“They altered your records.”
“They made sure you believed you couldn’t have children…”
“So you would never question anything.”
Julian felt something cold spread through his veins.
“Why?”
Eliza’s eyes locked onto his.
“Because your father didn’t want anyone else inheriting control.”
A pause.
“And your mother didn’t want me tied to the family forever.”
The pieces clicked together violently.
Control.
Power.
Legacy.
“They didn’t just separate us,” Julian whispered.
“They erased me.”
Eliza nodded once.
“Yes.”
Behind them—
Peter ran closer again.
Holding the kite.
Grinning.
“Mom! Can he help us fly it?”
Julian looked down at him.
At his son.
At the life that had been stolen from him.
Something in his chest shifted.
Not anger.
Not grief.
Something stronger.
Decision.
He crouched slowly.
