. Claire was furious when she discovered this and intensified her mistreatment of Lila, constantly claiming that Lila’s inheritance rightfully belonged to Justin.”

“Their grandfather owned nearly all the family assets,” Katarina

elaborated. “The

most of their

father–in–la

whatever

Beckett

“Ar

companies, urban properties, art collection, and m both legitimate and underground sources. My their city house, a portion of the art business, and working under his father. Everything else belongs to

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