Chapter 3 - The Woman Planning the Party
Marco introduced Valerie Stone as an event consultant.
According to him, she had organized luxury charity events in New York, Miami and Atlanta. She would transform Leo’s birthday into an unforgettable celebration.
Andrea did not want an extravagant party.
Leo wanted a magician, a chocolate cake and a blue bicycle.
Marco wanted press photographers, company investors and the entire Whitmore board.
“The trust activates that day,” he explained. “We should show everyone that Leo’s future is secure.”
Valerie arrived wearing a fitted red dress and carrying a tablet filled with garden designs.
She was beautiful in a deliberate way.
Every movement appeared rehearsed.
Every smile remained half a second too long.
When Marco introduced them, Valerie stared at Andrea as though they had already met.
“Your home is even more beautiful than I imagined.”
Andrea frowned.
“You’ve seen it before?”
“Only in photographs.”
Marco quickly guided Valerie toward the garden.
Over the following days, she became a constant presence.
She inspected the ballroom, interviewed the staff and requested access to family photographs for a birthday video.
Andrea refused when Valerie asked for Leo’s hospital records.
“Why would you need those?”
“For a timeline of his life.”
“Use photographs.”
Valerie smiled.
“Of course.”
Later, Andrea found Marco giving Valerie a keycard to the private office wing.
“She needs access to the media archives,” he said.
“The media archives are downstairs.”
Marco slipped the card back into his pocket.
“You’re becoming suspicious of everything.”
Andrea looked at Valerie.
The woman did not appear embarrassed.
She looked amused.
That evening, Leo asked a strange question while Andrea tucked him into bed.
“Can somebody else become your mommy if your first mommy goes away?”
Andrea sat beside him.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Miss Valerie said sometimes children find out they belong to somebody else.”
Andrea’s chest tightened.
“What exactly did she say?”
Leo pulled the blanket to his chin.
“She told Daddy I’ll understand after my birthday.”
Marco entered before Andrea could ask more.
He smiled at Leo.
“Ready for a story?”
Andrea stood.
“We need to talk.”
Marco watched Leo until the boy closed his eyes.
Then he followed Andrea into the hall and shut the door.
“You are never to discuss Leo’s family with Valerie again.”
Marco’s face hardened.
“You’re overreacting.”
“She told our son he might belong to someone else.”
“She was probably talking about adoption.”
“Leo isn’t adopted.”
Marco looked at her for a long moment.
May you like
Then he said quietly, “Maybe you shouldn’t be so certain about what he knows.”
👉 Marco’s warning left Andrea frightened, but the first missing page from Leo’s birth file showed that someone had already begun rewriting his history.
