The island house no longer felt abandoned.
Now it felt haunted.
Not by ghosts.
By lies.
Lucian stood in Clara's bedroom holding the photograph while storm winds rattled the windows hard enough to shake the glass.
The image remained burned into his mind.
Vivienne.
A dark-haired man.
Baby Clara in his arms.
Alive.
Not dead like the clinic documents claimed.
Alive recently.
Theo leaned against the doorway, jaw tight.
"That changes everything."
"No," Adrian said from behind them. "It confirms everything."
Allison folded her arms slowly.
"Vivienne lied about the father dying because dead men can't contradict forged paternity claims."
Elias nodded grimly. "And if the biological father stayed hidden inside their financial network, she controlled the narrative completely."
Lucian's gaze remained fixed on the photo.
The man holding Clara looked familiar now.
Sharp features.
Dark eyes.
Expensive watch.
Controlled posture.
Not flashy wealth.
Old wealth.
