The helicopter blades sliced through the night sky. Roman stared out the window, but the clouds and distant lights of the coastline below barely registered. His mind remained on the helipad, replaying Caspian’s words again and again.

“Grandchild…”

The memory consumed him.

—

Roman slowly raised his head. “Grandson? What do you mean… whose grandson?” Caspian let out a long, heavy breath and turned away, one hand gripping his walking stick.

“Richard was never Evelyn’s father.”

The words struck him hard. Roman stared at him, unable to process what he had just heard.

“W-what?” His voice cracked. “What do you mean Richard wasn’t her father? Then who—”

Caspian met his...