Billionaire Bachelors 8 : Unexpected Treasure(2)

"Let me keep reading."

"Go on then," Joseph said, still looking at the picture.

"Apparently, he married young, had five children - four boys and one girl - and then their mother left them. He's made the move here because he feels it's the right thing to do for his family."

"We need answers, and I want them now, George."

"I couldn't agree more."

The two men went inside to Joseph's large den and looked through the bookcase containing old family albums. When they came upon the album from the year they were born, they sat with it in front of the fireplace.

Less than an hour later, both men were speechless with shock. Richard Storm's adoptive father was the same man who'd delivered Joseph and George. Their mother even had notes in the album about her doctor, saying how kind he was and how sad she felt that he and his wife were unable to have children.

Only one conclusion appeared likely. This doctor must have seized the opportunity to give his wife a child, too desperate to care about the consequences of ripping another family apart.

"This man, Richard, may very well be our brother," George gasped as he gazed at the pictures of their mother holding them for the first time.

"But how is it possible she had a third child without realizing it?" Joseph countered.




 

 

"You know how different times were back then, Joseph. They didn't have ultrasounds, and Mother suffered complications during delivery. She'd lost a lot of blood and they had to put her under. Dad wasn't in the room - back then, fathers didn't belong there. The only other person in the room with the doctor was his nurse, who also happened to be his wife. They could have easily seen the third child and taken the opportunity to create their own family. Why else would they have moved away so suddenly?"

"I just can't imagine that happening."

"That's because, if this is true, we have a brother out there we've missed knowing, and our mother has a child she never knew," George said, overtaken by sadness.

"One thing I know for sure - we need to meet this man and find out if he really is family."

"But what do you think that will do to him, Joseph? We would cause upheaval in his life, change everything that he believes about himself and his loved ones," George said. "Let's try to be reasonable."

"Can you honestly do nothing but stand by when a man who may be our kin is so close by? He has children, George, and they are most likely our nephews and our niece. We have to find out the truth, even if it's a painful one."

"You're right, Joseph. Of course you're right. I just don't know whether our visit will be a welcome one to this man. Heck, we know nothing about him. What if the man who could be our brother is a terrible person?"

"He can't be terrible, George. No matter what his birth certificate says, he's an Anderson, and Andersons are good people," Joseph said with confidence.

"Right you are, Joseph. Well, you know what this means, don't you?"

"Of course I do. Go-kart racing is off the schedule today. It looks like it's time to pay a visit to Richard Storm."

"I'll grab my hat. You lead the way brother; I'm right behind you."

The two men walked out the door, climbed into Joseph's Mercedes and made their way to the new Storm Corporate offices. Expectant smiles spread across their faces as they neared their destination. Granted, it would be heartbreaking to learn they had a brother they hadn't had the pleasure of growing up with. But still, if it were true, they were now blessed with a whole line of family members to get to know.

Joseph grinned, thinking of all those first-rate great-nieces and -nephews. More and more babies on the horizon and potential love matches to make.

Chapter One

Two years earlier

"Do any of you have any idea of what this is about?"

"Not a clue. It seems the old man has got something up his keister again. I haven't gone to bed yet from yesterday. I seriously considered not showing up." 

"You may as well stop complaining about it, because you know how father gets. You don't want your precious trust fund cut off, now, do you?"

"Shut up, Brielle. You're the one who'd be hurting if you lost Daddy's money."

"All of you should shut up before the old man walks in. The more compliant we are, the sooner our family reunion   can end, and the quicker we can get on with our lives."

"That's very good thinking, Lance. I know how important it is for you to run from my presence."

The five young bickerers turned in surprise to find their father standing in the doorway. Richard had to quickly disguise the sadness in his eyes. This wasn't the time to coddle his children, who, though grown up, were thoroughly spoiled. It was time to do what he should have done years ago, before it was almost too late. He didn't have much time left, and he feared that his kids would never change if he didn't act now.