an'

before I could proc

were getting sophisticated. They could fake bank balances, create convincing apps

ed millio

ly I nearly dropped

patience of someone who'd delivered shocking news many times before. "I understand this is ov

ce came out hoarse. "The bank

like, call your bank directly. Use the number on the back o

creen. The balance still showed those imp

. "You hacked my account. You're

on chuckled softly. "That would be rath

at do yo

master. To the family you were ta

tal cold through my thin shirt. Around me, the city moved like normal. Cars pas

p in a group home until I was eight. The Crosses

t Ethan Cross. It's Ethan Sterling. You were born to Richard and Catherine Sterling on March 15

Like kid

es

by stolen from some wealthy family, raised in poverty,

e been news coverage. Police investigations. Amber alerts. Yo

went cold after two years. Your parents searched for you until the day they died. Your grandfather, Sterling C

remember if I'd heard it before. In the news

th

I believe

ve one on your left shoulder blade. Roughly the

shirt, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. I'd had it my whole life. The kids at the g

have birthmarks,

en you were an infant. Before you disappeared. The birthmark is documented. Along

They'd told me I had a rare type, asked me to co

ething other than stand still while my world rewrote itself. "Even i

sonal albums. She passed away last year. Her daughter was sorting through her belongings and posted some photos onli

S

e flagged your face. A ninety-eight percent match to computer-aged projections of what you should look like. We investigated further. Found your adoption

probably looked insane. Standing in the freezing cold without a

e it

y. "My adoptive family. Did they

ched for thre

n said finall

my palm against the brick wall of t

w l

you. To keep you hidden. To raise you as th

o love me. To treat Michael like gold while I wo

question came

Deposited in installme

hildhood. For my identity. F

at? Why would someone

was someone who stood to inherit if you disappeared. The Sterling fortune is

kidnapped me

s family helped th

g hard on the cold concrete. The purse, still

ho chose my fake brother. My fake brother who'd grown up with money that should have been

million," I manag

re, but it's tied up in stocks, properties, and business holdings. Your grandfather

ge," I sai

ou, young master. But yes. The resources

have? You said b

the city. Assets valued at over fifty billion dollars. Your grandfather has bee

half the commercial real estate downtown. Financed major develop

own t

Your grandfather retains thirty percent. The remaining ninet

thing about runni

e intelligent, young master. Your tutoring records show a remarkable apti

ity because someone had stolen it. Had buried me in po

Margaret Chen. She's been with the company for fifteen years. L

gled to keep up. "When

isms activated. You're listed now as the beneficial owner of Zenith Corporation. The

ours, my life would b

. I need to see proof. Real proof. Not just m

tious. The people who took you are still out there. They may r

do I do?

home. Don't contact the Cross family. We'll arrange a secure meetin

nd raced through implications, possibili

?" I asked. "Why do you

n the same accident that led to your kidnapping. Because you're the last of his blo

Old. Running

nst

young

u. For fi

, get somewhere warm. You'll ca

before I co

in one hand, designer purse in the other,

hundred million dolla

nnect. Didn't form

ne ran

y. Who'd watched me work myself to exhaustion while Michael lived

t didn'

I

me through sharp and furiou

ut

e into Lena's apartment and attacked him.

ot what h

me. I pulled the phone away from my ear. "You stole your broth

ot my b

ha

y brother. And you

. Long

e had changed. Lower. Dangerous. "Come

't thi

live under my roof. You foll

ne wen

otification, at the bank balance still show

ed the dirt off my jea

ho

here

here