Chapter 4 - The Sins of the Father
Eleanor stared at Marcus in absolute horror as the terrible truth finally pieced itself together in her mind.
Marcus had kidnapped Leo eight years ago on Richard's direct orders, intending to kill the child.
But instead of committing murder, Marcus had swapped his own infant son into the empty crib to live a life of luxury.
Julian was not a random orphan they had adopted after their tragedy; he was the son of a monster.
Julian looked up at the terrifying, heavily tattooed man, his young mind struggling to understand the nightmare.
Marcus stepped closer, reaching a filthy hand out to grab the boy who had grown up draped in wealth.
Eleanor threw herself between them, shielding Julian with her own body despite the deadly knife.
She viciously told Marcus that Julian was her son, regardless of whose corrupted blood ran through his veins.
Marcus laughed a dry, humorless laugh that echoed unnervingly through the glass walls of the greenhouse.
He explained that Richard was planning to kill all of them tonight to prevent the massive trust fund from defaulting back to Leo.
Marcus claimed he was only there to collect his biological son and leave the rest of them to die.
Julian, realizing the absolute danger his mother was in, did something incredibly brave for a sheltered child.
He lunged forward and sank his teeth as hard as he could into Marcus's wrist.
Marcus roared in pain, dropping the hunting knife onto the damp soil of the greenhouse floor.
Eleanor instantly kicked the knife away, grabbed both boys by their coats, and sprinted for the back exit.
They burst out the rear doors of the greenhouse just as Richard and three armed guards arrived.
Richard raised a high-powered rifle, aiming it directly at Eleanor's back as she ran.
A loud gunshot cracked through the stormy night, but it was not Eleanor who fell to the ground.
Marcus had staggered out of the greenhouse, and Richard had shot his own brother in the chest without hesitation.
Richard coldly ordered his men to ignore the bleeding man and hunt down his wife and the children.
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Eleanor dragged the boys toward the treacherous cliffs that bordered the northern edge of the estate.
She realized with sinking dread that they were completely trapped between the armed guards and a deadly drop into the ocean.
