Chapter 2: The Shadow Empire
Your mother knew," Sylvie whispered, gripping the edge of her hospital gown. "The day I found out I was pregnant was the day your mother brought me the divorce papers. She told me that if I didn't sign them and disappear, she would use Vexley Pharmaceuticals' legal team to declare me mentally unfit, take my babies, and ensure I never saw them again."
Damon felt the room spinning. His mother, Victoria Vexley, was the matriarch who had financed the early days of his empire. She was ruthless, but he never believed she was capable of this.
"She forced Dr. Vance to induce me early," Sylvie choked out. "She wanted to take the twins while they were weak, pay off the hospital staff, and present them to you later as 'orphaned surrogates' so you could raise them without me. I had to bribe a nurse to smuggle them to this wing and hide their real records."
Just then, the heavy wooden door of Room 203 swung open.
Standing in the doorway was Victoria Vexley herself, flanked by two men in dark suits. Her expression was cold, calculated, and entirely devoid of warmth.
"Damon," Victoria said smoothly, stepping into the room as if she owned the hospital floor. "I see you received the anonymous tip I arranged. Good. Get away from that woman. She is trying to trap you with children that aren't yours."
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"Mother," Damon said, his voice dropping into a register that terrified even his fiercest business rivals. "Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't force a premature birth to steal my children."
Victoria scoffed, adjusting her pearl necklace. "I did what was necessary for the Vexley legacy. Sylvie is a nobody from Brooklyn. She doesn't deserve to mother the heirs to a billion-dollar pharmaceutical empire. Dr. Vance insured they would survive. Now, step aside. The transport team is outside. The children are coming with me to the estate."
