Chapter 34

As Vivi settled into her new role as Mrs. Blackwood, life at the mansion fell into a predictable rhythm. Days passed, then weeks, with Vivi and Damien maintaining a cordial but distant relationship. Reginald, pleased with his wife's attentiveness, showered her with expensive gifts and praise.

One evening, as the family gathered for dinner, an unexpected visitor arrived. The butler announced the presence of a Ms. Elena Kovacs, a name that made Reginald's face pale.

Elena swept into the dining room, her piercing green eyes scanning the faces at the table. She was a striking woman in her late forties, with an air of authority that commanded attention.

"Well, well," she said, her accent hinting at Eastern European origins. "Quite the family portrait you've created here, Reggie."

Reginald stood abruptly, his napkin falling to the floor. "Elena, what are you doing here?"

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Is that any way to greet your sister-in-law? Especially when I've come bearing such... interesting news."

Vivi and Damien exchanged confused glances. Neither had known Reginald had a sister-in-law.

Elena turned her attention to Vivi. "So you're the new Mrs. Blackwood. How charming. Tell me, dear, has Reggie shared much about his past with you?"

Before Vivi could respond, Reginald intervened. "That's enough, Elena. Whatever you've come to say, we can discuss it in private."

"Oh, I don't think so," Elena replied, her tone icy. "You see, what I have to say concerns everyone at this table. Especially young Damien here."

Damien leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"

Elena's smile widened. "Well, my dear boy, it seems your father has been keeping quite a secret. You're not his only child."

The room fell silent as Elena's words hung in the air. Damien's face contorted in shock, while Vivi's eyes darted between Reginald and Elena, searching for answers.

Reginald's composure crumbled. "Elena, please. This isn't the time or place-"

"When is it ever the right time to reveal a decades-long deception?" Elena interrupted, her voice sharp. She turned to Damien. "Your father had an affair with my sister, Katarina, years ago. The result of that affair was a daughter - your half-sister."

Damien stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "That's impossible. Dad, tell her she's lying."

Reginald's silence was damning. He slumped back into his chair, suddenly looking much older than his years.

Vivi found her voice. "Why are you telling us this now?"

Elena's expression softened slightly. "Because Katarina passed away last month. And in her will, she named Reginald as the father of her child. She wanted her daughter to know the truth about her heritage."

The revelation sent shockwaves through the room. Damien paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair. Vivi sat frozen, her mind reeling from this new information.

"Where is she?" Damien demanded. "This... half-sister of mine."

Elena reached into her purse and pulled out a photograph. "Her name is Sophia. She's twenty-two, and she's been living in Paris."

As the photograph was passed around the table, Vivi couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance between Sophia and Damien. They had the same eyes, the same jawline. There was no denying their relation.

Reginald finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I never knew. Katarina never told me she was pregnant. We ended things, and I never heard from her again."

The revelation of Sophia's existence threatened to upend everything. The carefully constructed facade of the Blackwood family was crumbling, and in its place, a web of secrets and lies was being exposed.

The revelation of Sophia's existence sent shockwaves through the Blackwood mansion. For days, an uneasy silence hung over the household as each member grappled with the implications of this newfound family secret.

Vivi found herself caught in the middle of the family drama, unsure of her place in this increasingly complicated web. She watched as Damien withdrew into himself, spending hours locked away in his study, while Reginald seemed to age years overnight.

One evening, as Vivi sat alone in the garden, trying to make sense of it all, she heard the crunch of gravel behind her. Turning, she saw a young woman with familiar eyes approaching.

"You must be Vivi," the woman said, her voice tinged with a slight French accent. "I'm Sophia."

Vivi's heart raced as she stood to greet her unexpected visitor. "How did you-"

"I couldn't stay away after learning the truth," Sophia explained, her gaze sweeping over the grand mansion. "I had to see it for myself. To meet the family I never knew I had."

As they talked, Vivi found herself drawn to Sophia's warmth and intelligence. The young woman shared stories of her life in Paris, her passion for art, and her complicated feelings about the recent revelations.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass. Both women rushed inside to find Damien standing in the foyer, a broken whiskey tumbler at his feet, staring at Sophia with a mix of anger and confusion.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Before Sophia could respond, Reginald appeared at the top of the stairs. His face paled at the sight of his newly discovered daughter.

"Sophia? Are you Sophia?," he breathed, descending the steps slowly. "I... I don't know what to say."

The tension in the room was palpable as the Blackwood family found themselves face to face with the living embodiment of their long-buried secrets. Vivi watched as emotions played across their faces - shock, anger, curiosity, and perhaps even a glimmer of hope.

As the family stood frozen in this tableau, the doorbell rang, shattering the moment. Vivi moved to answer it, grateful for the distraction. She opened the door to find a stern looking woman in a crisp suit standing on the threshold.

"Good evening," the woman said, her tone businesslike. "I'm looking for Reginald Blackwood. I'm from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and we have some urgent questions about his recent business dealings."