Chapter 6: The Son Who Never Knew His Father
The name on the screen felt heavier than any accusation.
*Lucas Harrington.*
Michael stared at the photograph.
A boy he had never met.
A child with his last name.
A child who had lived eight years of his life without knowing Michael existed.
His son.
The room around him blurred.
All the numbers.
All the deals.
All the companies he had built.
All the awards hanging on his office walls.
None of it mattered.
Because somewhere in the world, there was a child who had gone to sleep every night without his father.
A father who never even knew he was supposed to be there.
Michael slowly lowered the phone.
"Where is he?""
Nobody answered.
His eyes moved toward Victoria.
"Where is my son?""
Victoria looked away.
That was all the confirmation he needed.
"You know.""
Her lips parted.
"Michael...""
"No.""
His voice was colder than before.
"No more excuses.""
Ethan stirred in Sarah's arms.
She gently rocked him, trying to keep him calm.
Victoria noticed.
Her expression changed.
"I love Ethan.""
Michael looked at her.
"I never said you didn't.""
"But you think I'm a monster.""
He didn't answer.
Because he didn't know anymore.
Eight years ago, Victoria had been the woman who held his hand during the hardest moments of his life.
The woman who stood beside him when his company almost collapsed.
The woman who promised they would build a family together.
Now he wondered how many pieces of that story had been fake.
"I didn't know what my mother planned," Victoria whispered.
Michael stared.
"Then tell me what you did know.""
She closed her eyes.
"I knew Emily had a baby.""
"And?""
"I knew my mother wanted him gone.""
Michael felt his jaw tighten.
"Gone.""
Victoria nodded weakly.
"She used that word.""
Sarah looked horrified.
"And you let her?""
Victoria looked at her.
"You don't understand.""
"No.""
Sarah's voice shook.
"I understand perfectly.""
Michael lifted his hand.
"Enough.""
Both women stopped.
He looked at Victoria.
"I want facts.""
She swallowed.
"After Emily died, my mother told me the baby had been placed somewhere safe.""
"Did you believe her?""
"At first.""
"And later?""
Victoria looked down.
"I found out she lied.""
Michael stepped closer.
"When?""
"Two years after we got married.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Two years?""
Victoria nodded.
"I found documents in her office.""
"What documents?""
"Adoption records.""
Michael's heart sank.
"You knew where he was.""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"I only knew that he had been moved.""
"Moved where?""
"I tried to find out.""
Michael stared.
"You tried?""
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes.""
"How hard?""
She didn't answer.
That silence spoke louder.
Michael looked at Sarah.
"Did you know about this?""
Sarah shook her head.
"No.""
"Then how did you find out?""
Sarah hesitated.
"I found a file.""
"Where?""
"In your old office.""
Michael frowned.
"My old office?""
"The one you stopped using after the company expansion.""
A memory surfaced.
The small office above the original company building.
The place where he had started everything.
The place filled with old documents he rarely touched anymore.
"What file?""
Sarah looked at Victoria.
"The one Eleanor tried to destroy.""
Victoria's face changed.
Michael noticed.
"Eleanor.""
He repeated the name.
"Your mother.""
Victoria nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where is she now?""
Victoria didn't answer.
Michael's eyes hardened.
"Where is she?""
"She left the country.""
"When?""
"Three days ago.""
Michael froze.
Three days.
The same time everything started falling apart.
The anonymous calls.
The messages.
The threats.
"She knew I would find out.""
Victoria looked at him.
"Yes.""
"And she ran.""
"Yes.""
Michael laughed quietly.
A painful sound.
"So your mother destroyed my family and escaped.""
Victoria whispered:
"I'm sorry.""
Michael looked at her.
"I don't need an apology.""
The words hurt her.
But he continued.
"I need my son.""
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I know.""
"No, Victoria.""
His voice cracked.
"You don't.""
He looked at Ethan.
"You know what it's like to hold a child you love.""
Victoria looked away.
"You know what it's like to hear him laugh.""
Silence.
"You know what it's like when he reaches for you.""
His eyes moved back to her.
"But somewhere, another child was reaching for someone who never came.""
Victoria covered her face.
Michael walked away.
For the first time in years, he didn't care if she cried.
He didn't care if she was afraid.
Because his son had been afraid too.
And nobody had cared.
Then Sarah spoke softly.
"There is something else.""
Michael turned.
"What?""
She looked at the photograph.
"The boy in the picture.""
"Lucas.""
Sarah nodded.
"He wasn't just hidden.""
"What do you mean?""
"He was protected.""
Michael frowned.
"By who?""
Sarah hesitated.
Then answered:
"By Emily's sister.""
Michael froze.
"Emily had a sister?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't I know?""
"Because she never wanted you to know.""
Michael stared.
"Why?""
Sarah looked down.
"Because she blamed you.""
The words hurt.
Even though he knew he wasn't responsible for Emily's death, the guilt still found a way in.
"She blamed me?""
"She believed Emily died because she was chasing a life with you.""
Michael shook his head.
"I barely knew her.""
"I know.""
Sarah's voice softened.
"But grief doesn't always follow logic.""
Michael looked at the photograph again.
"What's her name?""
"Rachel Carter.""
"Where is she?""
Sarah hesitated.
"I don't know.""
Michael noticed.
"But?""
Sarah looked nervous.
"But I think someone else does.""
"Who?""
Before Sarah could answer, a loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
The mansion alarm suddenly began screaming.
Michael immediately moved toward Ethan.
"What was that?""
Sarah stepped back.
Victoria looked terrified.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
And went out.
The entire house fell into darkness.
Michael heard footsteps in the hallway.
Not one person.
Several.
Someone had entered the house.
He moved toward the door.
"Stay here.""
Sarah tightened her hold on Ethan.
Victoria grabbed Michael's arm.
"Don't.""
He looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
For once, the fear in her eyes seemed real.
"Michael, please.""
A shadow passed beneath the bedroom door.
Someone was standing outside.
Michael slowly reached for the handle.
Then his phone buzzed.
Another message.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
His blood turned cold.
*You want your first son? Come alone.*
A second message appeared.
*Or the second one won't make it through the night.*
Michael looked at Ethan.
Then at the door.
Then at Victoria.
And he realized the person threatening his family knew exactly where to hurt him.
May you like
Because they weren't trying to destroy his money.
They were trying to destroy his heart.
