CHAPTER 272: RAW AND UNSTOPPABLE (6)

Benjamin’s POV

"I’m confused," Vicky said, her brows knitting together. "You said you were sure Reagan was your son, but then you told me earlier he’s not your son. Dad, you’re not making any sense at all!"

Her voice had softened; the anger from earlier was gone, replaced by that same restless curiosity she’s always had. My little girl, always wanting to understand everything—even when the truth might hurt.

I took a slow breath. "I only found out the truth years later," I said quietly. "Just before my grandfather died, he confessed to me what really happened that night."

The air in the room felt heavier, thicker.

"When I left Violet in that motel," I continued, my throat tightening, "she woke up and ran after me. It was dark. Some drunk men found her on the street and—" I had to pause, the words catching. "They hurt her, Vicky. They... violated her."

"And up to this day, I cannot forgive myself for that. I was a total jerk, an asshole!" I said, guilt crawling up to me again.

Her lips parted, a quiet gasp escaping before she could stop it.

"She was taken to the hospital by strangers," I went on. "The hospital staff called my grandparents since Violet didn’t want her own family to know. My grandparents swore to keep it a secret. But when they found out she was pregnant, they didn’t know what to do."

I rubbed my temples, the memory still bitter after all these years. "My father knew I’d taken her to a motel, the driver told him, but he didn’t know what happened afterward. He thought the baby was mine. So he arranged the marriage. Forced it, really."

Vicky sat perfectly still, her hands clutched over her knees.

"When my grandfather told me the truth, I was already married to Violet. I felt... guilty. Ashamed. I wanted to make it right, to be a good husband to her, even if my heart was still with Prudence. I tried, Vicky. I really did. I blamed myself for what happened to her. If I didn’t leave her in that motel that night, that nasty thing wouldn’t have happened to her."

I swallowed hard, forcing the next words out. "Then my father expanded the business, bought new ships, and gave one to me to command—a beautiful vessel, to just, you know, try it first since it’s brand new. Said it was an honor, a short assignment, three months tops. Violet and I agreed she’d visit her parents with Reagan while I sailed. Things between us were calm then."

I paused, letting the memory wash over me. The smell of salt, the sound of waves—the illusion of peace before everything changed.

"But in the last month of that term of service, one of my crew got sick and had to be replaced. And the person who boarded the ship to take his place was Prudence."

Vicky’s eyes widened.

"Neither of us knew," I said softly. "But once we saw each other... everything I’d buried came rushing back. Every feeling. Every regret. And it was the same for her. We were reckless. We promised that it would only last until the voyage ended—that when we docked, I’d go home to Violet and she’d go her own way. That we’d forget it ever happened. And so we did. We never contacted each other."

I looked down at my hands. "And I did come home. I went back to Violet. We had Liam. But Prudence... she had Nick, whom she kept from me and decided to raise on her own."

Silence. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner and the ticking of the wall clock.

"I thought that was the end of it," I said finally. "Until years later, I learned my father had Reagan’s DNA tested while preparing his last will. He wanted to make sure everything was settled before he died, just in case."

I exhaled shakily, meeting Vicky’s stunned gaze. "That was when the truth came out."

When I got home, my father was waiting. The moment I walked through the door, he exploded—furious, pacing the room, shouting at Violet for deceiving us all those years. His voice echoed through the house. I still remember the way Violet stood there, shaking, clutching the edge of the table as if it could hold her together.

She didn’t even try to defend herself. She didn’t know either. She had only hoped Reagan was mine—because everything had happened in one night.

I told them both to stop. I told my father I already knew there was a chance Reagan wasn’t my blood, but that it didn’t matter. I gave that boy my name. I raised him. He’s mine, no matter what the papers say. I said I’d stand by Violet because what happened to her was my fault, and I’d live with that for the rest of my life.

My father eventually calmed down. He said he’d accept Reagan as part of the family—but he would never be heir to the Knight Group. "He doesn’t carry our blood," he told me, cold and final. I didn’t argue.

Years later, I crossed paths with Prudence again. She was working onshore that time because of Nick. When my father found out, he ordered another DNA test—this time for Nick. And when the results came back, he decided to name Nick as his heir. Said it was only right.

I paused, studying Vicky’s face. Her jaw was tense, eyes clouded with thought. She didn’t speak, just waited for me to continue.

"Sarah was originally promised to Reagan," I said quietly. "But her parents told me Sarah had feelings for Nick. None of them knew about this secret, and I have no intention of ever telling them. This stays between you and me."

Vicky’s eyes flicked toward me, uncertain.

"I wanted to keep ties with the Meyers," I continued, "because I didn’t want Reagan to feel left out. Legally, he’s my firstborn. To the world, he’s still a Knight. I can’t take that away from him—and I won’t drag Violet’s shame into the light.

"So if Reagan marries Sarah, her father will pass his company down to them. It’s a good match. He can build his own legacy there, while the Knight Group stays with Nick, Liam, and you."

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "Please, Vicky. Let him have this. Reagan’s been in love with Sarah for years. That’s why I proposed the marriage in the first place. You saw how broken he was when Sarah chose Nick. He’s carrying enough pain already."

Her lips parted, but I spoke before she could. "He knows the truth, Vicky. He knows he’s not my real son. So I’m asking you—be kind. Let him choose his path. If he crashes and burns, let it be his fight to face. All we can do is stand behind him... and make sure he knows he’s never alone."