Chapter 11 - THE SECRET LENA HID
Nobody spoke.
Adrian looked at Lena.
The woman he had spent seven years searching for.
The woman he believed was the only person who never betrayed him.
Now she looked afraid.
“Lena.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Adrian…”
“Tell me.”
Daniel stood near the door, enjoying every second.
“Tell him.”
Adrian ignored Daniel.
He looked only at Lena.
“Are Emma and Mia my children?”
The silence lasted only a few seconds.
But it felt endless.
Then Lena answered.
“Yes.”
Adrian breathed again.
A small relief.
But Daniel smiled.
“That wasn’t the question.”
Adrian looked at him.
“What are you talking about?”
Daniel leaned against the wall.
“Ask her about the night before the accident.”
Lena’s face changed.
Adrian noticed.
“What happened?”
She looked down.
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
Her voice broke.
“After we escaped.”
“Escaped from who?”
Lena wiped her tears.
“Your father.”
Richard looked away.
Adrian stared.
“My father?”
Lena nodded.
“Your father discovered I was pregnant.”
“And?”
“He wanted me gone.”
Adrian felt anger rising.
“But why?”
Lena looked at Emma.
“Because he believed my family was dangerous.”
Adrian frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Lena took a deep breath.
“My mother was connected to a company that competed with the Cross family.”
Adrian shook his head.
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
“But he thought…”
“He thought I married you to destroy your family.”
Silence.
Adrian looked at Richard.
“Did you believe that?”
Richard didn’t answer.
And that answer hurt.
Adrian stepped back.
“All these years…”
Richard whispered:
“I was wrong.”
“No.”
Adrian’s voice trembled.
“You were afraid.”
Richard looked at him.
“Yes.”
“And because you were afraid, everyone suffered.”
Richard lowered his head.
“Yes.”
Daniel laughed.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Everyone looked at him.
“The great Cross family.”
“Destroyed by their own secrets.”
Adrian ignored him.
He looked at Lena.
“Is there anything else?”
Lena hesitated.
That hesitation hurt more than any answer.
“What?”
She slowly reached into her bag.
She pulled out another envelope.
“I kept this because I was afraid.”
Adrian took it.
Inside was a letter.
His handwriting.
His signature.
But he had no memory of writing it.
He read the first sentence.
Lena,
If anything happens to me, protect our children.
Adrian looked up.
“What is this?”
Lena whispered:
“You wrote it before the accident.”
His hands shook.
“I don’t remember.”
“Because you lost parts of your memory.”
He continued reading.
The letter explained that Adrian discovered Daniel’s plan.
He knew someone was trying to take control of his company.
He knew someone close to him was dangerous.
Then came the final line.
I trust only one person to protect my family.
Adrian looked at Lena.
“Who?”
She pointed at the bottom.
Adrian read the name.
Marcus.
Everyone turned.
Marcus looked frozen.
Adrian stared.
“You knew.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I promised your father.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“Another promise.”
Marcus looked at him.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You were protecting secrets.”
Suddenly, a police officer entered.
“Everyone stay where you are.”
Daniel smiled.
Because he wasn’t scared.
Adrian noticed.
“Why are you smiling?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Because you still don’t understand.”
“What?”
Daniel stepped backward.
“This was never about your company.”
A pause.
“It was about your children.”
Adrian froze.
Daniel looked at Emma and Mia.
“And now that you found them…”
His smile disappeared.
“Someone else is coming for them.”
The room went silent.
Adrian’s heart dropped.
“Who?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“The person who started all of this.”
Then the police radio suddenly crackled.
A voice came through.
“Officer down.”
Everyone froze.
Another message followed.
“The suspect has escaped.”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
May you like
But Daniel was already gone.
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