The Billionaire's Heir I Never Knew Was Mine novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Selling Your Own Daughter?

Evercrest Hospital.

Jenny Adams stood beside the bed as she glanced nervously toward the door.

"Are you sure this will work?" Jenny asked in a low, uneasy voice.

"What if Sienna refuses?" she added, her voice dropping even further.

Jacob Adams lay propped against two pillows, the thin hospital blanket pulled carelessly over his legs.

For a man who was supposedly on the verge of death, he looked remarkably comfortable.

His expression held none of the worry that filled Jenny’s face. Instead, he gave a short, dismissive laugh, the sound rough from years of drinking.

"Refuse?" he chuckled. "That silly girl has been fixing my problems since she was nineteen. You don’t have to worry, she’s soft... Easy to deal with."

"Still, this feels risky," Jenny quietly sighed before continuing, "Brother, you must remember that the Black Scorpion boss isn’t someone we can afford to offend."

Jacob waved a hand impatiently.

"You’re overthinking. I told Sienna I was dying, didn’t I?" His lips curl into a slight smile before he adds, "Of course, she’d return to Evercrest. That girl has always been sentimental about me..."

Jenny hesitated, clearly uncomfortable hearing his brother’s words.

"But Brother, selling your daughter to pay off a gambling debt..." She hesitates, her voice failing her with shame.

Jacob glared at Jenny.

"Don’t make me sound like an evil father. I’m not selling my daughter. I’m only introducing her to someone important who could bring happiness into her life."

He shifted slightly against the pillows and ran his fingers over the stubble along his jaw.

"Besides," he added lazily, "...once boss Juan meets her, my debt will be erased. A beautiful young woman like Sienna is worth much more than what I owe."

Outside the half-open door, Sienna Adams stood perfectly still. Her face appeared calm, but her mind was growing increasingly restless.

At first, she believed she had misunderstood something. Maybe she arrived at the wrong time, overheard a sentence out of context, or imagined the harsh tone in her father’s voice.

But as the conversation continued, the truth became impossible to ignore.

Her father wasn’t dying.

This hospital stay was nothing more than a carefully prepared lie.

The realization settled heavily into her chest, like a stone sinking to the bottom of deep water.

’Father! How could you lie to me?!’

Sienna tightened her grip on the strap of her bag as the meaning of every word she had heard began to rearrange itself into something painfully clear.

Her aunt hadn’t called her back to Evercrest because her father was on his deathbed. But she had called because her father was planning to sell her.

A strange, bitter laugh almost escaped Sienna’s throat. She swallowed it quickly, afraid the sound might betray her presence outside the door.

She shouldn’t be surprised.

After all, this was not the first time her own father had used her to clean up the consequences of his reckless life. Gambling debts, unpaid loans, endless apologies followed by empty promises, she had lived through all of them.

Since she was nineteen, she had done whatever it took to pay off the debts her father had accumulated. Every time, she told herself the same thing. ’Sienna, hang in there. Help him because he’s your only parent.’

Seven years ago, she had even sold her own womb to raise money for him. For nine months, she carried a stranger’s child, suffering from all sorts of illnesses due to the difficult pregnancy. Yet she couldn’t help but love the little boy that grew bigger inside her month after month.

When she finally gave birth, she realized she didn’t want to give him away. But because of the money, she could only give her son one final kiss on his forehead before handing him over to the nurse. It hurt her more than she expected, and she never stopped hoping to know if her son grew up well.

Her father had sworn that this was the last time he would make her suffer like this, and she had foolishly believed him. Only for him to betray her like this!

’Jacob Adams, did you know? I sold my own body, my womb, for you. I carried a stranger’s child just so you could live another day. And now you’re selling me like I’m nothing? To a gangster? To settle your filthy debts?’

She clenched her hand tight, her nails digging into her palms.

Inside the room, Jenny let out a small sigh.

"Brother, I still feel uneasy about this," she admitted. "What if Sienna is angry and runs away after she hears the truth?"

Jacob chuckled quietly.

"Run where? That spoiled girl has nowhere to go. She always comes back eventually." His tone held a confidence that made Sienna’s stomach twist. "Just call her and make sure she’s already here."

Jenny nodded reluctantly and reached for her phone.

A second later, Sienna felt the familiar vibration of her own phone inside her bag.

She slowly pulled it out.

The screen lit up with the caller ID.

Aunt Jenny

Sienna stared at the glowing screen for a moment, her thumb hovering over the answer button.

She always answers every call from her family without hesitation, regardless of where she is or how upset she is with her father.

However, this time, she pressed the side button instead.

The phone fell silent.

Inside the hospital room, Jenny frowned at her screen. "Brother, Sienna is not answering."

Jacob sighs impatiently. "Then stop wasting time and call boss Juan."

"Call him already?" Jenny asked, hesitated.

"Of course." Jacob’s voice carried the same casual indifference as before. "Tell him to send a few men to wait outside the hospital."

"Wait outside?" Jenny asked anxiously.

"If Sienna tries to leave before we talk to her," he replied calmly. "If she runs, they can just grab her and drag her here."

Sienna gasped in shock, and for a moment, the hallway seemed to tilt slightly beneath her feet. Her hand clenched tightly into a fist, and anger flashed in her gaze.

’Jacob Adams! You are so cruel... You even thought of everything. Even my escape!?’

Inside the room, Jacob continued speaking in an almost amused tone. "Don’t worry about her. Once she understands the situation, she’ll calm down. She always does."

Something inside Sienna finally broke.

For years, she had believed that her father still cared about her, and he would change. She had told herself that his mistakes came from weakness rather than cruelty.

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