Chapter 1 - The Frost and the Fire
The freezing wind of Millennium Park howled around us, but the chill in my veins had nothing to do with the weather. I stared at my father, the man who had shaped my entire existence, seeing him not as a mentor, but as a monster.
“Get away from her,” I growled, my voice dropping to a lethal timber. I stepped between Arthur and the bench, shielding Elena and the three shivering bundles in her arms.
Arthur’s cane tapped against the icy concrete, a nervous, rhythmic sound. “Julian, you are making a scene. Think of the board. Think of the upcoming merger. These… people… are a distraction.”
“They are my flesh and blood!” I roared, the sound echoing off the Bean, drawing stares from distant tourists. I turned to Elena. She was shaking violently, her lips tinged blue. The babies were eerily quiet, a sign of deep lethargy that sent fresh panic spiking through my chest.
“Elena, please,” I said, stripping off my heavy wool coat and draping it over her frail shoulders. She flinched at my touch, her eyes wide with a mix of terror and exhaustion. “Let me help. You don’t have to forgive me. Just let me get them out of the cold.”
She looked at the pale faces of our children, her maternal instinct warring with her deep-seated hatred for the Vance name. Finally, she gave a microscopic nod.
I pulled out my phone and dialed my head of security. “Marcus. Bring the SUV to the Michigan Avenue curb. Now. Bring blankets and have a private medical team waiting at the penthouse.”
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Arthur stepped forward, his face twisted in a desperate sneer. “If you put her in that car, Julian, you are throwing away a billion-dollar legacy. I will not let you destroy this family.”
“You already did,” I said, lifting Elena gently by her elbow, guiding her and the babies toward the street. “You’re dead to me, Arthur. If you ever come near them again, I will destroy you.”
