“Where did you find that?”
Claire’s last hope died.
She had spent the drive home inventing explanations. Perhaps a nurse had stolen the child. Perhaps hospital records had been confused. Perhaps Adrian had been deceived as completely as she had.
His question destroyed every comforting possibility.
“You recognize it.”
Adrian looked toward the door.
“Where is Lucas?”
“Upstairs.”
“Is anyone with him?”
“His brother.”
Adrian’s eyes closed.
The silence that followed was not the silence of surprise.
It was surrender.
Claire felt rage rising from somewhere deeper than anger.
“You knew.”
“Claire—”
“You knew he was alive.”
Adrian approached her carefully.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain why our son spent thirteen years believing he had been abandoned.”
“I never intended for that to happen.”
“But you intended for him to disappear.”
Adrian lowered himself into a chair.
He suddenly seemed much older than the man who had left for work that morning.
“When the twins were born, Whitmore Development was collapsing. The banks had frozen our credit. Three projects had failed. I owed money to people who were not willing to wait.”
“You told me the company was stable.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Do not use that word.”
Adrian flinched.
“A private adoption broker contacted me. He represented a wealthy couple who had been trying to have a child for years.”
Claire’s hands began to shake.
“No.”
“They knew there were twins. They offered enough money to save the company.”
“No.”
“They promised the child would have everything.”
“Stop.”
“A home. Education. Security.”
Claire swept a crystal glass from the desk. It struck the wall and shattered.
“He already had a home!”
Adrian stood.
“I was desperate.”
“You sold our child.”
“I convinced myself it was an adoption.”
“You told his mother he was dead.”
“I knew you would never agree.”
“So you buried an empty coffin and watched me grieve.”
Tears filled Adrian’s eyes.
“I thought one child would grow up with us and the other would grow up with people who could give him a wonderful life.”
“You separated two newborn brothers because your company was losing money.”
“I made a terrible choice.”
“No. A choice is made once. You lied every day for thirteen years.”
Adrian covered his face.
Claire felt no pity.
“What happened to the couple?”
“They were killed in a house fire three years later.”
Claire’s anger turned cold.
“And Mason?”
“The adoption was illegal. There were no legitimate records. After the couple died, the authorities treated him as an unidentified child. I hired investigators, but the broker had disappeared.”
“You looked for him?”
“At first.”
“At first?”
“Every search created a risk. If the truth became public, I would go to prison. The company would collapse. You and Lucas would lose everything.”
“So you stopped.”
Adrian did not answer.
Claire stepped closer.
“He was six years old when you decided your reputation mattered more than finding him.”
“I was afraid.”
“He was a child.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t. You ate dinner every night while he searched garbage bins for food. You watched Lucas open birthday presents while his brother moved between strangers’ homes. You stood beside me at an empty grave and let me apologize to a child who was still alive.”
A sound came from the doorway.
Mason was standing there.
Lucas was behind him.
Adrian stared at the boy he had sold.
Mason did not cry.
That made the moment worse.
“You’re my father?” he asked.
Adrian stood slowly.
“Yes.”
“And you gave me away for money?”
“It wasn’t that simple.”
Mason’s jaw tightened.
“It sounds simple.”
“I believed you would be safe.”
“Did you ever come looking for me?”
Adrian looked down.
Mason understood.
“You didn’t.”
“I tried.”
“No. You paid people to try. Then you got scared.”
Adrian moved toward him.
“Mason, I am sorry.”
The boy stepped backward.
“Don’t touch me.”
Lucas positioned himself beside his brother.
Adrian stopped.
Mason pulled the compass from his neck.
“Teresa said rich people bought me. I thought she was lying because she was sick. I thought maybe my real parents were dead.”
His voice began to tremble.
“I used to imagine them. I thought my mother was a nurse. I thought my father fixed cars. I imagined they were searching every city for me.”
Claire moved closer, but she did not reach for him.
Mason continued speaking to Adrian.
“I kept moving because I thought one day they might find me.”
Adrian began to cry.
Mason’s expression remained empty.
“You weren’t searching.”
Claire turned toward her husband.
“You need to leave.”
Adrian looked at her.
“This is my home.”
“Not anymore.”
“We should talk after everyone has calmed down.”
“I am perfectly calm.”
“Claire, think about what you’re doing.”