“What did Evelyn do?”

Ruth looked at me, asking for permission with her eyes.

I closed my eyes and nodded slowly.

The secret had been a heavy stone in my chest for five years.

It was time to let it go.

“Five years ago,” Ruth began, her voice steady, “when Evelyn found out she could not carry a child, she was desperate.”

“Your uncle Marcus was already trying to push you out of the company, Daniel.”

“He was using your lack of an heir as leverage with the board.”

Daniel listened, his body completely still.

“Evelyn knew that if she didn’t have a child, the family legacy would fall to Marcus,” Ruth continued.

“So she made an arrangement.”

“With me,” I said, opening my eyes to look at Daniel.

Daniel looked at me, his mouth slightly open.

“I was young, and my family was drowning in debt,” I said.

“Evelyn found me through a private agency.”

“She paid for everything, but she also made me sign a contract.”

“A contract that legally surrendered all my rights to the babies before they were even born.”