Chapter Three

Adrian, focus.”

The whisper came from Victoria at his side. Her eyes, sharp enough to cut through the tension, flicked toward his clenched jaw. “The judge is watching you.”

Adrian barely heard her. His gaze was fixed on the boy.

The boy with Gabriel Vega’s eyes.

The boy with his own face.

He sat in the gallery, small hands gripping a pencil, the tip scratching lines into a notebook. But every tilt of his head, every spark of curiosity in those brown eyes, it was as if Adrian was staring into a mirror from years ago.

Adrian’s chest constricted. He had spent his whole life controlling everything, markets, rivals, empires. Yet one glance at this child had shattered him.

“Mr. Knight,” the judge said firmly. “Do you have a response to the plaintiff’s claim?”

Adrian rose slowly, pushing his chair back. His throat felt dry. He cleared it, forcing his voice steady. “Knight Enterprises denies any misconduct. The allegations are based on misinterpretation, and we will demonstrate….”

But his eyes betrayed him, darting again toward the gallery.

Victoria noticed. She always noticed. Her nails tapped once against her folder, the sound sharp. She leaned closer, her voice sharp. “Who is the child?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

The hearing dragged on, but Adrian heard almost none of it. Gabriel’s voice echoed, calm and deliberate. He had always spoken that way, even years ago, when late-night talks had stretched until dawn. It made Adrian’s chest burn with something he couldn’t name.

When the judge finally adjourned, the gavel striking wood, Adrian exhaled slowly. The sound felt like thunder in his ears. He gathered his papers, but his hands trembled once before he stilled them.

As the courtroom emptied, Adrian’s eyes followed Gabriel. He moved with the same quiet strength Adrian remembered, his son close at his side, Daniel shadowing them protectively.

Adrian’s footsteps echoed across the marble floor as he followed.

“Gabriel.”

The name left him before he could stop it.

Gabriel froze in the hallway. He turned slowly, his expression sharp as a blade. “Don’t.”

Adrian stopped a few feet away. The air between them was thick, tense, filled with seven years of silence. “The boy…” His voice faltered, low and unsteady. “He’s…”

“Not your concern,” Gabriel snapped, his hand tightening on Elias’s shoulder.

Elias blinked up at him, confused. “Papa?”

Daniel stepped forward then, placing himself between them. “Mr. Knight, this isn’t the place.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “And you are?”

“His colleague,” Daniel said evenly, though his stance was protective, almost possessive. “And you’re wasting his time.”

Adrian almost laughed, but the sound came out hollow. “Wasting time? Seven years feels like a lifetime wasted.”

Gabriel’s jaw clenched. “You left me, Adrian. You don’t get to rewrite history.”

Adrian’s eyes flicked to Elias again. “History writes itself.”

Elias tilted his head, studying Adrian the way children do when they sense something unspoken. His innocence cut deeper than any insult.

Victoria appeared at Adrian’s side, her heels clicking against the floor. She gave Gabriel a polite smile, though her eyes were ice. “Mr. Vega. Impressive arguments today. But you should know, Knight Enterprises doesn’t lose.”

Gabriel didn’t flinch. “We’ll see.”

Adrian barely heard them. His focus was fixed on the boy, who had shifted closer to Gabriel, his notebook clutched against his chest. Adrian saw the drawing peeking from the page, an unfinished sketch of a tall building. The Knight Enterprises tower.

Something broke inside him.

As Gabriel turned to leave, Adrian’s voice rang out, sharp, desperate, undeniable.

“Elias.”

The hallway froze.

Gabriel stiffened, his back rigid, his fingers tightening around his son’s hand. Daniel’s eyes widened, fury flashing in them. Victoria’s lips curved in the faintest smirk, already calculating.

And Elias blinked, his head snapping toward Adrian. “How do you know my name?”

Gabriel’s breath caught. He turned slowly, his glare cutting like a blade. “Don’t you dare.”

“Gabriel,” Adrian said hoarsely, stepping closer. “Tell me the truth.”

“There’s nothing to tell.” Gabriel pulled Elias protectively against him. “Walk away.”

Elias looked between them, confused. “Papa, do you know him?”

“Yes,” Gabriel said firmly, not breaking eye contact with Adrian. “And that’s all you need to know.”

But Adrian wasn’t letting go. His voice cracked as he pressed forward. “He looks like me. You can’t deny it.”

Daniel raised a hand, blocking Adrian’s path. “Step back, Knight. This conversation is over.”

“Move,” Adrian snapped.

“No,” Daniel shot back, eyes blazing. “You don’t get to march in after years of silence and tear into him like this. You don’t get to demand answers.”

“Seven years,” Adrian said coldly, “and you think silence erases everything?”

“It was your silence,” Gabriel bit out. His voice shook with anger, but also with pain. “You left. You chose to disappear.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “And you chose to hide him from me.”

Elias frowned, his voice small. “Papa, why is he saying that?”

Gabriel crouched to meet his son’s eyes, ignoring the burn of Adrian’s stare. “He’s mistaken, cariño. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“But he knows my name,” Elias whispered. “How?”

Gabriel’s throat tightened. He reached for words, but Adrian’s voice cut in.

“Because I should have been here. Because I should have known you from the day you were born.”

“Enough!” Gabriel’s voice rang through the hallway, harsh and raw.

Elias jumped at the sound. Daniel placed a steadying hand on Gabriel’s shoulder, whispering, “Don’t let him do this here.”

Victoria finally stepped forward, her smile razor-sharp. “Mr. Vega, if you’d like to accuse my client of anything personal, be aware, everything said in this building can be turned into evidence. Are you sure you want to continue?”

“You’re vile,” Daniel hissed.

“Efficient,” Victoria corrected smoothly. Her eyes flicked to Elias, assessing him. “And curious, very curious.”

Gabriel shielded Elias with his body, glaring at her. “Don’t even look at him.”

Adrian spoke again, softer this time, almost pleading. “Gabriel, just tell me…”

Gabriel straightened, his voice calm and dangerous. “He’s my son. Mine, not yours qnd that is all you’ll ever need to know.”

Adrian’s heart twisted, but before he could respond, Elias tugged on Gabriel’s sleeve, whispering, “Papa, why are you so angry? He seems sad.”

The innocence in that voice broke the air apart. Gabriel closed his eyes, fighting the sting in them.

Adrian’s voice trembled. “ doesn’t begin to cover it.”

“Don’t,” Gabriel whispered. His hand tightened on Elias’s. “Don’t make me hate you more than I already do.”