Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ABOUT FERN
"The key to destroying the entire Cross family."
I stared at Mrs. Thornbury.
Nothing made sense anymore.
"Explain."
My voice came out cold.
"Now."
She looked exhausted.
Older than I had ever seen her.
"I should have told you years ago."
Stellan kept his gun raised.
"You have five seconds before I decide you're a threat."
Mrs. Thornbury looked at him.
"I was trying to protect her."
"By lying?"
Her eyes dropped.
"Yes."
I hated that answer.
Because it was the same excuse everyone used.
Protection.
Everyone hurt me while claiming they were saving me.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
My voice broke.
"You all say you protected me."
I looked at Stellan.
"You."
Then at Mrs. Thornbury.
"You."
I shook my head.
"But nobody asked what I wanted."
Silence.
Mrs. Thornbury looked ashamed.
"You're right."
That surprised me.
"I was wrong."
She reached into her coat slowly.
Stellan tightened his grip on the gun.
She pulled out a small old envelope.
"I kept this because I knew one day the truth would come out."
She handed it to me.
I opened it.
Inside was a hospital bracelet.
A tiny one.
Fern's.
My fingers shook.
"I don't understand."
Mrs. Thornbury looked at me.
"The night Fern was born..."
She paused.
"There were two babies."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"Fern wasn't the only child born that night."
The room became silent.
"Another baby was born."
Stellan's expression changed.
"What are you saying?"
Mrs. Thornbury looked at him.
"Your father's men were searching for Stellan's child."
I held Fern closer.
"Why?"
"Because Theodore Cross believed a child with his blood could be used against him."
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
Mrs. Thornbury sighed.
"It will."
She looked at Stellan.
"Theodore had a secret."
Stellan's face became cold.
"What secret?"
Mrs. Thornbury whispered:
"He wasn't the real founder of the Cross empire."
Silence.
"Theodore stole everything."
Stellan didn't move.
"He betrayed his own brother."
I felt a chill.
"His brother?"
Mrs. Thornbury nodded.
"Your uncle."
Stellan's eyes darkened.
"My uncle died years ago."
"No."
Her voice was quiet.
"He survived."
The room went still.
"He's been waiting."
Waiting.
For what?
Mrs. Thornbury looked at Fern.
"For the perfect moment."
I felt my stomach twist.
"And Fern?"
Mrs. Thornbury's eyes filled with sadness.
"Fern carries something."
"What?"
"A bloodline."
I frowned.
"She's a baby."
"I know."
Mrs. Thornbury looked at Stellan.
"But her DNA proves something Theodore spent decades hiding."
Stellan stepped forward.
"What?"
She whispered:
"That Theodore Cross was never the rightful heir."
A long silence.
Then Stellan's phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes."
His face changed as he listened.
"What do you mean?"
A pause.
"Where?"
I watched the anger build in his eyes.
Then fear.
"Send everyone."
He ended the call.
"What happened?"
He looked at me.
"Theodore Cross's old estate was attacked."
I frowned.
"Your father?"
"No."
His voice became quiet.
"My father is dead."
I froze.
"What?"
Stellan looked at Mrs. Thornbury.
Then at me.
"The person who attacked the estate left one message."
My heart started racing.
"What message?"
He looked at Fern.
Then said:
"They want the child."
I hugged her tighter.
"No."
Stellan stepped toward me.
"We need to leave."
"Where?"
"Somewhere they can't find us."
A sudden sound interrupted him.
A gunshot.
Everyone froze.
The bullet hit the wall inches from my head.
I screamed.
Stellan grabbed me and Fern, pulling us down.
Security rushed in.
More shots.
Chaos.
Then a voice came through the mansion speakers.
A man's voice.
Calm.
Almost amused.
"Stellan."
Everyone stopped.
Because the voice was familiar.
Too familiar.
The voice continued.
"You spent two years hiding my daughter."
My blood turned cold.
Stellan looked like he had seen a ghost.
The voice laughed.
"Now give her back."
I looked at Stellan.
"Who is that?"
He didn't answer.
Because he knew.
And the fear on his face told me one thing.
The man outside wasn't coming for Fern.
He was coming for me.
The speaker clicked again.
Then the voice said:
"Hello, Selene."
May you like
My heart stopped.
Because the voice belonged to Adrian.
