chapter 28

The sleek office that usually buzzed with confident leadership felt tense and unusually quiet. Alden sat at his desk, his fingers steepled in front of his face, eyes fixed on the large window overlooking the city skyline—but not really seeing anything. The documents before him remained untouched. A cup of coffee had gone cold hours ago.

There was a knock on the door.

ASSISTANT (peeking in):Sir? Are you okay? The finance team has been waiting for your review on the quarterly files.

Alden looked up slowly, forcing a faint smile.

ALDEN:Tell them I'll get to it later. Just… give me a little time today, please.

The assistant nodded, unsure, and quietly closed the door.

OFFICE – LATER

Alden stood, pacing slowly. Every time he thought about the dinner, his heart raced. He remembered Kara's sharp tongue, her walls, her anger—how much she resented the idea of her real parents. And Ethan… calm, composed Ethan—too quiet for someone so young. Alden had seen that silence before… in his brother Job.

ALDEN (whispering to himself):What if they hate me for keeping it from them? What if they walk away…?

He reached into a drawer and took out a small photo frame. Inside was an old photo—Job smiling beside a young Jane, her face glowing with happiness, her belly visibly round with child. Behind them stood Alden, his arm around Job.

ALDEN (to the photo):I tried, brother. I really did. I searched everywhere. And when I found them… I thought I could protect them. But maybe they need more than just protection. Maybe they need the truth.

He placed the photo back gently and straightened his suit. A deep breath filled his chest.

OFFICE – EVENING

The sun was setting, casting golden rays through the window blinds. His junior staff murmured outside, whispering about their boss. He hadn't been himself lately.

JUNIOR 1:You noticed how tense Mr. Alden's been this week?

JUNIOR 2:He's been distracted. Never seen him so... unsettled. Something personal, maybe?

JUNIOR 1:It must be. He even snapped at the assistant this morning.

INT. ALDEN'S OFFICE – NIGHT

The office was quiet now. The city lights flickered outside. Alden stood alone, jacket draped over his chair. His phone buzzed.

TEXT FROM JANE:"Everything's ready for dinner. They're both home."

Alden exhaled deeply. This was it.

He picked up the photo again, held it close to his heart, then set it face down.

ALDEN (softly):Time to bring the family back together.

He turned off the office lights and stepped out, locking the door behind him—not just to the room, but to years of silence and waiting. Tonight, secrets would be laid bare. And whether it ended in healing or heartbreak, the truth would finally come to light.

The grand chandelier above the dining table glowed with a soft warmth. The table was perfectly set—crystal glasses, fine silverware, a delicious spread of roasted meats, vegetables, and wine. It was unusually formal for a simple family dinner.

JANE, hands still nervously adjusting the hem of her simple dress, stood awkwardly near the side of the room. She looked out of place, as though she might run at any moment. ETHAN was seated, quiet and observant, picking at the edge of his napkin. KARA descended the stairs, dressed elegantly, but with her usual cold composure—until her eyes fell on Jane.

KARA (irritated):What's she doing here?

ETHAN:Kara, not now—

Before he could finish, ALDEN entered from upstairs, fresh from a shower, dressed in a sleek black shirt and suit trousers. He had taken extra care tonight. His face was calm, but underneath, a storm brewed. He gave everyone a soft nod and moved to sit at the head of the table.

ALDEN:Thank you all for coming. Jane… please, sit.

He pulled out the chair next to him, gesturing for Jane to sit. The moment she hesitated, KARA jumped up from her seat.

KARA (furious):What the hell, Dad? She's a servant! Why is she sitting at our family table?! Have we lost all rules now?

ALDEN (gently, but firmly):Kara… sit down.

KARA (ignoring him):No! This is absurd! You always said there was a line between staff and family—and now what? She's dining with us? Or wait— (eyes narrowing, voice trembling with rage and confusion) —don't tell me… you're getting married to her?

There was a sharp silence. The words hung in the air like a slap.

ETHAN (softly):Kara…

KARA (to Alden, demanding):Is that what this is all about? Is this your big announcement? That you're marrying the maid? Have you lost your mind?

JANE, visibly shaken, lowered her eyes. Alden closed his eyes briefly, controlling the storm of emotions crashing within him.

ALDEN (quietly):Kara. Enough. Sit.

KARA (scoffing, still standing):Enough? You invite the woman who's caused me nothing but grief and suddenly she's a guest of honor? Are you replacing mom now too?

ALDEN (his voice rising):SIT. DOWN.

Kara flinched. She had rarely seen Alden raise his voice. She lowered herself into her chair slowly, eyes still blazing.

KARA (coldly):Go ahead. Let's hear it. Surprise us, since we're apparently having dinner with strangers now.

Alden took a deep breath, clasping his hands together in front of him. Jane looked like she wanted to sink into the floor.

ALDEN (gently):Jane is not a stranger, Kara. And neither are you. Or Ethan. I've kept something from you both for a long time, something I thought was for your protection—but I realize now that hiding it only deepened your pain.

Kara's brow furrowed. Ethan stopped moving completely, his eyes locked on Alden.

ALDEN (continued):You are not orphans. You were never abandoned. And Jane… is not just a maid.

KARA (bitter laugh):Then what is she? A fairy godmother?

ALDEN (softly):She's your mother.

The room dropped into a dead silence. Kara blinked. Jane's breath hitched as she covered her mouth to suppress a sob. Ethan's glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.

KARA (shaken, whispering):What… what did you just say?

ALDEN (nodding slowly):Jane is your biological mother. And your father… was my brother. Job.

Kara shot up, eyes wide in disbelief.

KARA:No. No. You're lying. This is a joke!

JANE (through tears):It's not. It's true, Kara. I lost you… and I've been looking for you ever since. I never abandoned you. I would never…

KARA (screaming):LIAR! You did! You left us! I suffered for years! I begged for a mother—

ALDEN (standing):She didn't choose to leave. She was forced to run. Your father was murdered, set up by our enemies. She was hunted too. When I finally got to her home, she was gone. No one knew where. I searched for years—

ETHAN (hoarsely):And… and we're… his kids?

ALDEN (voice trembling):Yes. You're Job's children. My blood. My family. I did a DNA test to confirm it, but I kept it to myself because I was afraid you wouldn't understand. I only wanted to protect you.

Kara took a shaky step backward.

KARA (muttering):No… this isn't real. You said you adopted us. That we were nobodies. Left behind nobodies!

JANE (rising, voice cracking):You are not nobodies, Kara. You are everything to me. I never stopped loving you. I never stopped hoping.

Kara stared at Jane. She wanted to scream, to run, to cry—yet her legs wouldn't move. Her throat tightened painfully.

KARA (voice breaking):Then why didn't you come? Why did I suffer so much… thinking no one wanted me?

JANE (reaching out, pleading):Because I couldn't find you. But I never gave up. And now, here you are. Alive. Grown. Beautiful. Angry… and I understand. But I never stopped being your mother.

A long pause.

Then—Kara turned, running from the table and up the stairs.

ALDEN (moving to follow):Kara—

JANE (softly, stopping him):Let her be. She needs time.

Ethan, frozen in place, slowly stood, walking over to Jane.

ETHAN (whispering):You're really… our mom?

Jane nodded, eyes shining with tears.

JANE:Yes, baby. I'm so sorry.

He stared at her for a long moment… then, to everyone's shock, stepped forward and hugged her tightly. Jane broke into sobs.

ETHAN (softly):I don't understand everything yet. But… I believe you.

Alden placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder, eyes misty.

ALDEN (quiet):Thank you, son.

Upstairs, behind a cracked door, Kara sat on the floor, trembling, eyes filled with tears. Everything she thought she knew had shattered—but a small part of her heart, the part that had longed for love… was finally stirring awake.