Chapter 2 - The Weight of a LieThe wind swept
Chapter 2 - The Weight of a LieThe wind swept through the desolate New Mexico yard, kicking up dust that stung Ethan’s eyes, though the sting of the revelation was infinitely sharper. Twins. Two children. One hidden away in the desert to protect him from the ruthless ambitions of Victoria Knight, and another whose whereabouts remained a terrifying blank. Ethan stood frozen, his military training completely failing him in the face of a domestic betrayal so calculated it made battlefield tactics look transparent.
Rose stood up slowly from her wooden chair, the wooden beads of her rosary clicking rhythmically against one another. "You trusted her," Rose whispered, her voice cracking with a mix of grief and unyielding rage. "You wore her uniform, you fought her wars, while she tore our family apart and buried my daughter's dignity. You never looked closer because you didn't want to see the rot underneath the Knight family name." Ethan couldn't defend himself. Every word was a bullet finding its mark. He looked toward the doorway where Oliver was still hiding, peering out with wide, frightened eyes. Every time the boy looked at Ethan's brass buttons, he saw the tyranny of Victoria Knight.
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Ethan dropped to one knee, ignoring the dirt staining his trousers. "Oliver," he called out softly, keeping his hands open and empty to show he meant no harm. "I am not here to hurt you. I promise you." But the boy retreated further into the shadows of the adobe house, clutching a frayed blanket. Grace wiped her face with the back of her trembling hand, looking up at Ethan with a mixture of terror and pleading. "Colonel, you have to understand. When Mrs. Knight discovered Emily was carrying twins, she saw it as a threat to your career and the family estate. She arranged everything. She told the doctors to record one stillbirth, while the second child... God help me, the second child was taken away the very same night."
Ethan's blood ran cold. "Where?" he demanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous, steely register that commanded obedience. "Where is my other child?" Grace shuddered, her eyes darting toward the distant horizon where the state line blurred into the haze. "I don't know, Colonel. Only your mother and her personal lawyer hold those files. But I know who helped execute the transfer."
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