Chapter 3
Troy claimed he never agreed to replace Bennett.
I believed half of that.
Unfortunately, half-truths had built the entire room around us.
“What did you agree to?”
He rubbed his jaw.
“Silas said people were already talking.”
“Who?”
“Old captains.”
“Names.”
He hesitated.
I waited.
“Raymond Vale. Peter Moretti. Julian Cross.”
Three men my father had trusted.
All over sixty.
All obsessed with continuity.
Silas told Troy they were concerned because no one outside my innermost circle knew whether Bennett was biologically mine.
Interesting.
They were suspicious before they had confirmation.
“So Silas gave them confirmation.”
“No.”
Troy shook his head.
“He gave us confirmation.”
Us.
The Drakes.
“Why you?”
Opal answered.
“Because our family can solve it.”
There it was.
They had reduced my life to an equation.
Adopted son creates uncertainty.
Marriage creates opportunity.
Biological child restores bloodline.
Then what?
Bennett raised kindly but kept away from succession.
Maybe sent to school.
Maybe given money.
Maybe taught gratitude for being included at all.
I looked at Troy.
“Did you ever intend to have children with me?”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
“For us?”
“Yes.”
“For Silas?”
“No.”
I wanted to believe him.
Then I remembered his first response after Bennett was humiliated.
Someone had to tell him.
Not Keira crossed a line.
Not Mom, what did you do?
Someone had to tell him.
He already viewed the secret as a problem needing correction.
“Did you know they would tell Bennett tonight?”
“No.”
“Did you know they would force me to confirm it publicly?”
Silence.
There.
“Yes.”
I removed my engagement ring.
Troy’s expression broke.
“Selene.”
I placed it on the table.
“You helped people design a moment where my son would learn the most personal fact of his life through humiliation so adults could measure my reaction.”
“I didn’t know Keira would—”
“You knew enough.”
Silence.
That was the line.
Then Opal said:
“You’re throwing away a marriage over a child who isn’t even—”
I turned toward her.
She stopped.
Smart.
“Finish that sentence.”
She did not.
Good.
Then I opened another message from Silas.
AFTER SHE CONFIRMS IT, GET HER TO SAY WHO HIS MOTHER WAS.
My blood went cold.
May you like
This was not only about Bennett being adopted.
Silas wanted his birth mother named too.
