Chapter 7: The Child Buried By The Viremont Name
The basement became completely silent.
Not the peaceful kind of silence.
The kind that arrived when everyone in the room understood that one sentence had changed everything.
Theron stared at his father.
Lucien Viremont.
The man who had taught him how to negotiate.
How to win.
How to never show weakness.
The man who had spent his entire life convincing everyone that he was untouchable.
And now he was standing in an old hidden room, surrounded by secrets he could no longer control.
"What did she mean?""
Theron's voice was low.
Nobody answered.
His eyes moved toward Corisande.
"You said my mother had another child.""
Corisande looked at Lucien.
For the first time since Theron had known her, she looked genuinely afraid.
Not acting.
Not performing.
Afraid.
"Tell him," Theron said.
Lucien's face hardened.
"You don't understand what you're asking.""
"I understand perfectly.""
"You are emotional.""
Theron laughed once.
The sound had no humor.
"That is what you always say when someone gets close to the truth.""
Lucien stepped forward.
"You think you know everything because you found a notebook?""
Adrian immediately moved closer to Theron.
"Don't let him distract you.""
Lucien looked at Adrian with disgust.
"You were always weak.""
Adrian's expression changed.
"No. I was loyal to the wrong person.""
That sentence hit harder than an accusation.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"Careful.""
"Why?"" Adrian asked quietly.
"Are you going to erase me too?""
Theron looked between them.
"Enough.""
His voice cut through the room.
He turned toward Corisande.
"Who was the child?""
Corisande swallowed.
"Your mother's daughter.""
Theron felt the air leave his lungs.
"Daughter?""
Lucien interrupted.
"This is nonsense.""
Corisande looked at him.
"You told me the same thing when you hired me.""
Theron's eyes snapped toward her.
"When you hired her?""
Corisande closed her eyes.
"I wasn't supposed to marry you.""
The confession was quiet.
But it destroyed whatever remained.
Theron stared at her.
"Explain.""
She looked at Eirlys.
Then back at him.
"Lucien found me after your mother died.""
Theron's jaw tightened.
"He recruited you.""
"Yes.""
"To do what?""
Corisande's voice shook.
"To watch you.""
The words felt impossible.
"Watch me?""
"He needed someone close to you.""
Theron looked away.
Every memory of their relationship suddenly felt contaminated.
Every dinner.
Every conversation.
Every moment he thought was real.
"Why?""
Corisande hesitated.
"Because your mother left something behind.""
Lucien stepped forward.
"Stop talking.""
Theron turned.
"No.""
The command was sharp.
For once, Lucien listened.
Because even he knew something had changed.
Corisande continued.
"Your mother discovered that Lucien had been changing the inheritance documents.""
Theron frowned.
"But the trust.""
"Wasn't the original plan.""
Corisande looked at the notebook in Adrian's hand.
"Your mother found proof that Lucien was trying to remove you from control of the company.""
Theron felt his stomach twist.
"Why?""
"Because he wanted someone else to inherit.""
The room became colder.
"Who?""
Nobody spoke.
Then Adrian answered.
"His other child.""
Theron looked at him.
"Who?""
Adrian's voice softened.
"Her name was Elara.""
The name felt unfamiliar.
But somehow it didn't.
Like a song heard from another room.
"My sister.""
The words came out slowly.
Lucien looked away.
That was enough.
Theron saw the truth.
Not because Lucien admitted it.
Because he didn't.
For the first time, his father had no defense.
"You had a daughter before me.""
Lucien remained silent.
"You hid her.""
Silence.
"You let my mother die protecting a secret.""
Lucien's face hardened.
"Watch yourself.""
"No.""
Theron stepped closer.
"I spent my entire life believing you were cold because you were strong.""
His voice trembled.
"But you're not strong.""
Lucien looked at him.
"You are a man terrified of losing control.""
The old man's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Theron noticed.
And so did everyone else.
Then Eirlys spoke.
"Daddy.""
He immediately turned.
She held his hand.
"I know that girl.""
Everyone froze.
Theron knelt.
"What girl?""
"The one in the picture.""
Adrian looked shocked.
"What?""
Eirlys looked at him.
"She came to my room.""
Theron's heart started racing.
"When?""
"A long time ago.""
"Before yesterday?""
She nodded.
"She gave me a necklace.""
Theron looked at Corisande.
"Who?""
Nobody answered.
Eirlys touched her chest.
The necklace was hidden beneath her pajamas.
Theron carefully pulled it out.
A small silver pendant.
Adrian went pale.
"Where did she get that?""
Theron looked at him.
"Why?""
Adrian whispered:
"Because that belonged to Elara.""
The room went silent again.
Theron stared at the necklace.
His daughter had been carrying proof of a sister he never knew existed.
A sister who had somehow been close to Eirlys.
A sister Lucien wanted forgotten.
Then the basement lights flickered.
Everyone turned.
A sound came from upstairs.
A phone ringing.
Lucien looked toward the ceiling.
May you like
And for the first time...
He looked worried.
