Chapter301Confrontation 0.81% +10FreeCol Lukeshandgrippedthewarmcupoftea,thoughtheringsteamdidnothingtocalmhim.Inasuddenburstofanger,heslammedthecupontothetable.Theliquidsplatteredacrossthesurface.
Ilookexactlylikemydad!IfImnothisson, thenwhoamI?Hisvoicebrokeasheglaredaroundtheroom,seekinganswers.
CarterturnedhissharpgazetowardAnna.Youmustknowsomething.Tellhim.
Annawrappedherarmstightlyaroundherstomach,instinctivelyshieldingthelifegrowinginsideher.ShecouldntcarelessaboutLuke.
Hereyesdropped,andhervoicecameoutinbarelymorethanawhisper.Idontknowanything TheSanders,whohadbeensilentobservers,exchangedwideeyedglances.Theconversationhadtakenasudden,dramaticturn,andneitherofthemhadexpectedit.
Adamsface,stillpalefromshock,shiftedasathoughtstruckhim .Dad…coulditbe…? Jeffreysexpressionwasgrim,buthenodded.Yes.Yourfatherhadanidenticaltwinbrother.Ifthingshadgonedifferently,youmightvegrownupwithhim.Butyouwereswitchedatbirth,andthats whyyoulooklikeyouruncle.
Likeme,Lukewasconfused.NotevenCarterknewaboutthatman.Lukeknewhisunclediedyoung,butbeyondthat,hewasblind.
Grandpa,areyoutalkingaboutthatuncle?Lukeaskedcautiously.Didnthedieyearsago? Weallthoughthewasgone.Buthewasnt.Hesurvived.Andfromwhatweveuncovered,hesbeenorchestratingthingsinthebackground,includingswitchingyouandyourcousin.
Adamscomposureshattered.Momentsago,hedbeenanoutsidertothedrama,butnowhewasatthecenterofit.Theweightoftherevelationpresseddownonhim.
Dad,youcantmeanthis,Adamsaid,hisvoiceshaking.Youwouldntjokeaboutsomethinglikethis….right? Jeffreysexpressionhardened.DoIlooklikeImjoking?CarterfoundoutSilasisaBolton.Agenetictestconfirmedithesyourson.
Adamstoodfrozen,hisbreathcaughtinhisthroat,MemoriesoftheharshwordshedhurledatSilasflashedthroughhismind.Thecruelaccusations.Thecurses .Thebitterironyofitallstruckhimwithcrushingforce.
Whereishe?Adamfinallyasked,thequestionbarelyaudible.Heknewnowthattherecouldbenoliesinthisroomnotrickery.
Theyearshedunknowinglyspentapartfromhissonloomedoverhim,andallhewantedwastoseeSilas.
Jeffreysighedandgesturedtowardthedoor.Bringhim in.
Theroomstilled.Alleyesshiftedtotheentrance.Anna,whohadbeenwithdrawnanddistant,suddenlysat1/4 81% Chapter301Confrontation upstraighter,herfocusnarrowing +10FreeCoins TwomencarriedSilasinonastretcher.Hisface,previouslyobscured,wasnowinfullview.Theinjuriesheborewereunmistakable,renderinghimpaleandfragile.
Annarushedforward,abandoningallpretense.Thetruthwasout,andshenolongertriedtohideher emotions.
Silas!Areyouokay?Hervoicecracked astearsstreameddownherface.
Silasarmtwitched,asthoughtryingtoreachforher,butitrefusedtoobey.Onlyafaint,brokensoundescapedhisthroat ,fillingtheheavy silenceintheroom Whatswrongwithhim ?Whycanthespeak? Annasheadsnappedup,hertearstreakedfacecontortedwithrageas sheturnedonus.Hervoicerose,sharpandaccusing.Whatdidyoudotohim? Itwasntus,someonesaidfirmly.Hebitoffhisowntongue.
Annashandflewtohermouth,herexpressioncrumblingasfresh tearsspilledover.Theyfellinsteadydrops,landingonSilassscarredface,tracingpathsthroughthedirtandblood.
IdseenAnna crybefore,butitwas alwayscalculated,a performance meanttoswaysomeonesheartorgainsympathy.Thistimewasdifferent.Thegriefpouringfromherwasgenuine,rawinawayIhadntthoughthercapableof Why?Shewhispered,hervoicebreaking.Whywouldyoudothattoyourself? ShesankontoSilasschest,clutchingathimassobswrackedhersmallframe.
Adamsteppedcloser,hisexpressiontornbetweendisbeliefandgrief.HiseyeslingeredonSilassbatteredform,andhishandtrembledashepointed.Is…ishereallymyson? Thequestionhungintheair,heavyandunresolved,untilCartersteppedin.Hisanswerwasclear,cuttingthroughthetension.
Yes.Heis.
Adamkneltdown,leaninginasthoughseeingSilasupclosemightbringsomeclarity.Hishandhovered,hesitanttotouch.
ThescarsandbruisescoveringSilassbodymadehimseemalmostfragile,asthoughevenabrushofcontactmightcausemoreharm.
Myboy…Adamsvoicecracked.Youvesufferedsomuch.
Silasremainedsilent,ofcourse.Hiseyes,wideandunyielding,lockedonAdamwithanintensitythat madetheairfeelheavy.Somethingaboutthegazewasunsettling,hollowyetfullofunspokenpain.
Whiletheroomsattentionwas fixedonthis heartbreakingreunion,myeyesstrayedtoSheila.
Fromthebeginning,shedbeenanenigma.Carterandhadplannedthisentiremomenttostudy her,toseehowshewouldreactwhenconfrontedwiththetruth.
2/4 09:02Thu,Dec12 Chapter301Confrontation +10 FreeCoins Shedidntdisappoint .Sheilastoodapartfromthechaos,holdingadelicateporcelainteacupinonehand.Herlipscurvedintoafaint,almostmockingsmile.
Itwasnt thereactionofsomeoneshockedbyunexpectedrevelations.Instead,sheradiatedaquietconfidence,asifshehadorchestrateditall.
Inthatinstant,herdemeanorchanged.Sheilanolongerseemedlikeapassiveobserver.Herpresencecommandedattention.
Hersharpeyesandthecoldprecisioniinherexpressionremindedmeofablackrosebeautifulyetdangerous,itsthornshiddenuntilitwastoolate.
Itstruckme;iftherewasapuppetmasterbehindtheseevents,ithadtobeher.

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Sheseemedtosensemythoughts.Liftingherteacup,shetookameasuredsip,theporcelainobscuringherface.Hermovementswerecalm,almost deliberateIshiftedmyfocus, notwantinghertocatchonthatIwaswatchinghersoclosely.
Wedidnthavesolidproof,notyet.However,herresponseorlackthereofwasrevealing.Sheilawasnt innocent.
Carter,alwaysquicktoreadaroom,sawhischance.Anna,hesaid,hisvoicesteady,youknow something.WhywouldOliverswitchhissonwithAdams? Annasseyes.
flickedtowardSheila.Thesubtlemovementdidntescapenotice.Sheila,calmasever,placedherteacuponthetablewithadeliberatethud.
Thesoundwasntloud ,butitsmeaningwasclear.Itwasbothasignalandawarning:treadcarefully.
SheilasstepstowardAdamweremeasured,hervoicesoftand steady,likeherusualself.Adam,youneedtositdown,shesaid ,hertoneslippingintoitsusualpracticedwarmth.Yourheartcanttakethiskindofstress.Letssortthrougheverythingrationally.
AdamglancedfromLuketoSilas.Hischestroseandfellwithaheavysigh.
Lukehadalwaysbeenpartofthefamily,butSilaswashissonbyblood.Findinghimshouldhavebeenamomentofjoy,yetitfelthollow, SilassconditionleftAdamgrapplingwithasurgeofemotionstootangledtoexpress.
TheroomgrewquietasalleyesturnedtoAnna.EvenJosh,whohadbeenasilentobserveruntilnow,pushedhimselftohisfeet.
HeapproachedAnna,hisstepsdeliberate,hisvoicecuttingthroughthetenseair.
Eversinceyoucameback,hebegan,hiswordssharpandprecise,youvedonenothingbutstirthepot.YouturnedusagainstChloeoverand overagain.Then,attheirwedding,youcalledLukeaway.Andjustlikethat,Chloevanished.Since then,thisfamilyhasbeenthroughhelldeaths,accidents.Andthatcarcrash?Everyonewasinitexceptyou.
Now,herewe are,dealingwithaswitchedheir.Andsomehow,youandSheilaarerightinthemiddleofit.Thisisntbadluck,Anna.Thisisapattern.So,tellmewhatareyouandSheilascheming?WhatareyoutryingtodototheSandersandtheBoltons? 3/4 Chapter201Confrontation +10FreeCoins Jostrosolefilledtheroom,leavingnospeforprotesAnnacrumpledtothefloor,herknees hittingthepolishedwoodTearsstreameddownherface,butherexpressionremainedcalculated,hervoicetrenddingasshespiroke Dadshesaid,herwordsheavywithpleading.Idontknowwhatyoureaccusin
gmeof.HowcouldIpossiblyplansomethinglikedad Thepolicehavequestionedmesomanytimes,andIvebeenclearedeverytime.IfIhaddoneanythingwrong,wouldnttheyhavearrestedmebyhow! EmaSanderstoo,arentItWhywouldIhurtmyownEmily? ButJosliwasntswayed.Hisfaceremainedhard,hisvoiceunyielding Ifyoureinnocent,hesaidcoldly,thentheskymustbegreen,andfishmustfly.
Stopplayinggames,Anna.Telluswhatsreallygoingonbetweenyouand Silas.
IfhestheBoltonheir,whyhasnt hebeenwithhisfamilyallthistime?