A crisp spring morning found Max Rivers‑Blackwood tugging at Vivian's hand as they entered the grand foyer of the American Museum of Natural History. Polished marble columns soared overhead; the scent of aged stone mingled with the thrill of discovery. Today, Vivian had promised a behind‑the‑scenes tour before preschool, but Max cared only for the dinosaur hall—and maybe, if he was lucky, a chance encounter with his father.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the building, Damien Blackwood adjusted his cufflinks in a mirrored alcove just outside the trustees' luncheon. The room buzzed with philanthropists and board directors primping for another speech on medical grants, but his mind flickered back to last night's revelations—and the promise he'd made to Lena.
A sudden fire alarm drill echoe
