The Baptism Betrayal

er estate. He and Sylvia checked into a luxury hotel suite, while Ethan, Stella, and I retreated to our own home in

ad leaked, becoming the talk of the town. My phone buzzed incessantly with

t was the social event of the season, and attendance was not optional. Andrew insisted w

rew and Sylvia, Ethan and me, with Stella sleeping peacefully in a state-of

ooking every bit the defiant queen. And sitting on either

had doub

k you all for coming," she began, her voice resonating with false warmth

you all to officially meet my other grandson, Rya

licon Valley's most powerful people. The guests shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting betwe

nd to right a great wrong, I am declaring tonight that the Lester Innovation

mily drama; this was a corporate earthquake. Lester Innovations was a ti

profound, weary sadness. He had hoped, even after everyt

her," he said, his voice carrying across the

and Ryan exchanged ecstatic, greedy

nued, his voice steady. "Ryan will receive half

s hang in the air. Then he

rship and full operational control of Lester Innovations to my son, Ethan, five years ago. It was a pr

has been for some time, entirely Ethan's. All you will be getting is half of my per

appening in Debra and Ryan' s eyes. The triumphant glee drained from th

mouth agape. "You... you gave

is kind of chaos, Mother," Andrew said, his voice firm but tinge

. "Sylvia, my love, our wo

. The power dynamic had been irrevocably reset, not by shouting or dr