“Evie,” he said again, softer. “Is that really you?”
My mother broke.
She moved toward the screen with both hands out, as if she could touch him through glass. “Nathaniel.”
His face crumpled.
“Mom?”
My father turned away, one hand over his mouth.
For a moment, even Celeste looked shaken.
Then Calloway’s voice sliced through the room.
“Touching. Truly. Now, the ledger.”
I looked at Samuel, then at Nathaniel on the screen.
My child.
My brother.
Two lives balanced against one secret buried inside a childhood toy.
I looked at Adrian.
He stood near the wall, pale and sweating, eyes darting between Calloway, Celeste, and the baby he had called an heir before he had ever called him son.
“You knew?” I asked.
Adrian shook his head quickly. “Not about this.”
“But you knew Celeste wanted my family.”
“I knew she wanted leverage.”
I laughed bitterly. “And you gave her me.”
