[ELARA'S POV]
Marcus found Julian's real mother in two weeks.
She was alive. Living in Paris. Went by the name Claire Beaumont now. But in 1991 she'd been Claire Montgomery. Twenty-three. Working as Edward Voss's executive assistant.
And pregnant with his child.
The investigator's report sat on Damian's desk. Photos. Documents. A whole life laid out in clinical detail.
Claire Montgomery had gotten pregnant. Edward had panicked. Paid Elizabeth Shaw, his London mistress, to take the baby and disappear. Paid Claire to go to Paris and never contact him again.
Two women. Two payoffs. One baby neither of them wanted.
Julian.
"She's still alive." Damian stared at the photo of Claire. Blonde. Elegant. Sixty-something now but aged well. "My brother's real mother is alive. And she let someone else raise her son."
"She was twenty-three. Scared. Edward probably convinced her she had no choice." I stood behind him. Hands on his shoulders.
