Wren had barely held her daughter for two hours when Josephine revealed a secret. Her uncle Elliot wasn’t a minor partner in Ashcroft Holdings. Thirty years earlier, his money had rescued the company, earning him a forty percent controlling stake through an agreement the Ashcroft family had hidden for decades. Now Elliot had left that stake to Wren. He had known about Dorian’s betrayal and arranged protection for her before her daughter was born.

At 4:20, a courier delivered Elliot’s folder to the hospital. Inside were the agreement, transfer documents naming Wren the largest shareholder, and a letter telling her to use what he had given her. Nine, Dorian arrived, eager to see his daughter after refusing to acknowledge her. Wren quietly handed him the folder. As he read, his expression collapsed. Reginald and Adele entered, expecting to negotiate their granddaughter’s future—and Wren realized they had no idea what awaited them.