Chapter 2 - THE CHILD WHO NEVER EXISTED

I drove straight to Warren's office.

I didn't call ahead.

I didn't care whether he was there.

I didn't care who saw me.

When I entered the Caldwell headquarters, the receptionist jumped to her feet.

"Mr. Caldwell—"

"Where is Warren?"

"He has a meeting."

"Cancel it."

She hesitated.

I leaned across the desk.

"Now."

She picked up the phone.

"Mr. Caldwell, Adrian is here."

A pause.

Then she looked at me.

"He says you can't come upstairs."

I smiled.

"Tell him I'm already coming."

I walked past her.

Security followed.

I turned around.

"If anyone touches me, I'll fire the entire department."

They stopped.

Warren's office door was locked.

I kicked it open.

My uncle was standing beside the window.

He looked old suddenly.

Not powerful.

Not untouchable.

Just old.

"You shouldn't have come here."

"Who was my first child?"

He stared at me.

I slammed my hands onto his desk.

"Brooke told me."

His expression changed.

"What did she say?"

"That you threatened Elise."

"She's lying."

"Then tell me the truth."

Warren looked away.

"Your marriage was already collapsing."

"Answer me."

"There was a pregnancy before the twins."

I couldn't breathe.

"When?"

"Seven years ago."

I stared at him.

Seven years.

That meant Elise had been pregnant before our divorce.

"Did I know?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because she lost the baby."

My knees weakened.

"What?"

Warren's face remained cold.

"The pregnancy ended early."

"You're lying."

"I saw the hospital report."

"Where?"

"Your father's physician handled it."

I grabbed the edge of the desk.

"Was the baby mine?"

"Yes."

The room went silent.

I felt as though someone had punched straight through my chest.

I remembered that year.

Elise had been unusually quiet.

She had cried one night.

I had asked what was wrong.

She told me she was tired.

I believed her.

Or maybe I wanted to.

"Why didn't she tell me?"

Warren shrugged.

"Because your father thought the truth would destroy you."

"My father?"

"Your father believed you needed to focus on the company."

I laughed.

It sounded broken.

"You people decided whether I was allowed to be a father."

"No."

Warren looked directly at me.

"We decided whether your marriage would survive."

"You destroyed it."

"We saved the family."

I stared at him.

"What family?"

He didn't answer.

I pulled open his desk drawers.

He moved toward me.

"Adrian."

I opened another.

Nothing.

Another.

Then I found a locked compartment.

I looked at him.

"Key."

"No."

I smashed the drawer with the brass fireplace poker.

Inside was a black folder.

My name was written across it.

I opened it.

Hospital records.

Financial transfers.

Doctor's notes.

And one document that made my hands shake.

PATERNITY CONFIRMATION — ADRIAN JAMES CALDWELL

Underneath it was another report.

PREGNANCY OUTCOME: LIVE BIRTH.

I stopped breathing.

Live birth.

I read it again.

And again.

"No."

Warren went pale.

I looked up.

"You said she lost the baby."

He said nothing.

"You said she lost our child."

"I was told—"

"Who was born?"

Warren stepped backward.

I grabbed his collar.

"WHO?"

He finally whispered a name.

"Lily."

My grip loosened.

"Lily who?"

"Elise's daughter."

My entire body went cold.

"Where is she?"

Warren shook his head.

"I don't know."

"You've been lying to me for seven years."

"I didn't know where she went."

"Then who does?"

He looked toward the door.

I followed his eyes.

Brooke was standing there.

Her face was wet with tears.

She held a small envelope.

"I do."

I turned toward her.

"What did you do?"

She walked inside.

"I didn't know the whole truth."

"You knew enough."

She nodded.

"Yes."

She placed the envelope on Warren's desk.

"I found this in his safe three years ago."

I opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

A little girl.

Maybe three years old.

Dark brown hair.

Gray-blue eyes.

A crescent-shaped birthmark beneath her ear.

The Caldwell mark.

I couldn't speak.

Brooke whispered,

"Her name is Lily Marlowe."

I looked at Warren.

"Where is she?"

He closed his eyes.

"I don't know."

I turned toward Brooke.

"Then we're going to find out."

She nodded.

But before we could leave, Warren said something that stopped me.

"Adrian."

I turned.

"Your father didn't order the children taken."

"Then who did?"

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Warren looked terrified.

"Your mother."