Chapter 10 - THE FRIEND WHO STOLE A LIFE
The door opened slowly.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then Daniel walked inside.
The same man who had smiled beside Adrian at countless dinners.
The same man who had stood beside him during the hardest moments of his life.
The same man Adrian once called his brother.
Daniel looked around the room.
His eyes stopped on Adrian.
Then he smiled.
“Look at you.”
Adrian stared at him.
“How long?”
Daniel tilted his head.
“How long what?”
“How long were you lying to me?”
Daniel sighed.
“I was hoping we could have this conversation differently.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“There is no different version of this.”
His voice was full of anger.
“You destroyed my family.”
Daniel looked at Lena.
Then at Emma and Mia.
“I didn’t destroy your family.”
He paused.
“I created a better future.”
Lena’s face changed.
“You’re sick.”
Daniel ignored her.
He looked at Adrian.
“You had everything.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
“Money.”
“Power.”
“A family name everyone respected.”
Daniel laughed quietly.
“But you never appreciated it.”
Adrian couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“So you decided to take it?”
Daniel shrugged.
“Someone had to.”
Richard stepped forward.
“You were always greedy.”
Daniel looked at him.
“And you were always arrogant.”
The room became silent.
Daniel continued.
“You built an empire and expected everyone around you to stay loyal.”
He pointed at Adrian.
“But you forgot something.”
“What?”
Daniel smiled.
“People get tired of standing in someone else’s shadow.”
Adrian looked at him with disgust.
“You were my best friend.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
For a moment, something human appeared.
Then it disappeared.
“That was your mistake.”
Adrian stared.
“What?”
“You trusted me.”
The words hit harder than Adrian expected.
Daniel walked around the room.
“I knew everything about you.”
“Your habits.”
“Your weaknesses.”
“Your fears.”
He stopped in front of Adrian.
“I knew exactly how to break you.”
Adrian’s hands tightened.
“The accident.”
Daniel smiled.
“Yes.”
Lena covered her mouth.
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
“You tried to kill me.”
Daniel didn’t deny it.
“I needed time.”
“For what?”
“To take control.”
Richard stepped forward.
“You almost killed my son.”
Daniel looked at him.
“And you almost ruined everything by saving him.”
Adrian looked between them.
“What does that mean?”
Richard stayed silent.
Daniel laughed.
“Your father wasn’t the hero you think he was.”
Adrian turned.
“Dad?”
Daniel continued.
“He knew about the accident.”
Richard looked down.
“But he also knew something else.”
Adrian’s voice became cold.
“What?”
Daniel smiled.
“He knew I wasn’t alone.”
Everyone froze.
Lena looked at Richard.
“What is he talking about?”
Richard didn’t answer.
Adrian’s anger grew.
“Dad.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“There was another person involved.”
“Who?”
Richard looked at Victoria.
Everyone turned.
Victoria stepped back.
“No.”
Adrian stared at her.
“Victoria?”
Daniel smiled.
“Finally.”
Victoria started shaking.
“I didn’t know what he was planning.”
Daniel laughed.
“You knew enough.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Tell me.”
Victoria looked broken.
“I only helped him with the documents.”
Adrian felt betrayed all over again.
“You helped him steal my company.”
“I thought you would marry me.”
Her voice cracked.
“I thought after Lena disappeared, you would love me.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You knew she was alive.”
Victoria cried.
“Yes.”
The confession filled the room.
Lena closed her eyes.
Adrian whispered:
“How could you?”
Victoria couldn’t answer.
Then Daniel suddenly pulled something from his coat.
Everyone froze.
A gun.
Emma screamed.
Adrian immediately moved in front of the children.
Daniel looked at him.
“See?”
A sad smile appeared.
“You still protect everyone.”
Adrian stared.
“Put it down.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I came here because I need something.”
“What?”
Daniel pointed toward the table.
“The documents.”
Marcus looked confused.
“What documents?”
Daniel smiled.
“The ones that prove Adrian is no longer the owner of Cross Holdings.”
Adrian stared.
“You already stole my company.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
A pause.
“I borrowed it.”
He looked at Adrian.
“Now I’m taking it permanently.”
Suddenly, sirens sounded outside.
Daniel’s expression changed.
“What did you do?”
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“I called the police.”
Daniel laughed.
“You think that changes anything?”
He moved toward the exit.
Then stopped.
Looking back at Adrian.
“Before you arrest me…”
He pointed at Lena.
“Ask her who the real father of Emma and Mia is.”
The room went silent.
Adrian turned slowly.
“Lena?”
Her face went pale.
And Daniel smiled.
Because he knew.
May you like
He had just opened another secret.
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