Chapter 9 - Adrian Cross Returns
The next morning…
The mansion gates opened.
A black luxury car stopped outside.
Ethan stood in the foyer.
Waiting.
The man who stepped out looked exactly like the photographs.
Adrian Cross.
Confident.
Calm.
Dangerous.
Victoria went pale.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Adrian smiled.
“You said Ethan would never find out.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Why are you here?”
Adrian looked toward the stairs.
Toward Leo’s room.
“My son.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“You don’t get to walk in here and claim him.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You raised him.”
“Yes.”
“But he is my blood.”
Ethan clenched his fists.
Before the argument could continue…
Leo appeared at the top of the stairs.
He looked down.
And whispered:
“Daddy?”
Both men looked up.
Ethan immediately walked toward him.
But Adrian smiled.
“Leo.”
The child froze.
He had never seen him before.
Yet somehow…
He knew.
The room became silent.
Adrian reached into his pocket.
He pulled out an old necklace.
Leo touched his own neck.
Because he had the same one.
Victoria looked terrified.
Ethan turned toward her.
“What is this?”
She had no answer.
Adrian stepped closer.
“She never told you the whole story.”
Ethan stared.
“What story?”
Adrian looked directly at Victoria.
“The reason she married you.”
Victoria’s face changed.
“Stop.”
Adrian continued.
“She didn’t choose you because she loved you.”
“She chose you because she needed protection.”
Ethan felt a painful realization.
But Adrian wasn’t finished.
“She was running from someone.”
“Someone worse than me.”
Then the mansion lights suddenly went out.
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
When the lights returned…
The folder containing Victoria’s secrets was gone.
And on the floor…
Was a note.
May you like
Written in red ink.
“Stop digging, Ethan. Or you will lose Leo forever.”
