Todos os capítulos de The Secret Heir’s Return : Capítulo 101 - Capítulo 110

The second family event was worse than the first.Isabella stood at the edge of the ballroom, a glass of champagne warm in her hand, her eyes scanning the crowd. Sebastian was across the room, speaking with a cousin she didn't recognize. Lucas and Lily were with a nanny in the children's wing, safe from the politics and posturing of the Thorn family.She should have stayed home."Ms. Davenport." A voice came from behind her. "We will meet again."She turned.Genevieve stood before her, tall and elegant, her red dress stark against the pale walls. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a severe twist, her brown eyes sharp."You're Damien's wife," Isabella said."And you're the woman who broke his heart." Genevieve smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I've heard so much about you.""I'm sure you have.""He talks about you, you know. When he drinks too much. When he thinks I'm not listening." Genevieve moved closer. "He says your name like a prayer."Isabella's heart ached. "Why are you

Genevieve returned on a Friday.Isabella was in the kitchen, baking bread with Lily, when the doorbell rang. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked to the front door, already knowing who she would find.Genevieve stood on the porch, a leather satchel in her hand, her face pale."I have something to show you," she said.Isabella stepped aside.The living room was quiet, the curtains drawn against the afternoon sun.Isabella sat on the couch, Lily in her lap, Genevieve across from her. Sebastian came in from the garden, his face tightening when he saw their visitor."What's going on?" he asked."Genevieve has information," Isabella said. "About Alexander's network."Sebastian sat beside her, his body tense. "What kind of information?"Genevieve opened her satchel, pulling out a stack of documents. "Names. Dates. Transactions. Everything Alexander tried to hide before he died.""Why are you giving this to us?""Because I want to help." Genevieve met his eyes. "Because I'm tired of b

The letter arrived on a Monday, three weeks after the trial ended.Isabella found it in the mailbox, the envelope thick and cream-colored, a Parisian postmark in the corner. Her name was written in handwriting she didn't recognize, elegant, looping, feminine.She opened it with steady hands.Dear Isabella,I know you don't know me. I know you have no reason to trust me. But I need to tell you the truth about Alexander, about the other family, about the child who survived.His name is Thomas. He's been hiding for thirty years, waiting for the right moment to come forward.He's ready now.Please. Meet me at the cemetery tomorrow. Noon. A FriendIsabella read the letter twice, then handed it to Sebastian."Another Friend," she said."Another secret.""Another chance to uncover the truth."Sebastian nodded slowly. "We go together."The cemetery was old, the headstones weathered, the grass overgrown.Isabella stood at the gate, Sebastian beside her, her heart pounding. The fog rolled in f

The doctor came to see them the morning after the transfusion.Isabella was sitting by Lucas's bed, watching him sleep, her hand on his small chest. Damien was in the chair across from her, his eyes fixed on his son. Sebastian stood by the window, his back to the room."Ms. Davenport." The doctor's voice was soft. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"Isabella's heart pounded. "Is something wrong?""No." The doctor smiled. "But we need to discuss the test results."Isabella followed her into the hallway."The transfusion was successful," the doctor said. "Lucas is responding well. He should make a full recovery.""Then what's the problem?""No problem." The doctor paused. "But we ran additional tests. Genetic markers. Blood typing. Standard procedure.""And?""And Damien Thorn is Lucas's biological father." The doctor met her eyes. "There's no doubt."Isabella nodded slowly. "I know.""You knew?""I've always known." Her voice cracked. "I just didn't know how to tell him."Damien took

The tension between Damien and Sebastian had been building for weeks.Isabella noticed it in the small things, the way they avoided each other's eyes, the way they chose seats at opposite ends of the table, the way their conversations were clipped and cold. They were civil, for Lucas's sake, for Lily's sake, for her sake.But being civil wasn't the same as being friendly."We need to talk," she said one evening, finding Damien on the porch."About what?""About you and Sebastian. About the way you look at each other."Damien's jaw tightened. "There's nothing to talk about.""There's everything to talk about." She sat beside him. "You're brothers.""Step Brothers.""Brothers." She took his hand. "And you're both part of this family."Damien was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "He hates me.""He doesn't hate you.""He should." Damien's voice cracked. "I've done terrible things. Hurt people he loves.""So has he." Isabella squeezed his hand. "But you're both trying to be better."