Chapter 35

The arrival of the SEC agent sent shockwaves through the already tense gathering. Reginald's face paled further as he stepped forward to address the newcomer.

"I'm Reginald Blackwood," he said, his voice strained. "Perhaps we should discuss this in my office."

As Reginald led the agent away, Damien turned his attention back to Sophia. "You still haven't answered my question. Why are you here?"

Sophia squared her shoulders, meeting Damien's gaze. "I came to understand where I came from. To see the family I never knew existed."

Vivi watched the exchange, feeling like an outsider in her own home. She glanced between Damien and Sophia, noting the similarities in their features - the same sharp jawline, the same intense eyes.

"Maybe we should all sit down," Vivi suggested, trying to diffuse the tension. "There's clearly a lot to discuss."

Reluctantly, Damien and Sophia followed Vivi into the living room. They sat in uncomfortable silence, the weight of unspoken questions hanging heavy in the air.

After what felt like an eternity, Sophia spoke. "I know this is difficult for all of you. It's not easy for me either. But I'm not here to disrupt your lives or make claims on anything. I just... I needed to know."

Damien leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "And what exactly do you think you know? Because from where I'm sitting, you're just a stranger who's shown up out of nowhere, claiming to be family."

"Damien," Vivi admonished softly, but Sophia held up a hand.

"It's alright," she said. "I understand his skepticism. I have documentation - letters, photos, even DNA test results. I'm not trying to deceive anyone."

The tension in the room was palpable as they continued to talk, each revelation bringing new waves of emotion. Vivi found herself in the role of mediator, trying to keep the peace between the newly discovered siblings.

The living room fell into an uneasy silence as Sophia's words hung in the air. Vivi glanced between Damien and his newly discovered half-sister, watching their faces for any sign of acceptance or rejection.

Damien ran a hand through his hair, his brow furrowed in thought. "I need to see this documentation," he said finally. "And we'll need to verify it independently."

Sophia nodded, reaching for her bag. "Of course. I brought copies of everything."

As she spread the papers across the coffee table, Vivi couldn't help but lean in for a closer look. There were old photographs, yellowed with age, showing a much younger Reginald with a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Sophia. Letters in Reginald's handwriting spoke of a secret affair and a child he couldn't acknowledge.

Damien's jaw clenched as he scanned the documents. "This doesn't prove anything," he muttered, but his voice lacked conviction.

Vivi placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Damien, I think we need to consider the possibility that Sophia is telling the truth."

Before he could respond, the sound of raised voices drifted from Reginald's office. The SEC agent's stern tone cut through the walls, followed by Reginald's panicked protests.

Sophia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I should go," she said, gathering her things. "This isn't the right time."

"Wait," Vivi found herself saying. "Whatever's happening with Reginald... it affects all of us now. Maybe you should stay."

Damien shot her a sharp look, but Vivi held firm. She couldn't explain it, but something told her that Sophia's presence was important.

The office door burst open, and Reginald stumbled out, his face ashen. The SEC agent followed, his expression grim.

"I'm afraid Mr. Blackwood is under arrest for securities fraud and insider trading," the agent announced. "We'll need to ask all of you some questions as well."

The room fell into stunned silence as the gravity of the situation sank in. Vivi's mind raced, trying to process the sudden turn of events. She glanced at Damien, whose face had hardened into an unreadable mask.

Reginald, looking defeated, slumped into a nearby chair. "I... I can explain," he stammered, but the SEC agent cut him off.

"You'll have plenty of time to explain at the station, Mr. Blackwood. For now, I need everyone to remain here while we conduct our initial investigation."

As the agent began questioning Reginald, Vivi found herself drawn to Sophia. The young woman stood awkwardly to the side, clearly unsure of her place in this unfolding drama.

"I'm sorry," Sophia whispered. "I didn't mean to cause all this trouble. I just wanted to know my family."

Vivi nodded sympathetically. "It's not your fault. This... situation with Reginald would have come to light eventually."

Damien paced the room, his agitation growing with each step. "How could he be so stupid?" he muttered. "Everything we've worked for..."

Vivi approached him cautiously. "Damien, I know this is a shock, but we need to stay calm and figure out what to do next."

He turned to her, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and fear. "What's there to figure out? My father's going to jail, our company's reputation is ruined, and apparently, I have a long-lost sister. It's over, Vivi. Everything's falling apart."

Before Vivi could respond, another SEC agent entered the room, carrying a stack of files. "We're going to need access to all financial records and communications for the past five years," he announced.

As the agents began their methodical search of the house, Vivi felt a sense of unreality wash over her. Just hours ago, her biggest concern had been navigating her complicated feelings for Damien. Now, she found herself at the center of a scandal that threatened to destroy everything the Blackwood family had built.

She watched as Damien retreated to a corner, his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke in hushed tones, likely to the company's lawyers. Sophia hovered uncertainly nearby, looking lost and out of place.

Vivi's mind whirled as she tried to make sense of the chaos unfolding around her. The once-grand Blackwood mansion now felt like a prison, with SEC agents combing through every room and questioning everyone in sight.

She watched as Damien paced back and forth, his face a mask of barely contained fury. He barked orders into his phone, demanding updates from the company's legal team. Sophia, still reeling from the revelation of her true parentage, sat quietly in a corner, looking lost and overwhelmed.

Reginald remained in custody, his usual confident demeanor shattered. The weight of his deception hung heavy in the air, suffocating any remnants of the family's former glory.

As the hours ticked by, Vivi found herself thrust into an unexpected role. With Reginald detained and Damien consumed by damage control, she became the de facto caretaker of the household. She fielded calls from concerned relatives, redirected persistent reporters, and tried to maintain some semblance of normalcy for the shell-shocked staff.

"Mrs. Blackwood," one of the SEC agents approached her, "we'll need access to your personal financial records as well."

Vivi nodded numbly, realizing that her own life was now under scrutiny. She led the agent to her study, grateful for a moment of respite from the tension downstairs.

As she unlocked her filing cabinet, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. How had her life come to this? Just days ago, her biggest worry had been navigating her complicated feelings for Damien. Now, she was embroiled in a financial scandal that threatened to tear apart the very foundations of her new family.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Sophia stood there, looking uncertain.

"I... I don't know where else to go," she said softly. "Can I stay here for a bit?"

Vivi hesitated for a moment, then nodded. As Sophia settled into a nearby chair, Vivi felt a strange mix of emotions. This young woman, thrust so suddenly into their lives, was now as much a victim of Reginald's deceit as the rest of them.