The Illegitimate Child

Harold sat in the dimly lit parking lot, his hands gripping the steering wheel as if it were the only thing tethering him to reality. Lila's words echoed in his mind like a haunting refrain, each repetition stirring a mixture of anger, disappointment, and pain that made it impossible to think clearly.

He didn't know what to do, and for a man like Harold, that was maddening. Action had always been his solace, his way of dealing with the chaos in his life. But now, action felt out of reach, and his thoughts were a jumbled mess of emotions he couldn't untangle.

Just as he was about to open the car door, a sleek black sedan rolled into the parking lot. The sight jolted him from his haze. Harold's heart quickened as he recognized the man stepping out of the car—Arthur Sutherland.