“The Whitmore legacy… it would have used them, Adrian. They’d be leverage, bargaining chips. I took them to keep them safe, to keep you from being dragged into that darkness.”
A cold knot tightened in my gut as I reached out, my hand hovering over the boy’s cheek.
“You’re my son,” I said, voice barely a breath.
He blinked, a flicker of recognition sparking in his gaze.
Claire’s eyes met mine, pleading, terrified.
“Please… let me go. I can’t—”
Margaret’s Ultimatum
A crisp, authoritative voice cut through the moment.
“Adrian Whitmore, there’s a very important conversation we need to have.”
Margaret Whitmore stepped out of the shadows, her heels clicking on the linoleum, a sleek black suit framing her immaculate posture.
“Mother,” I managed, the name tasting like ash.
She smiled thinly, eyes never leaving the boys.
“You’re making a mistake, dear. Those children must remain hidden. The trust is fragile, the deal… your acquisition—everything hinges on this secrecy.” FindFamily Lawyer
