Chapter 27 - The Son They Took Away
My mother collapsed into my father's arms.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Catherine told us everything.
She had been nineteen.
Richard controlled every aspect of her life.
When she became pregnant, he considered the child a threat to the marriage alliance he was arranging for her.
“He sent me away,” she whispered.
“Where?”
“Switzerland.”
She gave birth privately.
Richard told her the baby had died from complications.
She believed him.
For thirty-seven years.
Richard stood silently across the archive.
My mother looked at him.
“You told me my son was dead.”
“I did what was necessary.”
My father lunged.
Security intercepted him before he reached Richard.
“You monster!”
Richard remained calm.
“The child was placed with my brother's family.”
“Parker's parents,” I whispered.
“Yes.”
That explained why Parker had grown up as my cousin.
Why he had always been part of our lives.
Why Richard had trusted him.
And why Parker hated us.
“He knows?” I asked.
Richard nodded.
“For several years.”
“How?”
“Eleanor found the adoption records.”
Everything snapped into place.
Parker had discovered that the people he believed were his parents were actually his aunt and uncle.
That Catherine was his biological mother.
That Arthur had raised another child—me—in the life Parker believed should have been his.
Adrian looked toward the endless shelves.
“So this isn't just about money.”
“No,” I said.
“It never was.”
A sound echoed somewhere behind us.
Metal striking concrete.
Security immediately raised their weapons.
The lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the archive.
May you like
Then Parker's voice came through the old speaker system.
“Welcome to the family reunion.”
