Chapter 3 - The Gathering Storm

"Stay here with Rebecca and Lily," Daniel instructed, his voice authority itself as he moved toward the foyer.

Emma crept down the hallway, peeking around the corner into the grand entrance hall. Rebecca stood just behind her brother-in-law, her hands resting reassuringly on Emma's shoulders.

Daniel opened the heavy front door, keeping his body positioned to block the entryway. "Julian. What are you doing here at this hour?"

Julian Vance stepped onto the threshold, brushing snow off his lapels. He had sharp, angular features and eyes as cold as the ice outside. "Don't play coy, Daniel. My security team flagged a hit on Sarah’s old social security number when she was processed at Northwestern Memorial this morning."

Daniel didn't flinch. "Northwestern handles thousands of patients."

"She’s in an ICU bed, comatose with severe pneumonia," Julian said, his voice smooth and devoid of affection. "And the hospital records indicate she had two children with her. Children who vanished from the waiting room before social services arrived. I tracked your Audi leaving the vicinity of the hospital an hour ago."

Julian took a step forward, trying to peer past Daniel into the warm hallway. "Where are my nieces, Daniel? As the head of the Vance estate, their custody belongs with me."

"They aren't property, Julian!" Rebecca called out, stepping into view. Her voice burned with a fierce anger. "You drove Sarah away ten years ago. You won't touch her children."

Julian’s eyes locked onto Emma standing in the hallway. A thin, cold smile touched his lips. "So, the little runner has a daughter. She looks just like Sarah."

"Get off my porch, Julian," Daniel said, his voice dropping into a dangerous register. "You have no legal custody. You have no right to be here. If you don't leave this property in five seconds, I’m calling the police and having you arrested for trespassing."

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Julian held Daniel’s gaze for a long moment before taking a step back. "Call them if you like, Daniel. But tomorrow morning, my legal team will file for emergency guardianship of Sarah and her children. You can't keep them hidden forever."

With a final, chilling glance at Emma, Julian turned and walked down the steps into the waiting black sedan.