Novels by Dorchester

Donald stared at the photograph in Michael’s hand, his expression growing darker by the second.The nurse standing in the background had been presumed dead for twenty years. Yet someone had recently delivered mysterious hospital records to Richard’s office, and now her face had appeared in an old photograph connected to the birth of Donald and Michael.It was too much of a coincidence to ignore.“Get the investigator on the phone,” Donald ordered his security chief. “I want everything about this woman. Her real name, her family, her former addresses, and where she might be living now. If she changed her identity, find out what name she is using.”“Yes, sir.”“And send two men to check on Richard. Nobody gets near him without our permission. If he regains consciousness, I want to know immediately.”His security chief hurried away to carry out the instructions.Ivy remained beside Donald, her eyes fixed on the photograph.“Donald, what if this nurse knows which of you was taken from you

For several seconds, Ivy could not move.She stared at Donald, convinced she had misunderstood him."My mother?" she whispered.Donald nodded slowly."Richard said my biological mother was your mother."Ivy shook her head."No. That cannot be true."Donald said nothing."My mother gave birth to me. I grew up with her. I know who my mother is."Her voice trembled as she turned toward Samuel."Tell him he's wrong."Samuel's expression was troubled."Ivy...""Tell him!"Samuel looked at Donald, then back at Ivy."I don't know what happened twenty years ago. But we cannot dismiss what Richard said before he collapsed."Ivy stepped backward."You're all making this up. First, I'm told that Samuel is my biological father. Now I'm being told that Donald and I might have the same mother?"She pressed her hands against her temples."This makes no sense!"Donald immediately approached her."Ivy, look at me."She raised her tearful eyes."How can I look at you? How can I even understand what's h

Donald remained frozen with the phone against his ear long after the call had ended.Ivy moved closer."Donald."He slowly lowered the phone."The man said he was my father."Michael stared at him."Your biological father?"Donald nodded.Richard suddenly spoke."Who?"Donald looked at him."He didn't give his name."Richard's face tightened."But you recognized his voice?""No.""Then how do you know he is your father?""Because he said he knew who my biological parents were."Richard looked toward the letter in Michael's hand."Then the letter may be real."Michael folded the letter carefully."We need to leave."Alexander nodded."Immediately."The hooded man remained where he was.Donald turned toward him."You're coming with us."The man smiled."I expected you to say that."Michael looked at him coldly."Why did you bring us here?""Because I knew the truth was finally going to come out.""You could have told me years ago.""I couldn't.""Why?"The man's expression became seriou

For several seconds, nobody spoke.Donald stared at the man.Then he looked at Michael.Michael looked equally confused."There was only one child?" Donald asked.The man nodded."Yes."Donald shook his head."That is impossible. We have photographs. Birth records. My father admitted that my mother was carrying twins.""Your father believed what he was shown."Donald felt his heart pounding."What are you saying?"The man looked at Michael."Your mother gave birth to one child."Michael's face became pale."Me?"The man nodded."Yes."Donald stepped forward."Then who am I?"The man smiled faintly."That is the question you should have been asking from the beginning."Michael looked at Donald."No."The man continued."Your mother gave birth to a single boy. But your grandfather wanted a second heir."Donald frowned."Why?""Because he wanted an heir who could be controlled."Alexander stepped forward."You're saying Donald was created as a false identity?"The man shook his head."No

"Samuel!"Donald rushed toward the door.Alexander grabbed his arm."Wait."Donald turned sharply."My father is gone.""I know.""We have to find him.""We will. But that's exactly what they want us to do."Donald looked around the room.The security guards were already checking every entrance.Ivy stood beside Michael, her face pale.Richard was staring at the empty chair where Samuel had been sitting only moments earlier."He was right here," Richard whispered.Donald turned toward him."How did nobody see him leave?"Richard shook his head."I don't know."Michael suddenly walked toward the wall."Nobody left through the door."Alexander looked at him."What?"Michael pointed toward the floor."Look."There was a faint trail of dust leading toward the old wooden cabinet.Alexander immediately moved it aside.Behind it was a narrow door.Donald stared."There was a passage here?"Richard looked stunned."This building is over twenty years old. There were several service passages."

Donald spun around."Samuel!"There was no answer.The chair where Samuel had been sitting was empty.Ivy immediately grabbed Donald's arm."He was here just seconds ago."Alexander was already moving."Lock every exit!"The security team rushed through the corridors.Donald looked around the room."How did he disappear?"Michael's face was tense."There must be another entrance."Richard pointed toward the wall."There."Everyone turned.A section of the wooden paneling was slightly open.Alexander pushed it aside.Behind it was a narrow passage.Donald's eyes narrowed."This building has a hidden passage?"Richard nodded slowly."It was part of the original structure.""Where does it lead?""Outside."Donald immediately moved toward it.Alexander stopped him."Wait.""I am going after Samuel.""That's exactly what they want."Donald stared at him."My father-in-law has been taken."Michael stepped forward."I'll go."Donald looked at him."No."Michael frowned."Why?""Because you'r

The day of the business reception finally arrived.The event was being held at the Grand Imperial Hotel, one of the most prestigious venues in Belton. Several influential businesspeople had confirmed their attendance, including executives from major corporations, investment firms, and wealthy family-owned enterprises.For Mac Crawford, the reception presented an opportunity he could not afford to waste.He arrived early, dressed in an expensive black suit. His assistant followed closely behind him, carrying a folder containing information about several companies he hoped to approach.As soon as Mac entered the reception hall, several guests greeted him."Mr. Crawford, it's good to see you.""Your father must be proud of your achievements.""We should arrange a meeting soon. I have an investment opportunity I would like to discuss with the Crawford family."Mac responded confidently, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.This was the environment in which he felt most comfortable.

Mac Crawford had never liked mysteries he could not solve.Throughout his life, whenever he encountered an obstacle, he had used his family's influence, money, and connections to overcome it. People rarely refused his requests, and those who did usually reconsidered after discovering his identity.But Greg Barnsley was proving to be different.The more Mac investigated him, the more questions emerged.By the following morning, Mac had decided to take a different approach.Instead of relying entirely on his investigators, he would approach someone who might know the truth.Amelia.As Director of Corporate Operations at Aurelious Group, she was one of the few people who could potentially explain Greg's unusual relationship with the company.Mac contacted her office and requested a meeting.To his surprise, she agreed.However, the appointment was scheduled for the afternoon, and he was instructed to arrive alone.Mac found the condition strange but accepted it.At two o'clock, he arrive

Mac Crawford spent the entire night going through every piece of information his team had gathered about Greg Barnsley.The more he searched, the less sense everything made.Greg appeared ordinary on the surface.His marriage to Alina was public.His association with the Gatwick family was public.His position at Gatwick Investments was also public.But everything before that seemed strangely empty.There were no meaningful business records.No major employment history.No obvious source of wealth.No family company.No investment portfolio that could explain his sudden influence.Yet Aurelious Group treated him differently.That was what bothered Mac the most.He picked up the folder again."How can someone with almost no trace have this much influence?"His assistant stood across the room."We still haven't found his financial records.""Have you checked the banks?""Yes.""And?""Nothing useful."Mac frowned."Nothing?""His public financial profile doesn't match the scale of the t

Mac Crawford did not leave the hotel immediately.He remained in the private lounge for almost an hour after the Gatwick family had gone.His assistant stood before him with a tablet in his hands."You said Greg Barnsley's background was concealed?""Yes, sir."Mac leaned back."Show me."The assistant opened several documents."According to the public records, Greg Barnsley has an ordinary family background. His business history is also very limited."Mac frowned."That doesn't make sense.""Exactly.""Why?""Because of Aurelious Group."Mac's eyes narrowed."What about it?""The Gatwick family's partnership with Aurelious Group was not supposed to happen under normal circumstances."Mac stared at him."Explain.""The agreement was unusually large for a company of Gatwick Investments' size. More importantly, when the Gatwick family attempted to replace Greg with Deg, Aurelious Group immediately terminated the partnership."Mac slowly sat forward."That part I know.""There is more."

Adrian's entire body went rigid.Thiago caught him before his knees gave way."Adrian!"The boy didn't answer.His eyes remained open, but they were no longer focused on the people standing before him.He was staring at something only he could see.Selene rushed toward them."What's happening to him?"The stranger who looked exactly like Thiago watched silently.Thiago glared at him."You know what's happening.""I know what happened to every version of him.""Then tell me how to stop it."The stranger shook his head."You can't stop consciousness from becoming conscious."Thiago's expression hardened."Watch me."He grabbed Adrian's shoulders."Look at me."Adrian's eyes slowly moved toward him."Dad.""I'm here.""I can hear them.""Who?""Everyone."His voice trembled."Every Adrian."Thiago's heart tightened.Adrian pressed both hands against his head."They're all talking.""What are they saying?"Adrian swallowed."They're afraid."The stranger nodded."Of course they are."Thia

The news that Mac Crawford had arrived in Belton spread quickly through the Gatwick family.Joyce was still holding her phone when Claire asked, "Why did the Crawford family come this early?""They said they wanted to settle some wedding arrangements before the ceremony," Joyce replied.Claire nodded."That makes sense."Then she looked at Alina."Alina, you should come with us when we go to meet them."Alina immediately shook her head."No, Mom."Claire frowned."Why?""I don't think I need to be there."Joyce smiled knowingly."She's avoiding Mac.""I'm not avoiding anyone," Alina replied."Then come with us."Alina looked at Greg.Greg said nothing.He knew exactly what was happening.Mac Crawford had not come to Belton merely because of Joyce's wedding.He had already asked about Alina.That was enough to make Greg cautious.But he did not want to create unnecessary tension in front of the family.Instead, he calmly said, "If Alina wants to go, she can go."Claire looked pleased.