Chapter 423

The Hawthorne mansion stood silent when Evelyn returned. Alexander's absence left the grand halls feeling colder than usual.

She slipped into something more comfortable after a long shower. The steaming mug of cocoa warmed her hands as she settled into the library's plush armchair.

The folder from Donovan Pierce felt heavier than its weight. She hadn't requested any information, which made its contents more intriguing. The first page revealed Dominic Reeves' name in bold letters.

Her breath caught. "What's this about him?"

The documents unfolded like a carefully constructed puzzle. Each page revealed another layer about Dominic's hidden past - particularly his complicated relationship with his mother.

Genevieve Sinclair's profile read like a society scandal waiting to happen. The award-winning actress turned Prescott matriarch had secrets that could topple empires. Most damning was the DNA evidence linking her to Dominic.

Evelyn's fingers trembled against the papers. All those years together, and Dominic had never mentioned having living family. She'd admired his resilience, believing him orphaned. This deception cut deeper than she expected.

Genevieve's name tickled her memory. The documents confirmed her suspicions - the former screen legend had married into the powerful Prescott family after leaving Hollywood. Not a whisper about her illegitimate son had ever surfaced.

Donovan had undersold this information. While damaging to Dominic, it would be catastrophic for Genevieve. The Prescott family valued reputation above all else.

The Prescotts of Garnet Springs were old money with tangled alliances. Genevieve had married the second son, Alistair Prescott - a man whose business relied on his wife's social connections. Their marriage was transactional at best.

If Alistair discovered Genevieve's secret son - and her continued contact with him - the fallout would be spectacular. The Prescott family didn't tolerate deception.

Evelyn studied the documents with growing unease. These weren't just papers - they were potential weapons. The kind of information ordinary investigators couldn't obtain. For the Hawthornes, it had been effortless.

"Why would Donovan give me this?" she murmured, tracing Dominic's name. The unspoken question hung heavier - what did he expect her to do with it?

After careful consideration, she slid the folder between rare first editions on the top shelf. A card up her sleeve didn't need playing... yet.

As she straightened the shelf, two wooden figurines caught her eye. The whimsical carvings brought an unexpected flush to her cheeks. She'd commissioned them as a birthday gift for Reginald Hawthorne, but the craftsman had vanished before completing the set.

Julian Mercer - the talented woodcarver - had disappeared without a trace. The small shop on Antiquarius Lane knew nothing of his whereabouts. Such transient workers came and went in that part of town.

Evelyn sighed, running a finger over the smooth mahogany. Without Julian, she'd lost both her carver and her source for the rare crimson mahogany she'd wanted to use. Some mysteries, it seemed, would remain unsolved.