THE HEIRS HE NEVER KNEW

A PERFECTLY ORDINARY MORNING GENEVA, SWITZERLAND Monday — 7:06 A.M. "Leo!" Nothing. Serena Vale stood at the bottom of the stairs, one hand resting on her hip. "Leo, if I have to call you a third time, you're walking to school." A door opened upstairs. "I'm coming!" Serena glanced at the clock. "You said that five minutes ago." "I was looking for my shoes." "They're on your feet." Silence. Then— "Oh." Serena shook her head, trying not to laugh. From the kitchen came another burst of laughter. Kyle. Of course. She walked into the kitchen and found Kyle sitting at the breakfast table, laughing while Anna stared at him like she was already regretting being related to him. "What happened?" Kyle pointed at Anna. "She said she's smarter than me." Anna frowned. "I said I got the highest score in mathematics." "Which means you're saying you're smarter." "No. It means I got the highest score." Serena pulled out a chair. "Both of you, eat." Kyle immediately picked up his spoon. "Yes, Mom." Anna continued eating. A few seconds later, Leo finally walked into the kitchen. Serena looked at him. "You." Leo stopped. "Me?" "You're the reason I've been shouting since seven." He looked down at his shoes. "They were difficult to find." Serena stared at him. "They're on your feet too." Leo looked down. "Oh." Kyle burst out laughing. Anna covered her mouth. Even Serena couldn't hold back her smile. "You three are going to be the death of me." Kyle grinned. "We love you too." The doorbell rang. Kyle jumped up. "I'll get it!" "Walk," Serena called. He was already halfway down the hallway. A moment later, his voice echoed through the house. "AUNT MAYA!" Serena smiled. Maya Bennett walked into the kitchen carrying two paper bags. "Good morning, troublemakers." Kyle immediately ran toward her. "You brought food." "I brought breakfast for your mother." Kyle looked inside the bag. "Then why is there a chocolate croissant?" Maya slowly closed the bag. "You have very good eyes." "Thank you." "Put it back." Kyle sighed. "Okay." Anna smiled. "Good morning, Aunt Maya." Maya walked over and kissed her forehead. "Good morning, sweetheart." Leo gave her a small smile. "Morning, Aunt Maya." Maya looked at him. "Still serious?" "Someone has to be." Kyle pointed at him. "Not me." "Obviously," Maya said. Serena walked over and hugged her friend. "You're early." "I brought coffee." Serena's eyes immediately brightened. "You're forgiven." "For what?" "Being early." Maya laughed. The children exchanged amused looks. Maya had been part of their lives for so long that none of them questioned her presence. She was simply Aunt Maya. The woman who could walk into their home without knocking, steal food from Serena's kitchen, argue with the children and somehow get away with all of it. Kyle reached for the paper bag again. Maya slapped his hand. "School." "But—" "School." He sighed. "Fine." Serena watched the three children gather their bags. "Come on. We're leaving." Kyle stopped at the door. "Mom?" "Yes?" "Can I have ice cream after school?" "No." "Why?" "Because it's Monday." Kyle frowned. "What does Monday have against ice cream?" Maya laughed. Serena pointed toward the door. "Go." The three children left. Serena watched them disappear. Maya came to stand beside her. "They're growing up." Serena smiled. "Too quickly." "You know what that means?" "What?" "One day you'll have the house all to yourself." Serena looked horrified. "Don't say things like that." Maya laughed. "Exactly." Serena picked up her coffee. "Come on. I have work." "Bossy." "You love me." "Unfortunately." They walked toward the kitchen together. Neither woman noticed the small envelope lying beneath the newspaper on the counter. It had arrived that morning. And inside was an invitation that would eventually change the quiet rhythm of their lives. GENEVA INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY The triplets walked through the school gates together. Leo was already reading something on his tablet. Anna was carrying three books. Kyle was walking backward while talking. "I think we should enter the robotics competition." Anna looked at him. "You don't even know what the competition is." "I know it's robotics." "That's not enough." "It is for me." Leo finally looked up. "We should enter." Kyle smiled. "See?" Anna sighed. "You two planned this." "Obviously," Kyle said. Their teacher approached them. "Leo. Anna. Kyle." They stopped. "Yes, Mrs. Laurent?" She smiled. "I've been looking for the three of you." Kyle whispered, "That sounds dangerous." Mrs. Laurent laughed. "Nothing dangerous." She handed Anna three envelopes. "The principal wants to speak with your mother." Leo looked at the envelopes. "Why?" "Your latest academic results." Kyle leaned closer. "Did we break another record?" Mrs. Laurent smiled. "Something like that." Anna opened one of the envelopes. Her eyes widened. "Advanced academic program." Leo read over her shoulder. Kyle smiled. "Together?" "Together," Mrs. Laurent confirmed. Kyle immediately grinned. "We're doing it." Anna looked at him. "You don't even know what it involves." "I'll figure it out." Leo shook his head. Mrs. Laurent smiled. "I'll speak with your mother." VALE STUDIO Serena sat behind her desk, reviewing a design proposal when Maya entered. She dropped into the chair opposite her. "You're welcome." Serena looked up. "For what?" "The coffee." "You brought it for yourself." "But I shared." "Half a cup." "Sharing is sharing." Serena smiled. Her phone rang. She answered. "Hello?" Her expression changed as she listened. "All three?" Maya looked up. Serena nodded. "Of course. I'll come after work." She ended the call. Maya raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" "The school wants the children in an advanced program." Maya smiled. "I knew it." Serena laughed softly. "They're ten." "And brilliant." "They're also exhausting." "That's what children are for." Serena leaned back. For a moment, she looked through the glass wall of her office toward the busy studio. Her life was full. Work. The children. Maya. Friends. A routine she had built carefully. She liked it. She liked knowing what tomorrow would look like. Maya watched her. "You look happy." Serena smiled. "I am." LOS ANGELES The conference room was silent. Jasper Warner sat at the head of the table, looking over the final figures from the project. "Any objections?" Nobody answered. He closed the file. "Then we're done." The executives began gathering their papers. Jasper stood. The project had taken months of negotiations and countless late nights. Now it was finally complete. His assistant, Daniel, entered. "Congratulations." Jasper looked at him. "It's business." "You still finished six weeks early." "The deadline was six weeks ago." Daniel laughed. "You really don't celebrate anything." "There's nothing to celebrate yet." "You're flying back tomorrow." "Yes." "Zurich?" "Yes." Daniel hesitated. "Your parents are expecting you." "They always are." "Your mother specifically said Saturday dinner." Jasper looked at him. "Why?" Daniel smiled. "She didn't say." Jasper narrowed his eyes. "That's suspicious." Daniel laughed. Then added, "She did mention Vivian." Jasper's expression changed slightly. "Vivian?" "Apparently she's coming to dinner." Jasper looked toward the window. "I haven't seen her in a while." "Your family seems excited." Jasper picked up his phone. "That's my family's business." Daniel smiled. "Of course." WARNER FAMILY RESIDENCE ZURICH Catherine Warner placed a vase of flowers on the dining table. Richard watched from the doorway. "You've moved that vase three times." "It wasn't straight." "It looked straight." "It wasn't." Richard smiled. "Jasper arrives tomorrow." "I know." "And Vivian is coming Saturday." "I know that too." Catherine looked at him. "You sound amused." "Because I know what you're thinking." She smiled. "Vivian has always been good to this family." "She has." "She grew up with Jasper." Richard nodded. "She did." "They understand each other." "Maybe." Catherine gave him a look. Richard laughed. "Fine. I admit it. I'd be happy if they ended up together." Catherine smiled. "Exactly." GENEVA Dinner was loud. Kyle was telling Maya about his school competition. Anna was correcting half of his story. Leo was quietly eating. Serena watched them with a smile. "Slow down, Kyle." "I'm hungry." "You've already eaten." "That was before." Maya laughed. "Let the boy eat." Serena looked at her. "You're the reason he thinks he can do whatever he wants." Kyle smiled. "I like Aunt Maya." "I know." Anna looked at Serena. "Mom?" "Hm?" "Are we still doing the competition?" "If that's what you want." "All three of us." Serena smiled. "Then all three of you." Kyle raised his glass of juice. "To winning." Leo lifted his glass. "To participating." Anna lifted hers. "To not embarrassing ourselves." Kyle looked offended. "Why are you ruining the toast?" Everyone laughed. Serena looked around the table. Her family. Her home. Her peace. For now, that was enough. ZURICH SATURDAY MORNING Jasper's car pulled through the gates of the Warner residence. He stepped out and adjusted his jacket. Before he reached the door, it opened. Catherine smiled. "Welcome home." Jasper hugged his mother. "Good to see you, Mom." Richard appeared behind her. "How was Los Angeles?" "Successful." "Good." Jasper stepped inside. Catherine looked at him. "You're staying for dinner." "I know." "And Vivian will be here." Jasper paused. "I figured." Catherine smiled. "Don't look so worried." "I'm not worried." "Good." She walked away. Jasper looked at his father. Richard simply smiled. "What?" "Nothing." Jasper shook his head. He had been home for less than five minutes. Already, he suspected his mother had planned something. END OF EPISODES 1 & 2