"Patrick and Adir... they’re half-brothers. Sa father"
For a second, no one moved. Then lanie blinked as her brow furrowed. "That doesn’t make any sense. Patrick’s what—almost fifty?" And then, lanie realized..."Holy shi..."
She caught herself, glanced at Adam, and added with deliberate emphasis, "It seems Sir Robert is quite sothing. Even when you told how he ’grood’ girls... I didn’t practically think how active he was... he was almost eighty... I almost feel bad for Saira..."
Adam grimaced at that, and Max outright laughed, shaking his head as he said, "A man fathering a child in his late seventies... it’s quite the dream co true, isn’t it?"
But Adam didn’t respond. He liked the kid- Adir. Had even let himself believe, for a while, that the boy might be his. As much as he hated Saira, as much as the idea of being tied to her forever because of a child made his stomach turn, knowing that Adir was Sir Robert’s son instead... it left a sour, disappointing taste.
There was sothing about the boy that didn’t fit with Robert Collins. Sothing warm. Sothing real.
lanie seed to read the thought right off his face. She reached over, caught his hand gently and held it.
Adam finally exhaled, low and tired but also reminding himself relieved. Now, he wouldn’t have to worry about how lanie would feel about being a step mother... Of course, he didn’t say that outright. And before he could say anything, he heard lanie ask, "What I don’t understand is, why did Saira not tell Sir Collins about this? If she’d told, wouldn’t he have at least not tried to kill her?"
Adam shook his head slowly. "Only by maintaining that Adir was my son could she convince Sir Robert that she still had a hold over . She would’ve believed that was enough. If Sir Robert had known the truth—that the child was his—he would’ve cut her off imdiately. No hesitation. Because then, it wouldn’t just be she was manipulating. It would’ve ant she had a hold on him. And he would never have allowed that."
He paused, jaw tight. "She played it well."
"But I still don’t understand where Patrick Collins fits into any of this," Adam said, frowning. "As far as I know, he left soon after he threw out of the house. That ans he would’ve been long gone before Saira gave birth. So how the hell did the child end up with him?"
lanie stayed quiet for a mont, thoughtful. Then she said slowly, "There’s another question we’re not asking."
Both n looked at her.
"Why did Patrick go along with her in the first place?" she asked. "Why agree to deceive Adam? And then later—why the sudden shift? Why send a lawyer to , of all people, and then take Adir straight to Sir Robert afterward? What changed? What made him decide to turn on Saira? Or support her for that matter."
Adam looked down, expression dark. "That’s the part I don’t get either."
They were still processing lanie’s question when Max’s phone buzzed. He frowned, picking it up, and read the ssage quickly.
His face changed.
Adam caught the shift imdiately. "What is it?"
Max didn’t answer at once. He looked up, blinking as if re-orienting himself, then said, "Patrick just made a move."
lanie sat straighter. "What kind of move?"
"He’s ordered for Adir to be brought to the Collins estate. Soon. I guess you are going to either get an uncle or a son after your ’death’."
They both nodded. Okay. No one knew that Adam was still alive but Patrick Colllins did. So, until they knew his motive, judging where to go from there on was going to be difficult.
Adam’s eyes narrowed. "Why now?"
"That’s the question, isn’t it?" Max said, tossing the phone onto the table. "We were just talking about how none of this makes sense, and suddenly he’s stepping forward like this is all part of so long-laid plan."
lanie looked at Adam, then back at Max. "Did the lawyer say anything about why he’s taking Adir there? I an... is he going to present the boy as Adam’s son—or Sir Robert’s?"
Max shook his head. "No clarification. Nothing official."
Adam let out a long breath and leaned back. "He’s not going to say it’s Sir Robert’s child. He can’t. That would ruin everything. I think they will declare dead and introduce the child as my heir. That is if Patrick’s protecting the old man’s reputation which he would considering the fact that Patrick Collins has always looked upto his father. Additionally, we need to check grandmother’s will. If there is any such provision there where in case of my death, my child can inherit the estate and the company....If they are able to establish Adir as my child, then they have dual power. The child is back in the family fold and they estate is in their hand. It is quite a master stroke..."
lanie winced," Dam* it! These people can’t even leave a child alone?"
"So... you think he’s really going to claim Adir is your son?" Max asked with concern.
"I think he’ll do whatever causes the least damage to the family na," Adam said. "And it’s easier to paint as the fool who didn’t know than to admit Sir Robert fathered a child with a woman nearly fifty years his junior."
Before anyone could reply, Max’s phone buzzed again.
He grabbed it, glanced down—and froze.
"Max?" lanie asked.
His expression had changed. Blank first, then slowly twisting into sothing sharper.
"Max, what is it?" Adam pressed.
Max looked up, voice flat and slow. "Sir Robert Collins was just hospitalized. He had a severe heart attack. Minutes ago. It seems he’s unconscious. They’ve taken him into ergency care. I’m already ssaging my contact to keep an eye on this and let know if this is real or so other elaborate plan..."
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