CHAPTER 2: THE SECOND CHILD
The ballroom exploded into chaos.
“What?”
“What does he mean?”
“There's another heir?”
Edward stared at the man.
“Benjamin?”
Benjamin Carter had been the Sterling family's attorney for over forty years.
He swallowed hard.
“I've kept this secret long enough.”
The girl stood beside Edward, confused.
“What secret?”
Benjamin opened the envelope.
Inside was an old birth certificate.
Then another.
Edward's heart nearly stopped.
Twins.
His daughter had given birth to twins.
Not one child.
Two.
A girl.
And a boy.
Edward's entire body shook.
“No…”
Benjamin nodded sadly.
“The boy survived too.”
The ballroom erupted again.
Victoria collapsed into a chair.
“Oh God…”
Edward stared at her.
“You knew.”
She covered her face.
“I didn't know where he went.”
Benjamin continued.
“The same people who kidnapped her sold the boy through an illegal adoption network.”
The room went silent again.
Edward grabbed the papers.
“Where is he?”
Benjamin hesitated.
Then smiled softly.
“Closer than you think.”
Everyone looked around.
Confused.
Then Benjamin slowly pointed toward the orchestra section.
Toward a young man who had been playing violin all evening.
Twenty years old.
Dark hair.
Blue eyes.
The exact same eyes as Edward.
The violin slipped from his hands.
“No…”
His voice cracked.
“My adoptive parents told me I was abandoned.”
The girl stared at him.
He stared back.
Something inside both of them instantly connected.
A bond neither of them could explain.
Then she slowly walked toward him.
“You're my brother?”
Tears filled his eyes.
“Are you my sister?”
She nodded.
A second later, they ran into each other's arms.
Twenty years of separation disappeared in a single embrace.
Half the guests were crying.
Even Edward could no longer hold back his tears.
His family…
His entire family…
Was finally coming back together.
Or so he thought.
Because one final truth still remained hidden.
Benjamin took a deep breath.
“There's one more thing.”
Edward looked at him.
“What else could there possibly be?”
Benjamin answered quietly.
“Your daughter and son-in-law did not die in an accident.”
May you like
The entire room froze.
“They were murdered.”
