Chapter 5 - Shadows of the Past
Within minutes, the gala collapsed into chaos. Admiral Vale’s personal detail immediately cleared the VIP lounge, securing the area and denying access to the press and guests.
Inside the private room, Liam sat on a plush leather sofa, tightly holding a glass of warm milk. Cassian sat on the coffee table directly in front of him, refusing to let go of the boy’s left hand, as if afraid he would vanish if he let go for even a second.
I sat beside Liam, providing a steadying presence while Cassian’s chief medical officer reviewed the file I had brought along.
"Four years ago," Cassian said, his voice husky with raw emotion as he looked at me. "My wife and Julian were on a private boat off the coast of Maine. A sudden storm hit. The boat capsized. My wife's body was recovered two days later... but Julian was gone. Search and rescue looked for three weeks. They told me he swept out to sea. They told me he was dead."
"He was found miles down the coast, Admiral," I explained softly. "He was suffering from extreme hypothermia and head trauma. He had no identification, and because of the trauma, he stopped speaking completely. The local authorities placed him in the state system when no one came forward."
"Because I was searching the wrong coast," Cassian said, a tear tracing a path down his weathered cheek. "The initial search radius was calculated based on incorrect tide reports. Someone signed off on a flawed search pattern."
"Or someone wanted the search to fail," I said, a dark thought crossing my mind.
Cassian’s eyes hardened, the grief momentarily giving way to the formidable commander he was known to be. "What are you implying, Captain Whitmore?"
Before I could answer, the door to the lounge flew open. Eleanor stepped inside, flanked by her family attorney. Her shock had turned back into calculated desperation.
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"Cassian, this is a miracle!" Eleanor exclaimed, her voice forced and overly bright. "To think that my family has been caring for your precious boy! Evelyn brought him into our home, and we have given him the absolute best—"
"Shut your mouth, Eleanor," Cassian commanded, his tone so deadly cold that she froze mid-step.
