Chapter 125
Chapter 125:
“This building falls under the protection of Holloway Group security,” Jeraldine announced, turning to face her. “I have exercised my son’s executive authority to conduct an emergency safety inspection. We received a report of an unauthorized occupant p>
Cailin cursed inwardly. She had accounted for nearly everything — but not for Jeraldine turning Hilliard’s own power against her.
“Clear,” one lawyer called from the bedroom doorway.
“Clear,” said the other from the bathroom.
Jeraldine moved into the living room. Her eyes swept methodically across the space — the toys scattered on the floor, the three plates on the table.
Then she saw Elia.
Elia sat swinging her legs at the table, watching Jeraldine with wide, curious green eyes.
Jeraldine’s gaze sharpened. “Just the one child,” she muttered, glancing once at the three plates before fixing her full attention on the girl.
𝖠d𝗱іc𝘵iv𝗲 ոо𝗏𝗲𝗅𝗌 𝗈n
She extended one manicured finger toward Elia — the nail lacquered blood red. “I knew it,” she hissed. “When you brought her to the estate, I saw the resemblance. The chin. The eyes. You expect me to believe she belongs to Ashely? She looks exactly the way Hilliard did at that age p>
Elia studied the woman for a moment. Then she pointed her fork at her. “Who is the loud grandma p>
Charla gasped and clapped her hands together. “You see! I told you, Mother Jeraldine! She’s been hiding Hilliard’s child right here under our noses p>
Jeraldine took a step toward the table, moving with the quiet confidence of a predator that has spotted its prey. “I am not a fool, Cailin. I know my own blood when I see it. Are you truly going to stand there and deny that this is Hilliard’s biological daughter p>
The front door crashed open against the wall.
Hilliard. Breathless. He had driven from the tower the moment his security system flagged that his executive override had been used at the address.
He took in the scene in a single instant — his mother looming over the breakfast table, Charla’s smug expression, Cailin standing against the wall as pale as a ghost, and Elia sitting small and vulnerable at the center of it all.
“Mother!” The word came out like a thunderclap, filling every corner of the small apartment. “Get away from her p>
Hilliard crossed the room in two strides and stepped between Jeraldine and the table, placing his body as a shield in front of Elia. His chest was heaving.
“Get out of my home,” Cailin said. Her hand shot to the table and snatched her phone. Her thumb moved with lightning speed, waking the screen. “You have five seconds before this illegal search is livestreamed to every news outlet in this city. Try me p>
“Not until we DNA test that child!” Jeraldine craned to see around Hilliard. “Look at her, Hilliard! She has the Holloway chin! She is yours p>
“She is not your grandchild — she is mine!” Ashely stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Elia, drawing the girl’s head gently against her stomach. “Tell them, Elia. Who is your mommy p>
The room went silent. Even Jeraldine seemed to forget to breathe.