THE BILLIONAIRE CEO COMFORTED A CRYING TODDLER ON A PLANE—THEN THE CHILD LOOKED UP WITH HIS EYES AND SAID, “ARE YOU MY DADDY?”

The peace of Beacon Hill lasted less than twenty-four hours.

At 7:00 AM the following morning, the front gates of the estate were swarmed by news vans, camera crews, and aggressive reporters shouting over the intercom.

IS THE BILLIONAIRE'S SECRET SON REAL? BRENNAN HEALTH SHARES PLUMMET MID-SCANDAL! JULIAN BRENNAN ACCUSES CEO OF FRAUD AND CHILD CONCEALMENT!

Inside the sunlit breakfast room, Paige sat at the long mahogany table, staring at the glowing screen of her tablet with a pale, horrified face.

The front page of the Wall Street Journal featured a leaked photograph from the flight—a grainy image taken by a passenger showing Garrett kneeling in the aisle holding Oliver’s face, alongside an article written by a prominent financial tabloid writer.

The article claimed that Garrett had fathered an illegitimate child with a former employee accused of corporate espionage, and that he was using company funds to hide the child in an unregistered offshore trust.

"This is insane!" Paige gasped, slamming the tablet onto the table. "They’re dragging Oliver into the press! How did they get this photo?!"

Garrett sat at the head of the table, wearing a crisp black suit, drinking black coffee. His face was entirely devoid of emotion—the cold, terrifying mask he wore when he was preparing to destroy an enemy.

"Julian," Garrett said smoothly, setting his coffee cup down with a soft clink. "My uncle sold the photo to the press at three this morning. He also leaked a falsified internal memo claiming I am mentally unfit to serve as CEO due to personal instability."

"That bastard," Paige spat, her fists clenching. "He framed me four years ago, and now he’s using our son to steal your company!"

"He’s not stealing anything," Garrett said, standing up slowly, buttoning his jacket. "He’s desperate. The board meeting is at ten o'clock at the corporate headquarters. He thinks he has the votes to oust me."

Arthur stepped into the breakfast room, carrying a fresh tray of pastries for Oliver, who was happily smearing strawberry jam on a piece of toast in his high chair.

"Mr. Brennan," Arthur said calmly. "The security detail reports twenty-three media outlets outside the main gate. Your driver has prepared the armored Escalade in the subterranean garage."

"Thank you, Arthur," Garrett said. He walked over to Oliver, leaning down to kiss the toddler’s sticky cheek. "Be a good boy for Mama today, Ollie. Daddy has to go clean up a mess."

Oliver looked up, his mouth covered in jam. "Are you going to fight the monsters, Daddy?"

A cold, dark smile touched Garrett’s lips. "Something like that, buddy."

He stood up, walking over to Paige. He reached down, taking her face in both his hands, leaning in to press a firm, lingering kiss against her lips.

Paige’s heart skipped a beat. The sudden, intense warmth of his lips sent a shockwave through her veins, reminding her of every late night they had spent together in Chicago.

"Garrett..." she breathed as he pulled back.

"Stay inside the gates," Garrett whispered, his eyes burning with protective fury. "The house is on full lockdown. Security won't let anyone through. I will be back by lunch."