Chapter 13 - THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
Adrian stared at the photograph.
Daniel.
Victoria.
And a third person standing in the background.
Someone whose face was partially hidden.
But Adrian knew that posture.
That confidence.
That cold expression.
“Impossible…”
Lena stepped closer.
“What?”
Adrian slowly handed her the phone.
“That person.”
Lena looked at the image.
Her face immediately changed.
“No…”
Marcus took the phone.
And for the first time in years, the man who always appeared calm looked terrified.
“We have to leave.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Who is it?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
“Marcus.”
The attorney swallowed.
“Your uncle.”
Silence.
Adrian stared.
“My uncle has been dead for ten years.”
Marcus looked at him.
“That’s what everyone believed.”
The same sentence again.
Another person who was supposed to be gone.
Another lie.
Adrian felt exhausted.
“How many people in my family are secretly alive?”
Nobody answered.
Richard slowly sat down.
His strength seemed to disappear.
“I should have told you everything.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Yes.”
His voice was cold.
“You should have.”
Richard nodded.
“I made mistakes.”
“You didn’t make mistakes.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“You made choices.”
Every word hurt.
“You chose the company over your family.”
Richard looked down.
“You’re right.”
That answer surprised Adrian.
For years, he expected his father to defend himself.
To explain.
To justify.
But he didn’t.
Because even Richard knew there was no excuse.
Suddenly, Lena noticed something.
“Wait.”
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed at the photograph.
“Zoom in.”
Marcus enlarged the image.
Behind Daniel and Victoria was a table.
On the table was a folder.
A red folder.
Lena’s face changed.
“I’ve seen that before.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Where?”
“The night I disappeared.”
Everyone became silent.
“What was inside?”
Lena looked at Richard.
“Ask him.”
Adrian turned.
“Dad.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“The original Cross family documents.”
“What documents?”
Richard hesitated.
“The inheritance records.”
Adrian frowned.
“I’m the heir.”
Richard nodded.
“You were.”
The room went quiet.
Adrian’s expression changed.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked at him.
“Your uncle believed you were not the rightful successor.”
“Why?”
“Because of your mother.”
Adrian felt another wave of confusion.
“My mother?”
Richard nodded.
“Your mother left something behind.”
“What?”
Richard whispered:
“A secret.”
Before Adrian could ask more, the farmhouse lights suddenly went out.
Everyone froze.
Then the sound of glass breaking came from the kitchen.
Lena grabbed the children.
Adrian moved in front of them.
“Stay behind me.”
Footsteps.
Slow.
Controlled.
Someone entered the room.
Adrian prepared himself.
Then a voice spoke.
“Still protecting everyone, Adrian?”
Adrian recognized it.
Daniel.
But this time…
Daniel wasn’t alone.
A woman stepped beside him.
Victoria.
Adrian stared.
“You escaped.”
Victoria looked at him.
“I came to finish this.”
His heart sank.
“After everything?”
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“I never wanted it to go this far.”
Daniel laughed.
“She always says that.”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“What do you want?”
Daniel smiled.
“The same thing from the beginning.”
He pointed at the children.
“Your bloodline.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“You will never touch them.”
Daniel looked almost disappointed.
“That’s why you were always difficult.”
Then Daniel handed Victoria a folder.
“Give him the truth.”
Victoria hesitated.
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Now.”
Victoria slowly opened the folder.
Inside was one final document.
Adrian took it.
And after reading the first line…
He stopped breathing.
Because the document revealed something nobody expected.
Emma and Mia weren’t the only children hidden from him.
There was another child.
A child born before them.
May you like
A child Adrian never knew existed.
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