—Sofia was told she was an orphan.
—I am.
—No.
My breath caught.
Victoria looked directly at me.
—Your mother didn’t die when you were a baby.
The room seemed to tilt.
—You’re lying.
—I wish I were.
Leonardo’s voice hardened.
—Who was her mother?
Victoria’s eyes filled with something I couldn’t identify.
Fear.
Shame.
Perhaps both.
Before she could answer, the doors opened.
An elderly man entered with two attorneys.
Leonardo stared at him.
—Uncle Charles?
Charles Lancaster ignored him.
He looked at me.
Then at Ethan.
Caleb.
Adrian.
His cane nearly slipped from his hand.
—My God.
He approached slowly.
—There are three of them.
Leonardo stepped in front of him.
—You know something.
Charles looked at Victoria.
—You never told him?
Victoria whispered:
—Don’t.
—Fourteen years, Victoria.
—Charles.
—Enough.
He turned toward me.
—Sofia, there is something you need to understand about the Lancaster fortune.
