The Forgotten Heir

Chapter 7: Fractures in the Frame

Ryan's thoughts wouldn't settle. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the jogger-the Whitmore brother who had looked straight at him. There was something unshakable in that moment, a connection that didn't make sense but felt undeniably real.

He knows something's up, Ryan thought, pacing his room. Or maybe I just look too much like him.

He caught his reflection in the mirror and frowned. The similarities were there, even if he hated to admit it. The sharpness of his jaw, the dark brown eyes, the way his hair stubbornly flopped no matter how much he combed it-it was all mirrored in the Whitmore family photos he'd seen.

"I look like them," he whispered, his throat tightening. "I belong there."

But did he? The thought was terrifying. What if they didn't want him? What if they rejected him, just like their mother had?

A Chance for Answers

Ryan's determination pushed him back to the estate two days later. This time, he wasn't content to just watch from the shadows. He needed more-a way inside, a way to get closer without drawing attention.

He waited until late afternoon, when the estate was quieter. A delivery truck pulled up to the gates, and Ryan seized the opportunity, slipping in unnoticed as the gates swung open.

His heart pounded as he crept closer to the mansion, sticking to the edges of the meticulously trimmed hedges. The estate was even more intimidating up close, its grandeur almost suffocating. Marble columns, expansive windows, and perfectly manicured lawns stretched endlessly.

A voice broke through his thoughts. "You lost?"

Ryan froze, his breath catching in his throat. He turned slowly to find one of the brothers standing a few feet away, arms crossed. This one was taller than the jogger he'd seen earlier, with a sharper jawline and piercing brown eyes that seemed to see right through him.

"I..." Ryan stammered, scrambling for an excuse. "I, uh, got turned around. Didn't mean to trespass."

The brother frowned but didn't seem immediately hostile. "You from around here?"

Ryan nodded, his throat dry. "Yeah. Just out walking."

The brother studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You look familiar. Do I know you?"

Ryan's heart skipped. "N-No, I don't think so."

The brother tilted his head, his frown deepening. Before he could press further, a voice called from the house. "Ethan, you coming or what?"

The brother-Ethan-glanced over his shoulder, then back at Ryan. "Stay out of trouble," he said before turning and jogging back toward the mansion.

Ryan exhaled shakily, his pulse hammering in his ears. That was way too close.

But as he slipped back out through the gates, a small part of him couldn't help but feel exhilarated. He'd seen them up close now-stood face to face with one of his brothers. And Ethan had noticed something, too.

The Brothers Talk

Inside the Whitmore mansion, Ethan joined Logan and Theo in the lounge, still frowning as he grabbed a drink from the bar.

"What's with the face?" Logan asked, tossing him a bottle of water.

"Ran into someone near the hedges," Ethan said casually, though his tone betrayed his curiosity.

Logan's head snapped up. "What did he look like?"

"Kid, maybe fourteen or fifteen. Brown hair, kinda short," Ethan said, narrowing his eyes. "Why?"

Logan exchanged a glance with Theo, who raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like the same guy Logan saw the other day."

"Could be a coincidence," Theo said, leaning back in his chair. "But if it's not, why's he hanging around here?"

Ethan rubbed his jaw, his thoughts swirling. "That's what I'm wondering. He said he got lost, but it didn't feel right."

"You think he's scoping the place out?" Logan asked, his voice skeptical. "Like some wannabe thief?"

Ethan shook his head. "No. He didn't seem like that. He seemed... nervous. Like he didn't know what he was looking for."

The room fell silent as the brothers exchanged uneasy looks.

"Maybe we should mention it to Dad," Theo said finally.

Logan hesitated. "Let's wait. If he shows up again, we'll figure it out ourselves."

Unearthed Secrets

Back in his room, Ryan poured over everything he'd learned. His encounter with Ethan had shaken him, but it also fueled his determination. He couldn't keep sneaking around forever-he needed concrete answers.

He stared at his notebook, flipping back to the page where he'd written Eleanor Whitmore's name. She was the key to everything, the one person who could tell him why he'd been given away. But how could he confront her without blowing his cover?

The question lingered as he scrolled through the Whitmores' social media accounts again. Photos of charity events, vacations, and casual family gatherings painted a perfect picture. Too perfect. There was no sign of cracks in their facade, no hint of the secrets buried beneath the surface.

But then he saw it-a video of Eleanor giving a speech at a fundraiser. Her voice was calm, measured, her smile poised. Yet something about her eyes caught Ryan's attention. They didn't match her expression. There was tension there, a flicker of something deeper.

Guilt.

The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Eleanor Whitmore was hiding something, and Ryan was going to find out what.

The Brothers' Discovery

The next morning, Logan sat at the kitchen counter, scrolling through his phone. Something about the boy at the gates still nagged at him. He pulled up a photo from their most recent family event-a candid shot of all seven brothers lined up next to their father.

His eyes lingered on his own face, then drifted to the stranger he'd seen. The resemblance wasn't exact, but it was close enough to make his stomach twist.

"You're obsessed," Theo said, appearing behind him with a cup of coffee. "Seriously, let it go."

Logan ignored him, enlarging the photo. "Don't you think it's weird, though? He looked like us."

Theo snorted. "Dude, you're reaching. Just because some random kid has brown hair doesn't mean he's our long-lost brother."

But Logan wasn't convinced. Something about the boy had struck a chord in him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing a piece of the puzzle.

"I'm not saying he's related," Logan said finally. "But I think there's more to this than we realize."

Theo sighed. "Fine. If it'll help you sleep, we'll ask Dad if he knows anything. But don't get your hopes up, okay?"

Logan nodded, but deep down, he wasn't sure he needed to ask their father. The answer was already there, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

The kid looked like them. And sooner or later, they were going to find out why.