Chapter 1
CHAPTER 2: THE FILES IN THE WALLS
That night, the mansion changed.
Doors locked earlier than usual. Staff were dismissed. Phones were checked.
But the truth doesn’t stay buried in houses built on secrets.
Lina sat in a private study with the millionaire—Richard Vale—across from her. Between them was a sealed envelope that had been hidden behind a false panel in the boy’s room.
Inside were documents.
Medical records.
Transfer forms.
And a signature that made Lina’s hands shake violently.
Marcus Vale.
Richard’s older brother.
“I never saw these,” Richard said quietly, almost to himself.
Lina’s eyes were burning now. “Your family stole my child.”
Richard didn’t deny it.
That silence was worse than an admission.
Evan—Ethan—was asleep upstairs, finally calm after crying himself into exhaustion. The mansion, for once, was quiet without chaos.
Richard leaned forward.
“If what you’re saying is true… then my nephew was raised under a false identity.”
Lina snapped her head up. “Your nephew?”
Richard hesitated.
Then added, “Marcus was running something under the family name. I cut ties years ago. I thought it was just money laundering… not this.”
Lina stood abruptly. “Where is he now?”
Richard didn’t answer immediately.
May you like
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“He’s coming back tonight.”
