Chapter 252

A voice, laced with an unnerving edge, crackled through the phone. "Yes, this is Gregory." He cleared his throat, his voice trembling slightly. Panic clawed at him. Who would call like this? A business partner? Impossible. He had none left. A debt collector? The payments weren't due.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Byron Beaumont's assistant," the voice said.

"Byron Beaumont?" Gregory froze. "From Harrowfell?"

"Yes. My last name is Beaumont as well." The calm voice sent a jolt through Gregory. Byron Beaumont's assistant? His mind reeled.

Meeting Dominick, thanks to Paisley, had been a stroke of unbelievable luck. The Sullivans were light-years from the Vanderbilts. Dominick was just a junior member; meeting someone like Paul was unimaginable. Now this? The Beaumonts and Vanderbilts were equals, two of the most powerful families in Harrowfell. His knees buckled. He gripped the nearest surface. "May I ask what this is about?" he managed.

Dylan Beaumont's voice hardened, sensing Gregory's fawning tone. "Twenty-five years ago, did you adopt a three-year-old girl from Angel Orphanage?"

The question stunned Gregory. Brittany? He hesitated. "Mr. Sullivan, did you hear my question?" Dylan's impatience was sharp.

"Y-yes!" Gregory stammered, his submissive tone a stark contrast to his earlier confrontation with Christina. "I... I'm sorry, Mr. Beaumont. My wife handled the adoption. I only signed the papers. I'm not sure which orphanage. Please hold on."

He spun to Christina, still weeping over Brittany. "Calm down. When you adopted Brittany, was it Angel Orphanage?"

Christina nodded, her voice thick with emotion. "Yes. Why? What's happening? What about Brittany?"

Gregory, ignoring Christina's distress, returned to the phone. "Mr. Beaumont, it was Angel Orphanage. Yes, twenty-five years ago."

Christina, oblivious, erupted. "Honey! Brittany isn't adopted!"

"Shut up!" Gregory snapped, moving away to continue the call.

"Wait, did your wife just say someone isn't adopted?" Dylan's voice was sharp.

Gregory rushed to explain. "No, you misunderstood. Brittany is adopted, but she's our daughter."

"Alright." Dylan continued. "Bring your adopted daughter to meet our master tomorrow at 10 a.m."

"What? Why?" Gregory's mind raced.

"We suspect your adopted daughter is Mr. Beaumont's long-lost niece."

"His... niece?" Gregory's voice cracked.

The implications were staggering. If Brittany was Byron's niece... the Beaumont family's younger generation would call her "Aunt." An incredibly high status. He stumbled back onto the sofa. Christina, seeing his collapse, assumed the worst. Despair washed over her. Even if Gregory knew the truth, could they save Brittany?

"It's uncertain. We'll confirm in person," Dylan's voice was cold, professional. A paternity test, Gregory knew.

"I understand," Gregory said.

"The location will be sent to your phone. 10 a.m. sharp." The line went dead.

Brittany was still at the station. How would he get her there?

Christina's voice was anxious. "Honey, who was that? Brittany? What happened?"

Gregory grabbed her hands, his eyes shining. "We hit the jackpot!"

Christina was bewildered, but his excitement was infectious. "What's going on?"

He excitedly relayed the call. Christina was stunned into silence. Gregory, mistaking her silence for joy, remembered her earlier comment. "By the way, what were you saying before? About Brittany?"

Christina took a deep breath. "Oh, nothing. Just that we've raised Brittany as our own. We can't abandon her."

Yes, Brittany was adopted. Paisley is my biological daughter.