“I withdrew from the arrangement when Mrs. Sterlington’s requests became concerning.”
“What requests?”
Another pause.
Longer this time.
“She wanted placement options for the child.”
My blood went cold.
“What does that mean?”
“It means she was preparing for Julian to be removed from your wife’s custody.”
“And placed where?”
“With her, temporarily. Then permanently, depending on your cooperation.”
I leaned against the desk.
In my mother’s mind, Sophie was not the only target.
Julian was the prize.
“Why are you calling me?” I asked.
“Because Mrs. Sterlington contacted me tonight.”
“She’s under a restraining order.”
“She didn’t call about your wife.”
The silence that followed felt alive.
“She asked whether the second file was still secure,” Elias said.
“What second file?”
“I thought you should know before she uses it.”
“What second file?” I repeated.
Elias exhaled.
“The paternity file.”
My whole body went still.
From the hallway, one of the security men asked if I was all right.
I could not answer.
On the phone, Elias spoke carefully.
“I don’t know whether it’s real. I never verified it. But she believes she has evidence that Julian is not your son.”
The room disappeared beneath me.
For one terrible second, Penelope’s architecture rose again around my mind.
Sophie’s exhaustion.
My absences.
My mother’s whispers.
The photographs in my file.
Potential leverage.
No.
I shut my eyes.
No.
That was how she worked.
She did not need truth.
Only timing.
Only doubt.
Only a crack big enough to pour poison through.
“Send me everything you have,” I said.
“I will. But Mr. Sterlington?”
“What?”
“She told me if you chose Sophie over blood, she would make sure blood chose against you.”
My gaze fell to the silver-framed portrait on the study wall.
Penelope holding me as a child.
Her smile perfect.
Her arms locked around me like possession.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Sophie.
Just three words.
Julian is gone.
For one second, I thought I had misread it.
Then another message appeared.
Nurse said you authorized transfer for additional testing. Nick, please tell me that was you.
The townhouse walls tilted.
My mother was out on bail.
The files were emptying into my hands.
The hospital had security.
The restraining order was active.
And still, somehow, she had reached into our lives and taken my son.
My next breath came out like something broken.
Then a final message arrived from an unknown number.
A photograph.
Julian asleep in his blue blanket.
Beside him, a single white lily.
Under the image were six words.
May you like
Now we discuss what family means.
.
