The Empire belongs to me

the puzzle, another layer of the family secrets that were slowly unraveling before

ray, and lines carved around his eyes, but his presence still held a quiet strength. He had always been a man of few words, preferring to let h

ice unbroken and clear, "the man is

wildered look with Eva. Even Eleanor and Lily seemed m

crimson. "Carlos, you've been a loyal employee for ye

your disbelief, sir. But I assure you, I speak the truth

tly, replaced by a wary curiosity. "

e. Emma noticed a subtle tension between the two

red. "One that involves events from many years

rd-edged. "Get to

n... Steve... is the result of a relationship you had

desk in front of him, as if seeking answers in the polished wood. "A relati

e, her carefully constructed mask of composure slipping. Lily, for once, seem

ion. For years, she had struggled to understand her father, his distant behavior, and his dogged fo

's true, Mr. Daniels," he alluded, his voice unwavering but respectful.

and with a practiced motion, he flipped the briefcase open, revealing a

is voice surprisingly gentle. "Letters, cards,

as his mind drifted back to a dimly lit hotel room in Mexico, the scent of jasmine heavy in the air, the laughter of a dark-haired woman echoing in his ears. It was a fleeting memory, a moment of pas

s voice thick with emo

nd there's more. DNA tests, birth certificates, even a reco

ible reminders of a past he had tried to forget. But the implications were staggering. A son. An heir. A part of him that ha

ed with a mix of pleading and despair

. Emma sensed a hidden conversation passing between them, a

ly responded, his voice carefully neutr

re of anger and resignation. "And what do you wan

what's rightfully mine," he demanded, his tone emphatic. "

is absurd," she declared. "This man is an impostor. A charlatan trying to take advantage of a vulnerable situ

with false concern. "Father, you can't possibly believe th

iefcase. He reached for a thick envelope labeled "DNA Test Results" and pulled out

poke, his voice respectful but firm, "perhaps we should have these documents veri

that a private investigation could lead to further scandal, and further damage to the Daniels name, especially

ce decisive. "I won't risk further

out a small digital audio recorder. With

, her voice tinged with a faint Mexican accent, "I know you might never hear this message, but I

es flooding back with a rush of emotions he hadn't felt in years.

cy, and her decision to raise their son on her own. She spoke of her love for John, her regret that

, the denial, and finally, the dawning realization that this stranger, t

already plotting ways to use this new development to her advantage. She had always been ambitious, always eager to climb th

y hand. He looked at Steve, his eyes filled with a mix of sorrow

t Emma could see the flash of pain in his eyes, the y

aining some of its usual strength. "I

ched as her stepmother's carefully constructed

nd the Daniels fortune. And now this... this interloper appears out of nowhere! She felt a surge of panic, a fear that her carefully laid plans were crumbling before her eyes. But she

e studied him with a probing fixation, assessing his strengths and weaknesses. He was handsome, undeniably, with a quiet strength that hinted at a hidden power. Lily felt a sputter of excitemen

uddenly appeared, claiming a place in their family. But she was also worried about Emma. Her sister was already vulnerable, still stunned by the scandal

a son he never knew existed. Years of regret, guilt, and suppressed emotions washed over him. He had built an empire and amassed a fortune, but in the

s," he stammered, his voice heavy wit

htly. "I understand," he stated, his voice

ith gratitude. "Thank you, Carlos," he s

fully. "It was the ri

sked, his tone insistent. "I want you to stay. I have

hen nodded slowly.

n't read his expression, but she felt a twinkle of apprehension in her heart. What did

of unease settle over her. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just

hange of glances between Carlos and Steve. For the briefest of moments, Carlos's carefully composed mask slipped. His fingers

as e

ow. The truth hit her like a thunderclap-Steve wasn't just the long-lost son making a mir

se seemed to notice the electric undercurrent between the two men. But she did.

e from her pocket and typed a messag

bridge at 5 a.m. to