Chapter 28 - New Beginning

Hope Takes Control

The sun streamed through the large windows of Hope's office, casting a golden glow on the polished wooden desk. The office her office felt surreal. Just months ago, she had been fighting for her place in the Sinclair family, and now, she was the head of Sinclair Holdings.

She exhaled and glanced at the framed photo on her desk her younger self, sitting on Richard's lap, beaming with joy. He had taken her in when she had no one. And now, she was making sure his legacy remained intact.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Liam walked in, holding a stack of documents.

"Morning, boss," he said with a smirk.

Hope chuckled. "That's still weird to hear."

"Well, better get used to it." He set the papers down. "These are the final reports from last quarter. We're already seeing improvements since you took over."

Hope scanned the numbers. The company was stabilizing after Victoria's sabotage. Investors were regaining trust. They were winning.

But then Liam hesitated.

"There's something else," he said, sliding another file across the desk.

Hope opened it and frowned. It was a report on her past.

More specifically, her birth parents.

Her heart pounded. She had spent years accepting that she might never know the truth about where she came from. But now…

She looked up. "Who sent this?"

Liam's expression darkened. "It was delivered anonymously this morning."

Hope swallowed. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this.

But she had come too far to turn back now.

The Mystery of Hope's Past

Later that night, Hope sat in her apartment, the file spread open before her.

It contained hospital records, a birth certificate, and a single photograph.

A woman with warm brown eyes. A man with a strong jawline.

Her parents.

She traced the edges of the photo. Who were they? Why did they leave her?

The answers were within reach.

But she had a feeling that finding them might change everything.

And she wasn't sure if she was ready for that.

Buried Truths

A Step into the Unknown

Hope stood outside a small, weathered house on the outskirts of the city. It was a sharp contrast to the luxury she had grown accustomed to, yet something about it felt strangely familiar. The address had been in the file, along with the names: Daniel and Evelyn Carter.

Her birth parents.

Her heart pounded as she raised her hand to knock. Just as her knuckles touched the wood, the door creaked open.

An older woman with graying hair and tired eyes stood there, staring at Hope as though she had seen a ghost.

"You..." the woman whispered, gripping the doorframe for support.

Hope swallowed. "Are you Evelyn Carter?"

The woman nodded, her eyes welling up.

"I'm Hope. I think... I think I'm your daughter."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Evelyn's lips trembled, and without a word, she pulled Hope into a tight embrace.

A Painful Revelation

Inside the modest home, Hope sat on a faded couch as Evelyn poured tea, her hands shaking.

"I never thought I'd see you again," Evelyn admitted, setting the cups down. "Not after what happened."

Hope frowned. "What do you mean?"

Evelyn let out a shaky breath. "We never abandoned you, Hope. You were taken from us."

Hope's chest tightened. "Taken?"

Evelyn nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Your father and I were young, struggling. We owed money to dangerous people. One night, they came for payment. We didn't have it."

A lump formed in Hope's throat. "So they took me?"

Evelyn wiped a tear away. "Richard Sinclair… he didn't just find you. He rescued you."

Hope's mind reeled. The man who had become her father, who had given her a life she never dreamed of, had saved her from a fate she never knew she was escaping.

Tears welled in her eyes. Richard had never told her.

A New Threat

As Hope processed this revelation, her phone buzzed. It was Liam.

"You need to get back," he said urgently. "Something's happened."

Hope's stomach twisted. "What is it?"

"It's Victoria," he said. "She's trying to take control of Sinclair Holdings again. And this time... she has legal backing."

Hope shot to her feet. She had fought too hard to let Victoria destroy everything.

"I'm on my way," she said.

She turned to Evelyn, her mind still whirling. "I have to go, but I'll be back. I need to know the rest."

Evelyn grasped her hands. "Be careful, Hope. You're stronger than you think."

Hope nodded, determination settling in.

She wasn't just fighting for her place anymore.

She was fighting for her truth.