The heavy double doors of the Corvinus Estate swung open with a loud creak, revealing the grand, imposing figure of Arthur Corvinus. He stepped into the foyer, his presence commanding the attention of everyone within sight. The estate was quiet, the usual bustle of servants and security replaced by an uneasy silence. Everyone knew when Arthur Corvinus arrived unannounced, it was never a casual visit.
Andrew stood in the middle of his study, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew this confrontation was inevitable, yet he hadn't prepared for it. He heard the footsteps approaching, each one heavy with purpose and authority. When the door to his study opened, Andrew straightened up, masking the anxiety that threatened to seep through his carefully constructed facade.
Arthur entered the room, his blue eyes cold and piercing as they locked onto his son. The silence between them was thick with tension, a palpable force that could be felt throughout the estate.
"Father," Andrew greeted, his voice steady, though there was an undercurrent of apprehension.
"Andrew," Arthur replied, his tone as cold as his gaze. He closed the door behind him, the sound echoing through the room like the finality of a judge's gavel. He took a few steps forward, his presence filling the room, leaving Andrew feeling uncharacteristically small.
"You summoned me here. Why?" Andrew asked, though he knew the answer. He was stalling, hoping to gauge his father's mood before the inevitable explosion.
Arthur didn't immediately answer. He walked over to the large window behind Andrew's desk, his hands clasped behind his back as he looked out over the vast estate. The silence stretched on, suffocating in its weight. Andrew's nerves tightened with each passing second.
Finally, Arthur spoke, his voice low and controlled, but with an edge that could cut steel. "Do you take me for a fool, Andrew?"
Andrew's heart skipped a beat. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Arthur turned, his eyes narrowing. "Don't lie to me." His voice was a growl, a warning that his patience was running thin. "There's been an amber alert issued for a boy named Michael, with a million-dollar reward attached. Tell me, Andrew, what do you know about this?"
Andrew swallowed hard, his mind racing for a plausible lie, but nothing came. His father's gaze was unyielding, demanding the truth. "It's nothing, just a missing child—"
"Don't," Arthur cut him off, his voice rising with fury. "Don't insult me with your pathetic excuses."
Andrew flinched but tried to maintain his composure. "Father, I—"
"Michael Corvinus," Arthur said, each word enunciated with cold precision. "A child born out of your infidelity, kept hidden from the family. Did you really think you could keep this from me forever?"
Andrew's eyes widened. "How did you—"
"How I know isn't the issue," Arthur interrupted, his voice hardening. "The issue is that you, my own son, would betray the family in such a way. That you would go behind our backs, lie to us, and now, to cover up your mess, you've put out a bounty that will only draw more attention to our name."
Andrew's defenses crumbled under the weight of his father's wrath. "I did it to protect the family," he said, his voice desperate. "To avoid scandal—"
"Don't you dare talk to me about protecting this family," Arthur thundered, stepping forward until he was inches from Andrew's face. "You've endangered everything we've built. And worse, you've put a Corvinus at risk."
Andrew froze, the weight of his father's words sinking in. "I didn't think—"
"That much is clear," Arthur said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You've acted like a coward, hiding from your responsibilities. And now, the First Lady knows, Katherine knows, and soon, the whole world will know about your indiscretions."
Andrew's mind was spinning. "Katherine knows?"
"Yes," Arthur said, his voice softer now, almost pitying. "And she's waiting for you to slip up. To make a mistake so she can take everything from you. From us."
Andrew felt the room closing in on him, the walls of lies and secrets he had built up over the years crumbling around him.
"What do you plan to do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arthur stepped back, his gaze never leaving Andrew's. "What I plan to do is bring Michael into this family where he belongs. No more hiding. No more lies. He is a Corvinus, and he will be treated as such."
Andrew's eyes widened in shock. "You can't be serious—"
"I've never been more serious in my life," Arthur said, his voice like iron. "You will cease any actions that put that boy in harm's way. If I find out you've disobeyed me, if I find out you've even thought about harming that child, there will be consequences, Andrew. Consequences that even your position as President won't protect you from."
Andrew knew there was no arguing with his father when he was like this. He nodded stiffly, the weight of his father's command settling heavily on his shoulders.
Arthur stared at him for a long moment, as if searching for any sign of defiance. When he found none, he nodded. "I'll give you time to handle this. But don't make me come back here, Andrew. You won't like the results."
With that, Arthur turned and left the room, leaving Andrew alone with his thoughts, the full weight of his mistakes pressing down on him.
As the door closed behind him, Andrew let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He knew what he had to do, but the path ahead was fraught with peril. Katherine was watching, Arthur was furious, and Michael, his illegitimate son, was a ticking time bomb that could destroy everything he had worked for.
Andrew sat down heavily at his desk, his mind racing with how to navigate this impossible situation. But one thing was clear—Arthur's threat was not to be taken lightly. He needed to find a way to control the situation before it spiraled even further out of his grasp.
The future of the Corvinus family was at stake, and Andrew knew that one wrong move could bring it all crashing down.