Chapter 7 - The Man in the Photograph
Julian searched the family archives.
There were photographs of Elias everywhere.
Arthur and Elias at business dinners.
Arthur and Elias on vacations.
Arthur and Elias standing beside the same private jet.
Then Julian found one photograph that made him stop breathing.
Elias was holding a newborn baby.
On the back was a date.
Julian's birthday.
He stared at the infant.
The face was impossible to identify.
But the hospital bracelet was visible.
JULIAN MERCER.
Julian's hand trembled.
He called the unknown number.
A man's voice answered.
“You shouldn't have called.”
“Who are you?”
Silence.
“Tell me about Elias.”
The man breathed slowly.
“Your father wasn't Arthur.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“Then who was?”
“You already know.”
The line disconnected.
Julian stared at the phone.
He called the number again.
Dead.
Then Chloe entered.
She saw his face.
“What happened?”
Julian showed her the photograph.
Chloe covered her mouth.
“That can't be real.”
“It is.”
She looked at the date.
Then whispered something Julian had never expected.
“Mom was pregnant before she married Dad.”
Julian froze.
“Who was the father?”
Chloe shook her head.
“She never told anyone.”
Then the estate alarm sounded.
May you like
Someone had entered the property.
👉 The search for Julian's biological father had just turned into a race against someone desperate to destroy the evidence.
