Adrian couldn’t move.Daniel’s little arms were wrapped around his neck, but the words coming from the boy’s mouth seemed to have pushed him into another world.“Before you became my daddy, you were the man who gave me to him.”Adrian looked into his son’s frightened eyes.“Daniel, listen to me. I have never given you to anyone.”The boy shook his head.“You were wearing a black coat. You carried me into a big room. There was a woman crying.”Adrian swallowed.“Who was the woman?”Daniel pointed toward Helena.“Her.”Everyone turned.Helena stood beside the medical equipment, her face pale.Adrian slowly looked at her.“What is he talking about?”Helena said nothing.Alistair laughed softly.“Perhaps you should ask your mother.”Adrian’s grip tightened around Daniel.“Stop playing games.”“Games?” Alistair stepped closer. “You want to know why this boy was placed in your care? You want to know why you were given a new name, a new identity, and a family that never truly belonged to you

Varek stared at his phone.Eleanor’s final words kept repeating in his mind.Don’t let him take the—Then the scream.He called her back immediately.No answer.He tried again.Still nothing.“Naomi!” he shouted.“I’m here.”“Trace Eleanor’s phone. Now.”“I’m trying, but the call was too short. Give me a minute.”Varek turned toward Victor.“Do you know where Eleanor lives?”Victor nodded.“Her old house is outside the city. But she hasn’t stayed there for years.”“Then we’re going there.”Adrian stepped forward.“We can’t just rush into another trap.”“Eleanor is in danger.”“And Daniel is still recovering. We need to get him somewhere safe first.”Varek looked at the sleeping boy in Adrian’s arms.He knew Adrian was right.“Naomi, arrange a secure location for Adrian, Daniel, Samuel, and Evelyn. Nobody leaves until I return.”Evelyn immediately protested.“I’m coming with you.”“No.”“Varek—”“Someone just threatened Eleanor. I don’t know who is behind it, and I won’t put you in dan

“Matthew is your older brother.”Eleanor’s words seemed to silence everything around Varek.He stared at his phone.“Say that again.”“I said Matthew is your older brother.”Varek shook his head.“Matthew Cross?”“Yes.”“The man who manipulated Samuel? The man who altered the hospital records? The man who tried to kill Daniel Thorne?”Eleanor began crying.“I know what he has done.”“Then explain how he is my brother.”“Twenty-nine years ago, Isabel gave birth to two boys. The first was Matthew. The second was you.”Varek looked toward Grace.She had covered her mouth.Eleanor continued.“Isabel was afraid Alistair would take both children. She arranged for me to remove you from the hospital. Matthew was supposed to remain with her until she could escape.”“But he didn’t.”“No. Someone changed the plan.”“Who?”“Richard.”Varek closed his eyes.“Of course.”“Richard took Matthew and gave him to Mara Mercer. He wanted the firstborn under his control. You were supposed to be taken to He

“Victor?”Isabel’s voice broke as she stared at the wounded man.Victor slowly lowered his hand from his shoulder.“Mother?”For several seconds, nobody moved.Varek looked between them, trying to understand what was happening.“You know him?”Victor nodded, but his eyes never left Isabel.“I remember her.”Isabel took a step forward.“Victor, my son.”He moved away.“Don’t.”She stopped.“You were little when I last saw you.”“How little?”“Almost three years old.”Victor shook his head.“I remember a room. I remember a woman singing. I remember someone telling me not to cry because my mother would come back.”Isabel covered her mouth.“That was me.”“Then why did you leave me?”“I didn’t.”“Why did I grow up believing Mara was my mother?”“Because Mara was protecting you.”Victor laughed bitterly.“Everybody was protecting somebody. Nobody protected me from the truth.”Varek stepped between them.“Enough. We need answers, not another emotional reunion.”He turned to Isabel.“Why doe

Varek read the message again.THE MAN YOU CALL VAREK THORNE WAS REGISTERED AS DEAD BEFORE HE WAS BORN.He stared at the screen, waiting for the words to make sense.They didn’t.“Naomi, what does that mean?”“I’m trying to understand it myself.”“Find the original birth certificate.”“I already searched the hospital database. There are three records under your name, and none of them agree.”Varek closed his eyes briefly.“Read them.”“The first record says Varek Thorne was born twenty-nine years ago to Isabel Thorne. The second says Varek Vale was born to Helena Vale. The third is a death registration.”“Whose death?”“Varek Thorne.”He looked at Isabel.She had gone completely still.“When was the death registered?”“Twenty-eight years ago.”Varek frowned.“One year after I was born?”“Yes.”“Who signed it?”Naomi hesitated.“Dr. Matthew Cross.”Varek’s jaw tightened.“That man keeps appearing in every record.”“There’s more. The death certificate says the child died during a medical