Chapter 10
Vanessa broke before Ellis.
I expected the opposite.
Maybe because she realized Marcus Vale no longer had enough men to protect the arrangement.
She looked at Sabrina and said:
“You want to know why he needed Noah today?”
Ellis turned sharply.
“Don’t.”
Vanessa smiled.
Betrayal recognizes opportunity.
“He was moving the reserve tonight.”
Sabrina frowned.
“How?”
“Blood confirmation.”
I already knew that.
But Vanessa continued.
“Not just Noah’s.”
My expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
She looked at Ellis.
Then me.
“He has another child.”
Silence.
Sabrina stared at her ex-husband.
Ellis went pale.
Not shame.
Exposure.
“How old?” Sabrina asked.
Vanessa answered.
“Five.”
I looked at her.
“Yours?”
She laughed.
“No.”
Interesting.
Ellis snapped, “Enough.”
Nobody listened.
Vanessa explained that years before Sabrina, Ellis had a son with a woman connected to a small Chappell branch. The child was kept outside public family life because Ellis thought acknowledging him would complicate inheritance.
Now he had a use for him.
Another male blood connection to Chappell.
Another child who could be presented inside reserve succession rituals if Noah refused.
I almost couldn’t believe the repetition.
Men hiding children until blood became useful.
“Where is he?” Sabrina asked.
Ellis glared at Vanessa.
She smiled.
“West property.”
Sabrina’s eyes filled.
Not because of jealousy.
Because she understood another mother had probably lived her version of this story.
“What does his mother know?”
Vanessa looked away.
That was bad.
I stepped closer.
“What does she know?”
Finally:
“She thinks Ellis is sending monthly support because he cares.”
Sabrina closed her eyes.
Of course.
Control can wear generosity too.
I looked at Ellis.
“You built two families and told each woman only what kept her compliant.”
He leaned forward.
“You think your world is cleaner?”
“No.”
That answer surprised him.
“I think mine is full of men who do exactly what you did and call it strategy.”
Then I looked at Sabrina.
“We find the child.”
She nodded.
Ellis laughed.
“You don’t even know what you’re stepping into.”
I turned.
“No.”
My voice stayed quiet.
“But I know what you were willing to step over.”
I glanced toward Noah, visible through the glass with Thomas.
A three-year-old boy had carried his mother’s escape card because every adult around him except Sabrina expected obedience.
May you like
Now Ellis’s hidden son had become another piece on the same board.
That board was coming apart.
