Chapter 2 - The London Arrival
Daniel’s heart pounded violently against his ribs as he stared at the glossy photograph of his dead wife.
He slowly looked up at the teenage girl, his exhausted eyes now burning with intense suspicion.
Elara looked genuinely confused as she gently placed the sleeping baby back into Daniel's trembling arms.
She quickly explained that she had found the photograph tucked inside a secondhand calculus textbook she bought at a thrift store in New York.
She said she only kept it because the woman looked incredibly sad behind her beautiful smile.
Daniel desperately wanted to believe her, but his world had taught him never to trust mere coincidences.
He silently tucked the photograph inside his suit jacket and escorted Elara off the plane.
A sleek black limousine was waiting for them on the private tarmac under the gray London sky.
Standing next to the vehicle was Julian, Daniel’s estranged older stepbrother and the chief financial officer of their family empire.
Julian flashed a cold, calculating smile that never quite reached his dark, sunken eyes.
He stepped forward to greet Daniel, but his gaze immediately locked onto the teenage girl holding the diaper bag.
Julian extended his hand toward her with a sickeningly smooth charm.
He welcomed her to London and hoped she would enjoy her stay at the Whitmore estate.
Elara politely shook his hand, her expression remaining perfectly calm and unreadable.
Daniel felt a sudden chill run down his spine as he ushered everyone into the back of the spacious limousine.
The luxury car pulled away from the airport, plunging them into the heavy morning traffic of the city.
Julian poured himself a glass of expensive champagne from the vehicle's minibar.
He took a slow sip and looked directly at the teenage girl sitting quietly in the corner.
Julian casually remarked that it was quite brave for her to travel so far from home.
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He then asked her how her little sister's colic was doing these days.
Elara’s face drained of all color, because she had never mentioned her sister to anyone except Daniel on the airplane.
