Ryan looked at his father.“She came here to warn me.”Richard stared at him.For a moment, nobody said anything.Then another loud crash came from the north garden.Catherine flinched.Ryan immediately moved toward the door.Richard caught his arm.“Wait.”Ryan turned.“She could be hurt.”“And you could be walking into another attack.”“She warned me before the explosion.”“That doesn’t prove she can be trusted.”Ryan pulled his arm free.“No. But it proves she didn’t come here with the intention of killing me.”Claire stepped forward.“Then we need to find her before security does something stupid.”Richard looked at Daniel.“Find Selene.”Daniel nodded and immediately moved outside.Ryan followed.“I’m coming.”Richard’s voice stopped him.“No.”Ryan turned around.“Dad—”“You’re staying here.”Ryan stared at him.“You just told me she might be dangerous.”“Yes.”“Then why would I stay here while everyone else searches for her?”“Because you’re the person she came for.”Ryan’s exp

Ryan stared at the old photograph in his hands.Someone had deliberately cut a person out of it.The edges were rough, and the missing section was large enough to cover a child's face.Whoever had done it hadn't wanted to hide a small detail.They had wanted to erase someone completely.Ryan turned the photograph over again.The date was still there.Twenty years ago.“Lucas, where did you get this?”Lucas shoved his hands into his pockets.“I found it in my room a few years ago. It was inside an old book that belonged to Grandma Sarah.”Ryan looked up.“Why didn't you tell anyone?”“I didn't think it was important.”Ryan raised an eyebrow.“You found an old family photograph with someone cut out of it, and you didn't think that was important?”Lucas frowned.“I was sixteen! I thought it was some old photograph from a family event. I didn't even know who was in it.”“Fair enough.”Ryan examined the picture again.At least Lucas wasn't pretending to know something he didn't.Richard he

Ryan woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door.He pulled a pillow over his head.“Go away.”The knocking continued.“Ryan, get up!”Sophia.Of course.Ryan opened one eye and looked at the clock.Seven in the morning.Who wakes up at seven when the world has done absolutely nothing to deserve it?“I'm dead,” he announced.The door opened.Sophia walked in with Emma behind her.“Dead people don't talk,” Emma pointed out.“I'm a special case.”Sophia pulled the blanket off him.“Dad wants you downstairs.”Ryan sat up with a miserable expression.“Did the company collapse overnight?”“No.”“Did someone attack the mansion?”“No.”“Did I accidentally inherit another secret sibling?”Sophia paused.Ryan stared at her.“Why did you pause?”“I didn't!”“You absolutely did.”Emma burst out laughing.Sophia threw the blanket back at him.“Just get ready. Dad said it's important.”Ryan sighed.His peaceful life had lasted approximately eight hours.A personal record.Twenty minutes l

Ryan woke up to someone knocking on his door.“Five more minutes,” he mumbled.The knocking continued.He pulled the blanket over his head. “If the house is on fire, please carry me outside.”“Ryan,” Sophia called. “Dad wants everyone downstairs.”Ryan opened one eye.“Everyone?”“Yes.”“Then why am I the only one being tortured?”“Because everyone else is already awake.”He looked at the clock and sat up.Nine thirty.“That's not even early!”“Exactly. Get up.”Ryan dragged himself out of bed.Twenty minutes later, he reached the dining room and found Richard, Catherine, Lucas, Sophia, Emma, and Victoria waiting.There were documents on the table.Ryan stopped in the doorway.“Are we having breakfast or getting sued?”Emma laughed. Richard didn't.“Sit down, Ryan.”Ryan took the empty chair beside Lucas.Richard slid a folder toward the middle of the table.“I've asked the family to come together because we need to settle something before it becomes another argument.”Ryan glanced at