\u201cVictor.\u201d \u201cHe came here thinking I wanted to kill him.\u201d Victor placed one hand on Simon\u2019s shoulder. \u201cBut you\u2019re my only biological son.\u201d I felt Simon tense. \u201cAnd therefore my only legal heir.\u201d Rose whispered, \u201cYou planned this.\u201d \u201cFor years.\u201d Victor smiled. \u201cWhy do you think I never exposed him?\u201d Simon stared at him. \u201cYou knew where I was?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways.\u201d The words chilled me. Rose\u2019s hands trembled. Victor continued. \u201cI let you raise him.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d \u201cSo he wouldn\u2019t become me.\u201d Even Rose looked stunned. Victor laughed. \u201cSurprised?\u201d Simon said, \u201cYou expect me to believe you cared?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d Victor leaned close. \u201cI expect you to believe I became tired.\u201d He walked toward his desk. \u201cDo you know what power becomes after forty years?\u201d Nobody answered. \u201cWork.\u201d He poured himself a drink. \u201cEndless work.\u201d He looked at Simon. \u201cI wanted an heir who hated me enough to dismantle everything.\u201d Simon stared. \u201cYou\u2019re insane.\u201d \u201cProbably.\u201d Victor lifted the glass. \u201cBut effective.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose whispered, \u201cThen why the threats?\u201d Victor smiled. \u201cBecause you would never bring the whole family together willingly.\u201d My blood ran cold. He knew. Victor looked directly toward the vent where I was hiding. \u201cAnd I needed everyone in one place.\u201d Daniel grabbed my shoulder. Too late. Doors slammed behind us. Lights flooded the tunnel. Men appeared with weapons. Victor\u2019s voice came through speakers. \u201cCome upstairs, Mason.\u201d Daniel closed his eyes. \u201cHe knew.\u201d I laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently that\u2019s our family tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n
We had no choice.<\/p>\n
When I entered the room, Simon looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood to see you too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor watched us.<\/p>\n
Fascinated.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo alike.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not twins,\u201d Simon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut perhaps that lie did something useful.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt made you brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood beside Simon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need genetics to tell us that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel entered.<\/p>\n
Victor\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth came next.<\/p>\n
For the first time, Victor looked genuinely surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth smiled grimly.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill disappointing people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor laughed.<\/p>\n
Then Amelia entered.<\/p>\n
Victor\u2019s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hoped you were dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMany people do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice came last.<\/p>\n
Victor\u2019s face became strangely sad.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeatrice.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stopped.<\/p>\n
I noticed it immediately.<\/p>\n
So did Simon.<\/p>\n
Victor looked at her differently.<\/p>\n
Not like an employee.<\/p>\n
Not like an enemy.<\/p>\n
Like family.<\/p>\n
I whispered, \u201cWhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice went pale.<\/p>\n
Victor smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe still hasn\u2019t told you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice said, \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I think we\u2019ve passed that point.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeatrice is my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
Simon muttered, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
Suddenly everything rearranged.<\/p>\n
Rose was not Beatrice\u2019s biological mother.<\/p>\n
Victor was Beatrice\u2019s father.<\/p>\n
Then who was her mother?<\/p>\n
Victor answered before I could ask.<\/p>\n
\u201cRose raised her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice whispered, \u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor ignored her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer mother died when she was three.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Rose.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou adopted Beatrice?\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost laughed.<\/p>\n
The cruelty of it was staggering.<\/p>\n
The woman who spent our childhood reminding us we were adopted had been adopted herself.<\/p>\n
Beatrice stared at the floor.<\/p>\n
Suddenly every vicious thing she had said to us looked different.<\/p>\n
Not excused.<\/p>\n
But explained.<\/p>\n
She had taken her oldest wound and handed it to two children.<\/p>\n
Victor said softly, \u201cBeatrice hated the boys because Kenneth loved them the way she wanted Rose to love her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice lunged toward him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSHUT UP!\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth caught her.<\/p>\n
She broke apart.<\/p>\n
Not elegantly.<\/p>\n
Not quietly.<\/p>\n
She screamed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t get to explain me!\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor watched without emotion.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou abandoned me!\u201d<\/p>\n
He raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI funded your entire life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney isn\u2019t a father!\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Something about that sentence hit everyone.<\/p>\n
Beatrice looked at me.<\/p>\n
Tears streamed down her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you boys arrived, Kenneth changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice shook.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe looked at you like he had found something pure.\u201d<\/p>\n
She covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I hated you for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at her.<\/p>\n
She continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it was ugly. I knew it was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice collapsed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut every time he hugged you, I remembered that nobody came back for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amelia whispered, \u201cBeatrice\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI punished children for being loved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no excuse for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time in my life, she did not defend herself.<\/p>\n
She did not say she protected us.<\/p>\n
She did not say we should be grateful.<\/p>\n
She simply stood there with the truth.<\/p>\n
Victor clapped slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon spat blood onto the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re enjoying this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
He walked toward the windows.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m finishing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pressed a button.<\/p>\n
A projection appeared on the wall.<\/p>\n
Bank accounts.<\/p>\n
Companies.<\/p>\n
Names.<\/p>\n
Political donors.<\/p>\n
Judges.<\/p>\n
Police officials.<\/p>\n
Executives.<\/p>\n
Victor said, \u201cEverything is here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel whispered, \u201cThe network.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor looked exhausted.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I am dying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cPancreatic cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled faintly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSix months, perhaps less.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you kidnapped me because you\u2019re dying?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor looked at him.<\/p>\n
Kenneth nodded slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor looked at all of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if the entire Mercer family network collapses publicly, simultaneously, across seven jurisdictions\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one can bury it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou expect us to trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor looked at Simon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI expect my son to decide.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think I\u2019m inheriting this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the criminal network.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor tapped the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy legitimate assets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cApproximately 480 million dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even Beatrice stopped crying.<\/p>\n
Simon stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen give it away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I chose you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon looked at me.<\/p>\n
I could see panic in his eyes.<\/p>\n
Not greed.<\/p>\n
Fear.<\/p>\n
Victor continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there is one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course there was.<\/p>\n
Simon asked, \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor looked toward Rose.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must decide what happens to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose went still.<\/p>\n
Victor placed a folder on the desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cRose committed crimes protecting you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon stared at her.<\/p>\n
Victor continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cFraud. Obstruction. False identities. Bribery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose didn\u2019t deny any of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you release the ledger, she goes to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if I don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe network survives.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
The final cruelty.<\/p>\n
Save his mother or expose an empire.<\/p>\n
Simon looked at Rose.<\/p>\n
For the first time, neither of them knew what to call the other.<\/p>\n
Mother.<\/p>\n
Grandmother.<\/p>\n
Stranger.<\/p>\n
Rose finally said, \u201cRelease it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll go to prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou protected me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPoorly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou saved witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou kept me alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spent your entire life hiding you because I was afraid of losing you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t let my fear cost other people their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon cried then.<\/p>\n
Quietly.<\/p>\n
Angrily.<\/p>\n
He looked at me.<\/p>\n
I walked beside him.<\/p>\n
Whatever blood said, he was my brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do I do?\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n
I looked at the documents.<\/p>\n
Then at Victor.<\/p>\n
And suddenly something bothered me.<\/p>\n
Victor looked too calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s another option.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone looked at me.<\/p>\n
Victor smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there?\u201d<\/p>\n
I walked toward the projection.<\/p>\n
\u201cRose doesn\u2019t have to be the one who releases it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenneth frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Victor.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou already distributed copies.\u201d<\/p>\n
His smile disappeared.<\/p>\n
I knew I was right.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t gather everyone here to ask Simon for permission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor said nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou gathered us here because you wanted witnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel understood.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo a confession.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
Victor sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon stared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat confession?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor reached into his pocket.<\/p>\n
A red light blinked on a recording device.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis entire room has been recording.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose went pale.<\/p>\n
Victor looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed your statements.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then at Kenneth.<\/p>\n
\u201cYours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cYours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finally Beatrice.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice laughed through her tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou manipulated us into confessing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne last family meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then the mansion lights went out.<\/p>\n
Gunfire erupted outside.<\/p>\n
Victor\u2019s smile vanished.<\/p>\n
For the first time all night, he looked afraid.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re early.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n
Victor answered:<\/p>\n
The first bullet shattered the library window.<\/p>\n
Everyone dropped.<\/p>\n
Victor\u2019s guards returned fire.<\/p>\n
Daniel dragged Amelia behind a stone fireplace.<\/p>\n
Kenneth grabbed Beatrice.<\/p>\n
I crawled toward Simon.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you move?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hands are tied.\u201d<\/p>\n
I cut the restraints with a broken piece of glass.<\/p>\n
Another explosion shook the house.<\/p>\n
Rose shouted, \u201cService tunnel!\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey know about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor smiled grimly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause one of them designed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
A voice came through the house speakers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Victor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor froze.<\/p>\n
Kenneth whispered, \u201cWho is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor looked twenty years older.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even Rose stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told me Evelyn died.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor laughed softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently tonight is bad for dead relatives staying dead.\u201d<\/p>\n
The speakers crackled.<\/p>\n
Evelyn Mercer continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou always were sentimental, Victor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many people in this family are secretly alive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point I\u2019m expecting George Washington.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite everything, Simon laughed.<\/p>\n
That sound steadied me.<\/p>\n
Victor opened a hidden wall panel.<\/p>\n
Inside was a steel case.<\/p>\n
He handed it to Simon.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou said it was uploaded.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCopies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gunfire grew louder.<\/p>\n
He looked at Rose.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know the north tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded.<\/p>\n
Victor handed her a key.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet them out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rose stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m staying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon snapped, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone turned.<\/p>\n
Victor looked genuinely surprised.<\/p>\n
Simon stood.<\/p>\n
His voice shook.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to discover one for twenty minutes and then watch him die because he wants a dramatic ending.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor stared at him.<\/p>\n
Simon continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to be useful?\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed toward the tunnel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor almost smiled.<\/p>\n
Then something hit him.<\/p>\n
A bullet.<\/p>\n
He stumbled.<\/p>\n
Rose screamed.<\/p>\n
Victor collapsed.<\/p>\n
Blood spread across his shirt.<\/p>\n
Simon caught him.<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor!\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor looked up at him.<\/p>\n
For the first time, there was no crime lord.<\/p>\n
No strategist.<\/p>\n
Just an old man staring at the son he had failed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWrong side,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled weakly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bullet.\u201d<\/p>\n
He touched his left shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot fatal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon stared.<\/p>\n
Then shouted, \u201cYou absolute psychopath.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely my son.\u201d<\/p>\n
We moved.<\/p>\n
The north tunnel opened into forest half a mile away.<\/p>\n
Behind us, Mercer Estate burned.<\/p>\n
Police sirens wailed in the distance.<\/p>\n
Then federal vehicles arrived.<\/p>\n
Victor hadn\u2019t lied.<\/p>\n
Before gathering us, he had sent evidence to multiple agencies and news organizations with timed releases.<\/p>\n
By sunrise, the Mercer network was collapsing in real time.<\/p>\n
Judges resigned.<\/p>\n
Bank accounts froze.<\/p>\n
Three police officials were arrested.<\/p>\n
A senator\u2019s chief of staff disappeared at an airport and was detained before boarding a private plane.<\/p>\n
Evelyn Mercer was captured before noon.<\/p>\n
Victor went into surgery.<\/p>\n
Rose surrendered voluntarily.<\/p>\n
Kenneth was detained for questioning.<\/p>\n
Daniel too.<\/p>\n
Beatrice sat beside me in a hospital waiting room.<\/p>\n
For hours, neither of us spoke.<\/p>\n
Finally she said, \u201cI don\u2019t expect forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another silence.<\/p>\n
Then she said, \u201cThe flowers were beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost laughed.<\/p>\n
She looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou brought me lilies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKenneth used to buy lilies.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t know that.<\/p>\n
She rubbed her hands together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hated them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
A tiny smile.<\/p>\n
Then gone.<\/p>\n
She whispered, \u201cI was cruel to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEspecially you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you kept trying.\u201d<\/p>\n
That answer hurt more than I expected.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimon stopped needing me when he was twelve.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stared at the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you kept asking me to come to school things. Kept remembering my birthday. Kept giving me chances.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her eyes filled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd every chance made me feel worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said nothing.<\/p>\n
Beatrice looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were a child trying to love someone who didn\u2019t know how to receive it.\u201d<\/p>\n
My throat tightened.<\/p>\n
She whispered, \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
I had imagined those words for years.<\/p>\n
I thought they would heal something.<\/p>\n
They didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
But they opened a door.<\/p>\n
Maybe healing was on the other side.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t forgive you today.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe not tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m listening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beatrice nodded.<\/p>\n
For now, that was enough.<\/p>\n
Amelia approached.<\/p>\n
\u201cMason?\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood.<\/p>\n
For the first time, we were alone.<\/p>\n
My mother.<\/p>\n
My actual mother.<\/p>\n
Twenty years late.<\/p>\n
She looked terrified.<\/p>\n
\u201cMay I hug you?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question nearly destroyed me.<\/p>\n
She was my mother and yet she asked permission.<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
She wrapped her arms around me.<\/p>\n
I smelled lavender.<\/p>\n
And suddenly\u2014impossibly\u2014I remembered it.<\/p>\n
Not clearly.<\/p>\n
A crib.<\/p>\n
Warm arms.<\/p>\n
Lavender.<\/p>\n
I was three again.<\/p>\n
My face pressed against someone\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n
A woman humming.<\/p>\n
My knees weakened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amelia pulled back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour perfume.\u201d<\/p>\n
She covered her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember.\u201d<\/p>\n
We cried together.<\/p>\n
Not because the past had been fixed.<\/p>\n
It couldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n
But because something stolen had finally returned.<\/p>\n
Simon appeared behind her.<\/p>\n
His face bruised.<\/p>\n
His shirt torn.<\/p>\n
He looked exhausted.<\/p>\n
I walked toward him.<\/p>\n
He lifted one eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot twins.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYounger brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy six weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simon shook his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill smarter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMore handsome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDelusional.\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed.<\/p>\n
Then his expression changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMason.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor.\u201d \u201cHe came here thinking I wanted to kill him.\u201d Victor placed one hand on Simon\u2019s shoulder. \u201cBut you\u2019re my only biological son.\u201d I felt Simon tense. \u201cAnd therefore my … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,21,22,1,5,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aita","category-daily-article","category-reddit-stories","category-story","category-story-daily","category-viral-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6405"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6408,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6405\/revisions\/6408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}