Chapter 4 - THE AUNT WHO RAISED THEM IN SECRET
I had trusted Miriam with everything.
My house.
My children.
The password to Marcus—no, Noah's school portal, the spare apartment key, emergency contacts, every allergy, every nightmare, every tiny fear my boys had.
She'd been there when Lucas got pneumonia.
She'd slept on my couch when Eli had night terrors.
She taught Noah how to tie his shoes.
Now Gabriel was telling me she was his sister.
“You said Daniel was your only sibling.”
“I thought he was.”
Gabriel looked as shocked as I felt.
Adrian set another file on the desk.
“We pulled birth records.”
Gabriel opened it.
Miriam Cross.
Born six years after Daniel.
Mother listed as Lucia Bell.
Father blank.
“Lucia Bell,” Gabriel whispered.
“Who?”
“My father's mistress.”
I stared.
“So Victor had another child.”
“Apparently.”
“And Daniel knew.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“Apparently.”
I began pacing.
“How long did Miriam know I was your ex-wife?”
“Probably from the beginning.”
“She answered my ad.”
Adrian looked at me.
“What ad?”
“I needed help after the boys were born. She applied through an agency.”
Gabriel's eyes darkened.
“She placed herself near them.”
“For what?”
No one answered.
I hated that.
Then footsteps sounded in the hallway.
All three boys appeared wearing pajamas.
Noah looked at us.
“Why is everyone awake?”
I immediately changed my expression.
“Couldn't sleep.”
Lucas yawned.
“Are we in danger?”
Gabriel froze.
I stared at Lucas.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Miriam said when adults whisper, it's usually money or danger.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course she did.
Eli looked at Gabriel.
“Do you know Miriam?”
Gabriel crouched.
“I think she's my sister.”
Lucas blinked.
“So she's our aunt?”
“Yes.”
“Cool.”
Noah wasn't convinced.
“Why didn't she tell us?”
Gabriel looked at me.
Then back at him.
“I don't know.”
Noah folded his arms.
“Adults don't know a lot.”
That might have been the most accurate thing said all night.
Gabriel ordered breakfast at six.
The boys discovered his chef could make chocolate-chip pancakes.
His standing improved dramatically.
By eight, Lucas had demanded a tour of the garage.
By nine, Eli had found Gabriel's old piano.
By ten, Noah was sitting beside him in the library, silently reading a book while Gabriel tried not to stare.
I watched from the doorway.
My heart hurt.
He had lost five years.
I had made that choice.
Maybe I believed I was protecting them.
Maybe part of me had also been protecting myself from ever seeing Gabriel choose another life over us.
The guilt arrived slowly.
Gabriel noticed me.
“Claire?”
I shook my head.
“Nothing.”
Noah closed his book.
“Can Dad come to my soccer game?”
The word Dad hit both of us.
Gabriel looked at him.
“When is it?”
“Saturday.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No checking a calendar.
No meeting.
“Yes.”
Noah nodded once.
“Okay.”
That was apparently acceptance.
Later, Gabriel found me alone in the kitchen.
“You don't have to look guilty.”
“You don't know what I'm thinking.”
“You always twist your wedding ring when you're guilty.”
I looked down.
I wasn't wearing a wedding ring.
My fingers were still making the old motion.
“You noticed that?”
“I noticed everything about you.”
I looked away.
“That doesn't make what I did right.”
“No.”
The answer stung.
Then he added,
“But it doesn't make you cruel either.”
I looked at him.
“You thought I betrayed you.”
“Yes.”
“You believed I wanted a divorce.”
“Yes.”
“You found out you were pregnant alone.”
My throat tightened.
“Yes.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“I don't know what I would have done in your position.”
That mattered.
More than forgiveness would have.
His phone rang.
Daniel.
Gabriel stared at the screen.
Then answered.
“Where are you?”
His brother's voice came through.
“Alive.”
“No games.”
“You always were impatient.”
Gabriel's jaw tightened.
“What do you want?”
“To keep your sons alive.”
My blood froze.
Gabriel put the call on speaker.
“Explain.”
Daniel sighed.
“Victor has been building an organization outside your control for fifteen years.”
“Why?”
“To take back what he believes belongs to him.”
“My business?”
“No.”
A pause.
“Your bloodline.”
I stepped closer.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel heard me.
“Claire.”
“You've been watching my children.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make sure Miriam could protect them.”
“From who?”
“Victor.”
Gabriel's voice hardened.
“Where is Miriam?”
“With me.”
“Let me speak to her.”
A pause.
Then Miriam's voice came through.
“Claire?”
My eyes filled with tears.
“How could you lie to me?”
“I know.”
“Five years.”
“I know.”
“Were you ever really their nanny?”
Her voice broke.
“Yes.”
That hurt worse.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Miriam inhaled.
“Victor doesn't want all three boys.”
Silence.
My skin turned cold.
“What?”
“He only wants one.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“Which one?”
Miriam whispered,
“Noah.”
My heart stopped.
“Why Noah?”
Daniel answered.
“Because Noah isn't just your son.”
May you like
A pause.
“He's Victor Cross's legal heir.”
