Chapter 8 - THE ENEMY INSIDE THE FAMILY
The attacker was gone before we could get answers.
Someone helped him escape.
Someone inside the mansion.
Adrian’s security team searched every room.
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone understood what this meant.
The enemy was not outside.
The enemy was close.
Too close.
I sat beside Luca’s crib.
My hands were still shaking.
He was asleep now.
Peaceful.
Like nothing had happened.
How could a baby survive in a world like this?
How could Adrian?
“How long has this been happening?”
I asked.
Adrian stood by the window.
“Threats?”
I nodded.
“Since Elena died.”
I looked at him.
“Then why did you keep Luca here?”
His face hardened.
“Because this is the safest place I have.”
I looked around.
“A place where someone can break in?”
His jaw tightened.
“You think I don’t know that?”
The anger in his voice disappeared quickly.
Replaced by something else.
Guilt.
“I failed her once.”
I knew who he meant.
“Elena.”
He nodded.
“I promised I would protect her.”
His voice became quiet.
“I was supposed to come home earlier that night.”
I watched him.
“What happened?”
He looked away.
“Someone called me. They said there was an attack at one of my warehouses.”
“And?”
“It was a trap.”
The pain in his eyes was real.
“When I returned…”
He stopped.
He didn’t need to finish.
I understood.
That night changed him forever.
A quiet moment passed.
Then I asked:
“Why does Luca trust me?”
Adrian looked at the baby.
“I don’t know.”
I touched Luca’s tiny hand.
“He looked at me like he knew me.”
Adrian stared.
“Maybe he does.”
I looked up.
“What do you mean?”
Before he answered, Gabriel entered.
“We found something.”
Adrian immediately turned.
“What?”
Gabriel placed a folder on the table.
“Records from Elena’s private doctor.”
My heart started racing.
“What records?”
Gabriel looked at me.
“Your birth.”
I opened the folder.
Inside were medical documents.
Photos.
Notes.
And one sentence highlighted.
“Twin pregnancy.”
My hands froze.
Twins.
I looked at Gabriel.
“No…”
He nodded slowly.
“There were two babies.”
My eyes moved between him and Adrian.
“Me and who?”
Nobody answered.
Because suddenly…
Everyone knew.
The silence was terrifying.
Then Adrian looked at Gabriel.
“Where is the second child?”
Gabriel’s face changed.
“Dead.”
I swallowed.
“Then why are you both looking at me like that?”
Gabriel took a breath.
“Because the records were changed.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“The second baby wasn’t dead.”
He looked at me.
“She was hidden.”
I felt cold.
“Who?”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“You.”
The room disappeared.
I couldn’t hear anything.
I wasn’t Elena’s only secret.
I wasn’t just a lost daughter.
I was the child everyone thought had disappeared.
The child someone erased.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed instantly.
“What happened?”
A pause.
Then his face turned dark.
“Luca is gone.”
My blood froze.
“What?”
Adrian looked at me.
“The nursery is empty.”
I ran.
But before I reached the door…
My phone received a message.
One photo.
Luca.
In someone’s arms.
May you like
And underneath it were four words.
“Come find your son.”
