Luther stormed toward the place he'd agreed to meet his father, but what he saw there stopped him cold. David stood hand-in-hand with Ophelia, the sight burning fury deep into Luther's soul. Rage surged through him; this woman had stolen his father's heart, casting aside his mother as if she were nothing. As a son, his duty was clear: protect his mother from David's catastrophic betrayal.

"Father!" Luther's voice trembled with disbelief and anguish, eyes brimming with tears of frustration. "Did you seriously have Mom arrested?"

David turned sharply, irritation flashing across his face. "What the hell are you doing here, Luther? Didn't I tell you we'd talk tonight? Go home-now!"

"No! Tell me!" Luther shouted, his voice cracking with raw emotion. "Why did you lock her up?"

David's eyes narrowed, his voice icy and harsh. "Because your sainted mother cheated on me. She gave me HIV, Luther!"

"You're lying!" Luther shook violently, refusing to accept the accusation. "Mom would never betray you. You're the cheater-standing here, holding hands with this woman!"

"This woman," David spat sharply, pulling Ophelia closer, "is my wife. My second wife, Luther. Go home, we'll sort this out later."

Luther staggered, the floor seeming to shift beneath him. "Father," his voice cracked, breaking with sobs and hurt. "Am I even your son anymore? If I am, please leave this witch right now and come home. Mom needs us!"

David shook his head, frustration and exhaustion mingling in his eyes. "I'll explain everything later, Luther. You're still my son, even if you aren't biologically—"

The words froze in his throat when he saw Luther pull a pistol and point it directly at his own temple.

"Luther!" David roared in shock. "What the hell are you doing?"

"How dare you say I'm not your blood! I'm Luther Morgan-I'm the heir you promised your fortune to! Was everything you told me a damned

down!" Panic flooded David's voice, desperation tightening his throat. "You're still my son-I

Mom, replaced her with this snake, and now you claim I'm not even yours? You want to destroy

urgently, "Listen to me—I'll make everything clear, just calm down,

whispered coldly, a frightening calm overtaking him. "I'll settle

The brutal crack of

back, his eyes wide with shock and agony. Never in his darkest nightmares had he imagined his beloved boy-the child he'd cradled, nurtured, raised-would become

shared her features. How had he missed it? How had he ignored his real son, the loyal man who'd once shielded him with his own life, while

furiously at his father's bleeding form. "I'm only taking what's mine the inheritance you swore would be

sat stunned.

Charles

his mind clouded by panic

the spreading pool of his own blood, each heartbeat pushing him closer to darkness. Ophelia cradled him tightly,

David gasped weakly, each word trembling from a throat clogged with regret. "You gave our son your whole heart-and

blurred with sorrow, the cold reality of

chest. All his life's

all

who wasn't even his, leaving Brian, his true son, lost in the margins. A life spent chasing illusions, ignoring the quiet strength

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