Page 400 of The Christmas Wife

"You must be Knox," Nathan murmurs.

"The fuck are you?"

"I’m your oldest half-brother."

"What the fuck?" Knox throws his cards down on the table. "Is this a joke, Arthur?" He turns to our grandfather. "Because if it is?—"

I scan Nathan’s features and see the truth in his eyes. "It’s not a joke, Knox."

"I want to hear it from Arthur," Knox says without taking his gaze off of our grandfather.

Arthur pets Tiny one more time, then turns to face Knox. "This is Nathan Davenport, my oldest grandson.”

“I thoughthewas your oldest grandson.” Knox jerks his chin in my direction.

“So did I.” Arthur looks at me with an apologetic expression. “I found out about him at the same time as Edward. I reached out to Nathan and Edward at the same time, but Nathan never replied.”

“I was traveling.” Nathan shrugs.

“And now, you’re conveniently here, in time to claim a part of the family fortune?” Knox growls.

“I’m independently wealthy.” Nathan’s lips twist, “I’m here because?—”

“I asked him to come,” Arthur interjects. “Turns out, before your father met Edward’s mother, he had a son with his childhood sweetheart. She was sixteen when Nathan was born. Your father refused to step up to his responsibilities.”

“What a surprise.” Knox snorts.

“Greta paid off Nathan’s mother, so she could leave with him and bring him up far away from us.”

Nathan’s jaw tics, but he doesn’t comment.

“Apparently, your father knew if he came clean to me, I’d disinherit him. Greta didn’t want that for him either. The two kept this a secret, but Greta wanted me to do right by Nathan.”

“How did you find him?”

“His mother didn’t keep her promise. She couldn’t help but name your father on his birth-certificate.” Arthur glances around the table. “Nathan grew up with the Davenport surname.”

“A name I never wanted to be associated with. A name I should have gotten rid of the first chance I had,” he says in a matter-of-fact voice.

“But you didn’t.” Arthur turns to him. “Family ties, dear grandson, can’t be broken that easily.”

“You trying to convince yourself or me?” Nathan drawls.

“You’re here, aren’t you?” Arthur puffs on his cigar.

“Grandma sure kept a lot of secrets from you.” Knox lowers his chin to his chest.

Arthur’s shoulders tense, then he seems to get a hold of himself. “And she wanted to make amends for it.

“By asking you to split the family fortune amongst those who don’t deserve it?”

“You will apologize to your brother,” Arthur booms.

“That’s half-brother, and I will not,” Knox shoots back.

Arthur sighs. “When you reach my age, you’ll realize, family is all that matters.”

“Good thing I’m not your age yet,” Knox sneers.

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