Chapter 8 - THE CHILD NO ONE EXPECTED
Cassian revealed the truth.
Julian was his son.
A child born during the years he had been hiding from Graham.
Rowan stared at him.
“Then where is my son?”
Cassian looked toward her.
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“I couldn't risk bringing him here.”
He explained that Graham had manipulated everyone.
The child Eleanor had brought into the house wasn't connected to the Sterling inheritance at all.
He was bait.
A decoy designed to make the family fight while Graham searched for Cassian.
The real target was not Julian.
It was the trust.
The trust required all heirs to be identified before distribution.
Cassian had remained hidden because he believed coming forward would put his son in danger.
I looked at Julian.
“So why did Aleric bring him here?”
Aleric answered quietly.
“Graham told me I needed to protect him.”
I looked at him.
“You never questioned it?”
He lowered his eyes.
“No.”
That admission was painful.
But it was honest.
For the first time, Aleric wasn't defending himself.
He was accepting responsibility.
Then Rowan received a call.
She answered.
Her face changed.
“I found him.”
Her son was alive.
Safe.
And waiting at a federal protective facility.
She began crying.
Aleric smiled faintly.
“Go.”
Rowan looked at me.
“Thank you.”
I nodded.
When she left, Cassian turned toward Aleric.
“I spent years hating you.”
“I know.”
“I thought you knew.”
“I didn't.”
Cassian looked at him.
“That's the worst part.”
Aleric swallowed.
Then something unexpected happened.
Cassian hugged him.
It lasted only a few seconds.
But it was enough.
The brothers had finally found each other.
Yet I still had one question.
“What happens to Julian?”
Cassian looked at me.
“He deserves a family.”
I glanced at Aleric.
May you like
Then at the baby.
And I realized the most difficult decision was still ahead.
