Hera was at a loss standing there as Daman just left. He didn't even bother to say anything of value to her. He'd just left. She couldn't help the sob that escaped from her. Her whole life shattered into pieces within 5 minutes.

Her husband, a duke, betrayed her and then to find out the her entire exisntence is in fact a lie. That she in fact was not an Uzayr. What the hell was going on? With shaky hands Hera went to the kitchen and found herself a bottle of water before taking a seat and trying to calm herself. She could literally feel the physical pain in her chest.

10 minutes had passed and Hera sat like a statue, not making a sound. She didn't know what to do and what to even think. All that she knew was that her heart was completely shattered, the pain felt this time was unlike anything else.

Shakily Hera reached for phone calling one person that she knew she could trust. Thankfully Tina answered on the first ring and was greeted with Hera crying. Not even bothering to ask what was wrong, Tina immediately left to be there for her friend. Hera got to packing an small bag. Absolutely no way could she stay here knowing that everything was a lie.

Hera managed to find her way to the car with her vision still blurry. She just couldn't stop crying. It hurt too much. Tina didn't question anything, at least no yet but looking at Hera break into tiny pieces had her extremely worried.

"Pullover, Tina please," she looked at Hera with immense concern since she was dry heaving heavily. Hera's chest felt constricted and she was struggling to breathe. Her eyes were blurry because of the fresh non-stop tears that had formed again and Hera just wanted to feel numb at this point.

Deep breath in, and deep breath out...

"Tina, pullover now," Hera demanded again.

Tina took to the curb and pulled over. Looking over to her best friend, her face etched full of worry as she pressed the hazards button on the car. "Hera?"

Hera yanked the door open and quickly ran to the nearest trash bin and emptied out her guts. Everything, coming out of her.

***

2 days later and Hera was in Youssef's office quarters in Abu Dhabi waiting until he was done with a client. She sat patiently bearing a headache and feeling the waves of sadness reach her ever minute. She held onto her handbag tightly needed evidently showing her nervousness. What was she to make of her life, of her identity now?

"Hera? You may go in..." Youssef's receptionist said pleasantly and smiled at her. Hera looked at the ground as she walked in scared for what as to come.

When Hera saw Youssef, he looked perfectly fine. His new married life was doing him well and he only looked younger. Youssef had a sweet smile gracing his face and went in to hug Hera to greet her. She only slightly reciprocated, although reluctantly. Hera pulled away fast and stepped back.

Looking at him, her heart ached. 25 years of a lie. From both Ruwayda and him? It seemed surreal yet it was true.

Hera could not help thinking about that last text from her mother all those weeks ago. Blatant lies from the get go.

-Hope all is well. Remember, Youssef won'thesitate to help out. He is your father.

Hera took a seat and Youssef did as well sensing the can of worms that was about to be opened. "The truth..." Hera whispered with glassy eyes and looked at the glass desk diverting her gaze.

(A few months earlier)

"Come on, Youssef. I've been doing business with you for over 2 years now," explained Daman calmly as he reclined on the large leather chair across from Youssef's office table. He crossed his one leg over the other exuding his dominating stance.

The view that served them through the glass windows was phenomenal being the panoramic view of the glistening waters of Abu Dhabi. The middle east was one for sore eyes but the heat was getting to him. It wasn't as unbearable as Kuwait, but Daman ran from the country when it got too hot. Having a childhood combined in London hadn't made him very immune to the extensive warmth bestowed upon the middle east.

Daman sighed as Youssef served him a glass of scotch, clinking the glass with him as he settled in the adjacent chair.

"I know, Daman. I know. But I cannot give you what you are asking for."

The duke gritted his teeth in annoyance. Why was this so difficult all of a sudden. Why was Youssef hanging on to those properties? It was no use to him. He was a real estate developer. Not a shipping magnate unlike the duke. What did Youssef possibly need those ports and shipping yards for.

Hastily, Daman stood up and went in front of Youssef leaning on the desk. Perhaps he needed to present his business plan a little bit better.

Taking a swig of his drink, Daman gulped the amber coloured liquid in one go needing the liquid courage. He was fighting hard for a few months trying to convince Youssef. But the stubborn man always had the last say.

"Look, I'll pay you triple the valued price along with whatever commission you demand. I need those ports, Youssef. My cargos have to do a route turnover simply because we don't have access to the ports in question. Perishable goods go bad and I'm responsible for remuneration. It exhausts my resources every time that has to happen. I just need those 3 land areas. Come on. You'll be selling to a reputable entity. You know I'll make the most of it."

All Youssef did was smile at the desperate duke. "Look son, I don't give a shit that you're a duke. I've said no. Besides, the ports are not for sale anymore. They actually never were."

Daman growled out loud in frustration as his hands flew up in aggravation. "You're fucking kidding me right."

"Not at all," Youssef drawled out and walked over to his bookshelf picking up a folder and handing it to the duke - solely for the purpose of aggravating him some more. Youssef, quite frankly, enjoyed a royal begging him. "The ports are stagnant at the moment. I'm still figuring out what to do with them."

As Daman flipped through the pages, he grimaced at the extremely high price quoted for the ports. Damn Youssef and damn his real estate tricks.

"If they're stagnant, sell them to me!" Daman was past begging at this point. It was absolutely crucial he got his hands on them. Those ports were his pots of gold.

"No can do, son."

Daman looked down at the ground and shook his head, frustrated and angry at how the situation was panning out. "What would it take, Youssef? Name your price."

"You see, Daman, I'm a selfish man. I know that the yards have a value that is unmatchable as time passes. The asset value of the ports are more than sustainable so don't be stupid to think I'll let go of that wealth."

Youssef went over to the office bar and poured himself another double neat. "I want that wealth to stay in my family. As you know, all my personal properties are sold to my family and as the head of the Uzayr's I can't have any generational wealth escaping. Especially not the ports. I'm actually thinking about handing them to one of my girls. But for now, they stay with me. That's how we normal people stay rich. Keep the wealth in the family."

Daman scoffed as unruly as he possibly could as Youssef's remark when he eyed him with that last bit. "Please, normal? You can pass of as a fucking sultan for the number of children you have and divorces are your forte. You should have been poor if it wasn't for the prenuptials. How you're still rich is beyond me."

A deep, hearty laugh rumbled from Youssef as he placed his hands on the desk and tentatively looked at the duke. He didn't take offense to anything that Daman had said, the banter between them was like such for all the time they had been working together.

Just then Daman felt the vibrations of his phone on his pocket receiving a valuable email from Ikbal who undoubtedly earned his bonus for the year.

As Daman read the digital file, he smiled like no other. "You lying son of a bitch," Daman said and laughed heartily. "You don't even own them." The duke placed his phone in front of Youssef gesturing for him to read.

"That true?" Daman again asked just for confirmation. He had worked hard and long to get these ports even asking Ikbal to find dirt on Youssef should push come to shove, but instead was greeted with the deed titles that stipulated he wasn't even the owner.

His adopted daughter Hera was.

Youssef sighed but not before grimacing and leaned in his chair somewhat disappointed at being caught out. The generational wealth story was what he told everybody who wanted to buy those ports. It was a routine story for him. Hence the convincing repeat for Daman.

"Well, it's useless of me to deny it now," he said and handing Daman's phone back to him.

"Your adopted daughter, think she'll sell to me?" Daman asked eagerly not even caring who she was or what she did. He just wanted the land for Pete's sake.

Suddenly Youssef groaned frustrated and that peaked Daman's interest.

"There's more this," Daman said jovially and smiled some more. "Tell me."

Youssef ran his hands over his face and finished his liquor in one long shot. "Hera doesn't know she is adopted."

"You don't seem like the adopting type though," the duke voiced out honestly. Youssef was more of a create them yourself type of man.

"Wife number 4, Ruwayda, had a mind-blowing affair. Even I was shocked, because let's face it, I'm no saint but for me to not even pick up on it," Youssef said and laughed at himself. "Hera's biological father, Sameer Alkendi, was my biggest business rival. Constant blows at each other pulling in properties each of us wanted just to show off. Sameer owned those ports. Eventually, since Ruwayda was my receptionist, he got hold of her behind my back. I don't know how long they were together for but then news got out that he was killed in a construction site. I honestly thought Hera was my own until Ruwayda came clean and left. Guilt was too much for her and I opted to adopt Hera knowing that Ruwayda would be as useless as she was in bed," Youssef said nonchalantly seemingly over the events that had occurred.

Daman intrigued by the story started evaluating things. "So, if I'm thinking correctly, this Sameer guy knew Hera was his and left her the land in his will or something?"

Youssef nodded slightly. "They were a bluff. Before he died, he filed for bankruptcy. Those ports needed so much maintenance over the years of which I pulled through there." Youssef once again sighed and he hated the constant battles that came with these properties and opened his drawer and pulled out a list. "Daman there are over 40 names on standby waiting for these properties. Multiple offers everyday."

"I don't want Hera to know just yet that these are hers. She's doing well for herself as a lawyer in London and if word gets out she's the sole owner, these sharks will go for her one way or another. I'm protecting her by doing this. From all my daughters, she's the most sensitive. I know she'll crumble if she knows that she is a product of an affair that ruined 3 lives at the time," Youssef said in all honestly.

Daman skimmed over the list recognising some sharp business names that he himself had competition with. Various enterprises, estates, corporations offered massive amounts. Whoever this Hera was, she was one big fish now, Daman thought to himself.

Glancing at the name of a very popular American shipping magnate, Daman had to ask, "Why is there no amount from Jackson Packham? How much did he offer?"

Youssef chuckled at that. "Marriage. Marriage in community of property so that he'd also be entitled to it. Wouldn't have to pay a cent. Smartass."