The Billionaire's Forgotten Heir

shattered

"Ms. Thompson, your son's condition is getting worse. At this stage, there's nothing we can do. Lumina Syndrome is autosomal. We need genetic confirmation from both biological parents to create the serum. Without it, the next flare could be fatal. I suggest it's best if you come with his father for the test."

*

Skyler stepped out of the doctor's office with the doctor's report in her hand. She tried to keep her expression calm and collected as always, but the constant tremble in her hand betrayed her.

She walked towards Liam's ward but stopped at the door. He was lying on the bed, eyes closed, an IV connected to his hand and a monitor beeping steadily beside him.

Everything had been fine. Everything had been perfect. One minute, she was watching him play at the park, and the next... he blanked out.

She placed her hand on the glass door, fighting back tears.

He looked smaller than she remembered.

"Skyler?"

A warm hand gently touched her shoulder, sending a jolt through her.

Standing behind her was Clara, her expression etched with concern. She had come all the way there after getting Skyler's call.

Clara glanced at the doctor's report, and Skyler immediately clutched it tighter.

"What... did the doctor say?" Clara asked, her voice low and careful.

Skyler couldn't form the words. Her lips parted, then closed again.

"I... I have to find him, Clara." Her voice broke as she spoke, and Clara immediately pulled her into a warm hug.

Skyler buried her face in Clara's shoulder and sobbed.

"It's fine. I'll go with you. We'll find him and get the serum. I promise."

Skyler nodded, though her heart screamed otherwise.

Five years of her life came rushing back in a flash.

In that moment, she was twenty-one again, walking into that suite with the waitress leading the way.

Getting entangled with the one man she should never have. From that moment on, everything fell apart. Her engagement, her family, her life... everything.

She pushed the thoughts aside and wiped her tears, focusing on the issue at hand.

That night might have been the day all hell broke loose, but it had also given her something so valuable she couldn't do without.

Liam. Her world.

Two hours later, she was seated across from Clara, who had her glasses perched on her nose and her eyes fixed on the files in her hand. More files were scattered across the table.

Beside Skyler sat Mark, her assistant, his face etched with an expression she couldn't quite explain. He, too, was sorting through the files, leaving Skyler to sip her coffee.

"Victoria and Nathan are holding their engagement tomorrow night. The Carter family members are supposed to be there to show their support."

Clara read the information aloud, and Skyler's grip tightened around her coffee cup.

"No," she said with a note of finality.

"What?" Clara looked genuinely surprised.

"Pick another day. I won't go to Victoria's engagement."

The table grew silent, mostly because they knew why she had reacted that way.

Skyler looked away, not wanting to meet their gazes.

It reminded her of her past.

It was supposed to be her engagement. If only she had listened to her gut and refused to go out for a drink with Victoria.

She took a deep breath.

"I'm not going, Clara."

Clara put the file down with a calm, calculated sigh. It was the kind she gave when she was about to make Skyler go against all reasoning.

"It's Liam we're talking about here. Damon has been out of the country, and we're not sure if he'll be back anytime soon. If we're going to get that serum, then we must get it tomorrow night."

Skyler hated how right Clara was. Damon had indeed been out of the country. It felt like he had vanished with the wind.

He hadn't come looking for her or taken responsibility as he had promised. It was almost as if nothing had ever happened.

She put her cup down while Clara continued, giving more reasons why it had to be tomorrow.

"You never really know what happened afterwards, Skyler. You could also get the chance to hear his side of the story."

Those words sank in, snapping every bit of restraint Skyler had held onto. She still remembered the words he had whispered and the promises he had made. Though caught in a web of lust, they had felt true.

So, she nodded.

"Tomorrow night."

Clara's face lit up with a smile.

"Good."

Only then did she pick up her coffee cup.

*

The next evening came quicker than Skyler expected.

She sat in the back seat of her Mercedes, watching the magnificent gates of the Thompson mansion. Nerves were getting the best of her.

"You ready?" Clara asked, placing a hand on Skyler's arm and squeezing lightly.

They stepped out of the car and strode inside.

The hallway was decorated with expensive balloons floating midair, creating a joyous atmosphere. Her father had really gone all out.

The thought sent a cold feeling through Skyler's chest, and a question she'd always pushed aside slowly clawed its way into her heart.

Did he ever love me?

As if confirming her doubts, a deep voice came from the ballroom.

" We gather hear today to celebrate the engagement of my daughter Victoria. As a father, I'm very proud. Ever since she was young, she has always upheld the family's honor, from her clear decision-making in the company to getting engaged to Nathan Carter today. I feel fulfilled to have her as my daughter."

His daughter.

The words twisted something deep inside her, causing a suffocating feeling to overwhelm her. She could feel Clara's grip tighten, but it didn't help.

Did he forget he had a daughter? One he sent away?

Had he forgotten so soon that he had dared to call someone else's daughter his own?

Skyler pursed her lips and let out a bitter laugh, one that drew attention when it shouldn't have.

Heads turned. Eyes followed, and soon, there was pin-drop silence.

"Skyler? What are you doing here?" Margate, her stepmother was the first to break the trance that had held them all.

Her eyes widened as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Nathan, on the other hand, had his jaw clenched, as though he was fighting hard to stay quiet.

Skyler's eyes found Thompson. He looked genuinely surprised for a moment, but then his expression changed, replaced by something fierce.

"You realized too late. Your sister already wears the crown."

Sister.

This was the second time he had addressed her that way.

"What if I got a bigger one?"

Skyler didn't know what had gotten into her. All she wanted was to wipe the innocent look off Victoria's face and prove to everyone what a lying snake she was.

But deep down, she also wanted them to know that she hadn't tarnished the family's reputation.

Yes, she'd spent the night with another man on the eve of her engagement. But it hadn't been what everyone thought, and that man hadn't been a gigolo.

It was Damon Carter.

And perhaps tonight would be the night everyone learned the truth.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, the hallway erupted in whispers.

"Damon Carter."

"He's really here."

"He really does love his brother. He came back just for him."

Skyler's eyes found the figure emerging from the hallway. Her breath caught.

He looked the same, as though time had never touched him. Her legs felt rooted to the spot, and all the grudges she had held seemed to dissolve into thin air.

His eyes met hers across the room. Though his signature frown remained, something shifted within her.

Skyler couldn't tell what it was. All she knew was that he was walking towards her.

She held her breath, momentarily failing to notice the slender figure beside him.

"What...?"

She stopped, stunned.

And then his voice rang out above her.

"Excuse me, Ms. You're blocking the way."