Silas's POV
The VALERIUS'Empire empire had turned into a battlefield overnight. Twenty-four hours was all it took for everything to spiral into chaos. The phones never stopped ringing. Assistants sprinted through corridors clutching documents that scattered across wrong desks. Nobody bothered whispering anymore.
Every screen in the building displayed the same poison headline spreading through the city like wildfire.
**VALERIUS'Empire Heir's Secret Child Exposed?** Below it, a grainy photograph of Hugo standing in a crowded shopping center. A small boy clung to his legs while a woman crouched beside them, reaching for the child.
The image was blurred and taken from a distance, but clear enough to fuel speculation. The boy's round face and tiny fingers gripping Hugo's pants were visible enough for people to draw their own conclusions.
Gossip moved faster than any official statement could.
