Chapter 12 - THE LAST PERSON THEY EXPECTED
The farmhouse became chaos.
Police searched every room.
Officers surrounded the property.
But Daniel was gone.
Again.
Adrian stood outside, staring into the darkness.
Seven years.
Seven years of lies.
And somehow, the person responsible was still free.
Lena walked beside him.
“Are you okay?”
Adrian laughed quietly.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been okay.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Emma walked outside.
She held a small stuffed rabbit.
“Daddy?”
Adrian turned.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Are you leaving again?”
The question broke him.
He immediately kneeled.
“No.”
His voice shook.
“I’m not leaving.”
Emma looked at him.
“Promise?”
Adrian nodded.
“I promise.”
For the first time in seven years, he made a promise he knew he would keep.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone became alert.
Adrian answered.
A woman’s voice spoke.
“Adrian.”
He froze.
“Who is this?”
The woman laughed softly.
“You really don’t remember me?”
His expression changed.
“No.”
“You should.”
The voice became colder.
“I was there the night everything was taken from you.”
Adrian looked at Lena.
“Who are you?”
A pause.
“My name is Catherine Cross.”
Richard’s face changed instantly.
“No.”
Adrian noticed.
“Dad?”
Richard stepped forward.
“That’s impossible.”
The woman laughed.
“Hello, Richard.”
The blood drained from his face.
Adrian stared.
“Who is she?”
Nobody answered.
Catherine continued:
“I was your father’s first wife.”
Silence.
Adrian looked at Richard.
“First wife?”
Richard closed his eyes.
Catherine continued.
“And I am the mother of Daniel.”
Everyone froze.
Adrian felt his stomach drop.
Daniel’s mother.
The person behind everything.
The missing piece.
Richard whispered:
“You were supposed to stay away.”
Catherine laughed.
“You destroyed my son’s future.”
Adrian gripped the phone.
“What do you want?”
Her voice became calm.
“What every mother wants.”
A pause.
“Justice for her child.”
Adrian looked toward Lena.
Then the children.
“Where is Daniel?”
Catherine ignored the question.
“You think Daniel betrayed you?”
A pause.
“You don’t know the whole story.”
Adrian frowned.
“What story?”
Catherine said:
“Daniel was never trying to destroy your family.”
Everyone went silent.
“He was trying to take back what belonged to him.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Your son tried to kill me.”
Catherine replied:
“Because your father tried to erase him first.”
Richard looked terrified.
Adrian turned.
“What is she talking about?”
Richard didn’t answer.
Catherine continued:
“Ask your father why Daniel was removed from the Cross family.”
Adrian stared at Richard.
The old man looked broken.
“Dad?”
Richard whispered:
“Because I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Richard looked at him.
“Afraid Daniel would become exactly like his mother.”
Catherine laughed.
“And now look.”
A pause.
“He did.”
The call ended.
Adrian stood frozen.
Then Marcus received a message.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“What?”
Adrian walked closer.
“What is it?”
Marcus showed him.
A photo.
Daniel standing beside someone.
Someone Adrian recognized.
Someone impossible.
Because beside Daniel...
Was Victoria.
But Victoria was supposed to be in police custody.
Adrian whispered:
“They’re working together.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Then what?”
Marcus stared at the photo.
“Victoria isn’t helping Daniel.”
A pause.
“She’s helping the person controlling Daniel.”
Adrian looked at the picture again.
And realized the nightmare was far from over.
May you like
Because Daniel was never the final enemy.
He was only a piece of a much bigger plan.
