Chương 10 - the secondary envelope
One year later, the afternoon sun cast a breathtaking golden light across the stone terrace of the Hamptons estate.
A massive family celebration was underway. Guests gathered on the lawn to celebrate Mia's eighth birthday, while classical music filled the ocean breeze.
Mia stood near the central fountain wearing a bright new yellow dress, happily playing with her puppy while her friends cheered merrily.
Adrian stood near the balustrade wearing a navy linen suit, holding a glass of iced tea. Beside him stood Claire, looking breathtaking in an emerald summer dress, her hand resting warmly in his palm.
Marcus, Adrian's head of security, walked out onto the terrace, carrying a thick black leather envelope stamped with a heavy red wax seal—a crest depicting a golden falcon holding a broken key.
Marcus handed the envelope to Adrian, his expression calm but focused. "Boss. A private courier just brought this from the international airport in Geneva. It came directly from your father's private legal vault in Switzerland."
Adrian broke the heavy wax seal and pulled out a single sheet of heavy parchment written in fine, elegant gold calligraphy.
He read the first two lines, his relaxed expression slowly sharpening into an intense, focused gaze.
Claire noticed the sudden shift in his posture and stepped closer to his side. "Adrian? What is it?"
Adrian slowly read the lines written across the parchment, his deep voice calm but echoing with a subtle edge of dark mystery:
"To Adrian Kane: The corporate debt of Manhattan is settled, and Mia's bloodline is secured. But your father's secondary family trust in Geneva has just been unlocked by a second child's record."
Claire looked at the gold lettering, her brows furrowing with curiosity and concern. "A second child's record? What does that mean, Adrian?"
Adrian slowly folded the black parchment, slipped it into his inner suit pocket, and wrapped his broad arm around Claire's waist, looking out across the wide, sparkling blue expanse of the Atlantic Ocean toward the distant horizon.
May you like
He reached out, taking Claire's hand in his broad palm, while down on the sunny lawn, little Mia looked up and waved at them with a wide, happy smile.
"It means our family has one more beautiful secret to find, my love," Adrian whispered softly into the warm summer breeze, holding his wife and daughter close as the afternoon sun bathed them in eternal golden light.
