The following morning, the atmosphere in the penthouse was tense. Damien stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, shirtless, sipping his coffee while scrolling through his phone. Lena watched him from across the room, admiring the sharp lines of his jaw and the storm gathering behind his eyes.
He finally spoke. "The board's scrambling. Paul's sudden reappearance has spooked the investors. Even with Sarah gone, damage control is going to be hell."
"We'll get through it," Lena said, wrapping her silk robe tighter as she stepped toward him. "But we need to find out what he's really holding over Harold."
Damien looked at her. "I think it's time you met my mother."
Lena blinked. "Your mother? I thought she..."
"She disappeared from the public years ago," he said. "But she's alive. And there's a reason she vanished after Paul Whitaker was arrested.
Private Estate – Countryside
The Blackwood family estate lay nestled deep in the hills, surrounded by iron gates and guarded silence. When they arrived, a steward greeted them and led them through polished halls filled with antique portraits and thick rugs.
In a sunlit drawing room sat a regal woman with steel-gray hair pinned back in a chignon. Her eyes were cold and blue unmistakably Damien's.
"Mother," Damien said, his voice unusually gentle.
"Damien," she replied. "And… this must be Lena."
Lena curtsied slightly, nerves prickling under the older woman's sharp gaze.
"You married well," she said, after a long pause. "And you've dragged her into this war."
"I didn't drag her anywhere," Damien replied. "She chose to fight with me. Just like you once fought beside Father."
Her expression darkened. "That was different. We weren't fighting ghosts. We were fighting monsters in suits."
Lena stepped forward. "We need to know what happened back then. With Paul. And with you."
The older woman studied Lena, then finally said, "Sit down."
Flashback – 25 Years Ago
Paul Whitaker wasn't just a business partner. He was Harold's closest friend. The two built the foundation of Blackwood Enterprises together until Paul started stealing from it.
"We covered for him," Damien's mother said, her voice tight. "Your father didn't want the scandal, so he arranged a private settlement. But Paul wanted more. He demanded ownership. When Harold refused, Paul threatened to expose everything."
"And what did he have?" Damien asked.
Her fingers curled around the armrest. "Proof that Blackwood money came from blood. From illegal trades. Shell companies. Money Harold funneled through South American fronts. He cleaned it up by the time you were born, but the stain never left."
Lena felt a chill crawl down her spine. "That's what Paul's holding now?"
The woman nodded. "And something worse."
"What?" Damien asked.
She looked directly at her son. "You."
Present Day – Blackwood Penthouse
Damien paced the living room, hands on his hips, eyes wild.
"What the hell did she mean by that?" he said.
Lena approached slowly. "She told us the truth. Paul threatened to claim you as leverage if Harold didn't hand over the company."
Damien turned sharply. "So he tried to use me like a bargaining chip?"
"She didn't say it was about business," Lena said gently. "What if there's more?"
He froze. "You think he's saying I'm not Harold's son?"
She hesitated.
The silence was louder than a scream.
"No," Damien said. "No, it's not possible."
Lena took his hands. "We'll get answers. But you need to be prepared. If Paul has something real… we need to know before he makes it public."
Later That Night – Paul's Hideout
Paul stared at the old photograph in his hand a woman smiling beside two men. His fingers brushed over her face.
"You always did choose him," he murmured. "But blood never lies."
Behind him, a hacker pulled a USB from a laptop.
"We've broken into the archives. Got the DNA records and the old adoption papers."
Paul turned, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"Perfect. Send them to the press. Let's see how the Blackwoods handle this."
Back in the City – Blackwood Enterprises
The next morning, chaos exploded.
Online news headlines screamed across every major network:
> BREAKING: DAMIEN BLACKWOOD NOT A TRUE BLACKWOOD HEIR?
Leaked documents question lineage of Blackwood CEO
Damien slammed the laptop shut. "It's not true."
Lena stood behind him, calm but shaken. "We need to test it ourselves. Privately."
He looked at her, vulnerable in a way he had never shown before. "And if it's true?"
She didn't hesitate. "Then you fight harder. Because your worth isn't in your name. It's in the man you've become."
Damien exhaled shakily. "Then let's prove it."