Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

The word "mother" hit Claire like a dagger to the heart. Everyone in the room heard it, and it left Barrett looking like he'd just been struck by lightning. Chloe's eyes, which had been shut, flew open. The brute of a man tried to keep tearing at Chloe's dress, but she had already freed her ankles from the ropes. With a swift kick, she sent the hulking man sprawling to the floor.noveldrama

The room's atmosphere turned tense and eerie. Even the mercenaries were hesitant to move. Claire stood there, frozen, her entire body wound tight with tension. Her eyes locked on Connor, disbelief mixing with hatred and shock. "What... did you just call me?" she asked, her voice sharp and incredulous.

Connor lay on the ground, tilting his head up to meet her gaze. His eyes were bloodshot, the rims red, tears streaming down his face as he wore a smile that mirrored Claire's own manic grin. His expression was a mix of pleading and defiance. "Mother, let Chloe go. I'll give you my life in exchange. Do whatever you want with me, just please, let her go!"

The words seemed to scald Claire like boiling water. She jerked to her feet, stepping back so quickly that the chair behind her toppled over with a loud clatter. The room went silent, save for the sound of a few people breathing.

Barrett was just as stunned, his eyes darting between Connor and Claire. Had Connor lost it? Or was he so traumatized he'd gone delusional? He called Claire "mother"? Weren't they supposed to be siblings? But seeing Claire's deeply shaken demeanor, something was definitely off.

Chloe was equally shocked, her mind racing. At first, she thought like Barrett, assuming Connor was confused. But soon, a terrifying thought took root. Connor wasn't Claire's brother; he was her son!

It wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility. Connor did resemble Claire, especially their identical eyes. And Chloe had heard whispers about the Sartori family. There were rumors that Marian never looked pregnant, yet suddenly the Sartori family had a baby boy. Some said Jeffery, desperate for a male heir, fathered a child elsewhere. Others claimed Connor was born via surrogacy abroad.

But Chloe never imagined Connor could be Claire's own child. Claire often seemed to be on the brink of madness, and from her rants, Chloe had pieced together bits of information. She knew Claire and Hank had eloped and been kidnapped, and this was the very place where they were held.

Claire had mentioned wanting Connor to pay for the torment she endured. All the puzzle pieces clicked into place. Chloe finally understood why Claire always unraveled around Connor. She realized why Claire called him the child of Satan, tainted by filthy blood. Claire had been kidnapped and suffered unimaginable torment. Assaulted by her captors, she became pregnant. And the child she bore was Connor.