Chapter 8 - THE LAST SURPRISEThree months later.
The summer sun shone brightly over the grand gardens of the Reyes Estate in Long Island.
White roses bloomed across thirty acres of sprawling green lawns, sloping down toward the private docks overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
In the glass conservatory, Elise sat at a white marble desk, managing the master financial portfolio of the newly restructured Reyes Global Foundation—a multi-billion-dollar philanthropic empire dedicated to historic preservation, public housing, and free legal aid.
The glass doors slid open.
Mateo stepped inside, wearing a simple crisp white linen shirt and dark trousers, holding two glasses of chilled iced tea.
He walked over, setting a glass on her desk, and leaned down to wrap his broad arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You've been working for four hours, mia cara," Mateo murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her neck. "The foundation can survive without you for an afternoon."
Elise smiled, leaning back against his broad chest, her hand covering his. "I was just reviewing the deed for the new Caldwell Municipal Library in Brooklyn. Construction starts next month."
"Your father would be proud," Mateo said gently, his hazel eyes softening.
Elise turned in his arms, looking up into his face. "Mateo... there's one entry in the ledger we never discussed."
Mateo raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
Elise pulled a small, sealed parchment envelope from her desk drawer—one she had kept hidden in her personal vault.
"Page 204," Elise whispered. "Written twenty-three years ago."
Mateo took the envelope, opening it. Inside was a birth registry certificate from the New York Municipal Hospital.
CHILD NAME: ELISE CALDWELL. BIOLOGICAL MOTHER: ELENA CALDWELL. BIOLOGICAL FATHER: DON ANTONIO REYES.
Mateo froze. His eyes widened as he scanned the official state document.
"What..." Mateo gasped, his breath catching in his throat. "My father... is your biological father?!"
Elise let out a soft, amused laugh, shaking her head.
"Read the bottom line, Mateo," she smiled warmly.
Mateo looked down at the bottom of the document:
ADOPTION RECORD: FULL LEGAL PATERNITY TRANSFERRED TO MARCUS CALDWELL. NOTE: BIOLOGICAL MOTHER ELENA REYES (NEÉ CALDWELL) CONFIRMS BIOLOGICAL FATHER WAS MARCUS CALDWELL. ANTONIO REYES FORGED REGISTRY TO CLAIM LEVERAGE OVER CALDWELL ESTATE.
Mateo let out a massive, explosive sigh of relief, dropping the paper onto the desk and pulling Elise tight against his chest!
"You almost gave me a heart attack, woman!" Mateo growled, laughing deeply as he kissed her cheek, her nose, her lips.
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"I wanted to see the great Don Mateo Reyes sweat for once," Elise giggled, her arms wrapping around his neck.
"You're evil," Mateo purred, dipping her low over the desk, his hands possessive and warm against her waist. "Utterly evil."
