Chapter 7 - The Brother Nobody Knew Existed
The revelation changed everything.
Damian had grown up believing he was his father's only child.
His father had never mentioned another son.
His mother had never spoken of one.
And yet the photograph showed a boy with the same white streak Damian had spent his life hiding.
“Find him,” Damian ordered.
Enzo nodded.
“Already working on it.”
Isabelle stood beside the desk.
“Why would your father hide another son?”
“Maybe because he was ashamed.”
“Or because he was protecting him.”
Damian looked at the photograph again.
“Either way, someone has been using my family's bloodline to move money.”
That afternoon, a package arrived at Greystone.
No return address.
Inside was a small wooden music box.
Isabelle recognized it immediately.
It had belonged to her mother.
She opened it carefully.
A folded note lay beneath the mechanism.
You were never supposed to survive the river.
Isabelle went pale.
Damian took the note.
“Who sent this?”
The security team checked the cameras.
The package had been delivered by a courier who had used a false identity.
But the security footage revealed something worse.
A woman had been standing across the street.
Watching the house.
The image was blurry, but Isabelle recognized her.
“Margaret.”
Damian immediately ordered the security perimeter tightened.
Then Lily came running downstairs.
“Mommy! Someone took my rabbit!”
Everyone turned.
Mr. Bun was missing.
Damian crouched.
“When did you last see him?”
“In my bedroom.”
“Did anyone come in?”
Lily nodded.
“A lady.”
Isabelle's face drained.
“What lady?”
“The pretty one.”
Damian felt his stomach tighten.
“Did she say anything?”
Lily nodded.
“She said she knew Daddy's mommy.”
Damian looked at Enzo.
“Lock down the property.”
But Lily suddenly pointed toward the window.
“She's there.”
A woman stood outside the iron gate.
She was elegant, silver-haired, and dressed in a dark red coat.
She looked directly at Damian.
Then she smiled.
Margaret Vescari.
Damian walked outside with Enzo.
“Stay where you are,” he ordered.
Margaret laughed softly.
“You've grown into your father's face.”
“You're going to explain yourself.”
“Not to you.”
Her eyes moved past him.
To Isabelle.
Then to Lily, visible through the upstairs window.
“My goodness,” Margaret whispered. “The little girl.”
Damian stepped between them.
“Don't look at her.”
Margaret's smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what that child represents.”
“She represents my daughter.”
“No. She represents a fortune.”
Margaret reached into her purse.
Enzo immediately raised his weapon.
But she only removed an old photograph.
It showed Damian's father holding a newborn baby.
A woman stood beside him.
Margaret.
On the back was written:
The first heir.
Damian looked at her.
“Who is Adrian?”
Margaret's expression changed.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely afraid.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“Answer me.”
Margaret took a step closer.
“Your father had two sons. One legitimate. One hidden. But only one was supposed to inherit the family.”
“And which one was that?”
She looked at Damian.
“You.”
“Then why hide him?”
“Because your father made a deal with the wrong woman.”
Margaret lowered her voice.
“Adrian's mother was not my sister-in-law. She was the woman your father loved before he married Lucia.”
Damian stared.
His father had another family.
Another son.
Another life.
Margaret continued.
“Adrian knows everything. He knows where the money went. He knows what happened to Isabelle. And he knows why your father left that letter.”
“Where is he?”
Margaret smiled again.
“You're standing in front of him.”
Damian's hand moved toward his weapon.
Margaret shook her head.
“No, nephew. I'm not Adrian.”
She glanced toward the house.
“Your security chief is.”
Damian turned.
Enzo stood several feet behind him.
His face was expressionless.
Then he slowly lowered his weapon.
“I'm sorry, boss,” Enzo said.
Damian stared at the man who had protected him for twelve years.
“What did you say?”
Enzo's eyes shifted toward Margaret.
May you like
“My name is Adrian Vescari.”
And before Damian could move, every security light at Greystone went dark.
