Chapter 3 - The Daughter My Husband Never Knew Existed
We left immediately.
The drive to my sister's home felt endless.
My phone rang repeatedly.
Unknown number.
Then another.
Then another.
I refused every call.
Adrian sat beside me.
“You should answer one.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if it's Damian, he'll know I'm alive.”
“He already knows.”
I closed my eyes.
“My sister.”
He took my hand.
The gesture was so unexpected I almost pulled away.
Then I realized he was steadying me.
“We'll get her.”
The house was empty.
My sister was gone.
So was Amelia.
My knees weakened.
Adrian caught me.
“Breathe.”
“They took her.”
“Not yet.”
“How do you know?”
“Because there is no blood.”
I stared at him.
“You think that's comforting?”
“Yes.”
He pointed.
“The car is still here.”
He moved through the house.
A hidden camera had been placed near the front door.
The footage showed two men entering.
My sister cooperating.
No struggle.
One man spoke.
I couldn't hear the audio.
Adrian could.
He watched twice.
Then said,
“They told her the police were coming.”
My sister had taken Amelia voluntarily because she believed she was protecting her.
The two men had been posing as federal agents.
My stomach turned.
“Where did they take them?”
Adrian called someone.
“Find the car.”
Minutes later, they had a location.
A private warehouse.
Owned by a Voss subsidiary.
Adrian looked at me.
“You stay here.”
“No.”
“Isabella.”
“My daughter is there.”
“You'll be in danger.”
“So will you.”
He stared at me.
“You don't listen.”
“Neither do you.”
Something like amusement touched his face.
“Fine.”
We went.
The warehouse was heavily guarded.
Adrian didn't storm it.
He waited.
Then he called Damian.
Damian answered immediately.
“Put my wife on the phone.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Talk.”
I shook.
Damian's voice came through.
“Isabella.”
My heart stopped.
“Where is Amelia?”
“Safe.”
“Let me speak to her.”
“You don't make demands.”
He laughed.
“You think Moretti can save you?”
Adrian leaned closer.
“Not can.”
I looked at him.
“Will.”
Damian became silent.
“Adrian.”
“Damian.”
“You're crossing a line.”
“No.”
Adrian's voice was calm.
“You crossed it years ago.”
Damian threatened me.
He said he would destroy my family.
Adrian simply replied,
“Try.”
Then he ended the call.
The warehouse lights suddenly went out.
Adrian's men moved.
Within minutes, my sister came running toward me.
“Isabella!”
I hugged her.
“Where's Amelia?”
She pointed toward the back.
“She’s there.”
I ran.
Amelia was sitting on a chair with a frightened expression.
When she saw me, she cried.
“Mommy!”
I nearly collapsed.
I held her.
“I’m here.”
She touched my face.
“You came.”
“Always.”
Adrian stood several feet away.
He watched us.
Amelia studied him.
“Who is he?”
I wiped her tears.
“Someone who helped us.”
She looked at Adrian.
“Is he scary?”
I almost laughed.
Adrian actually smiled.
“I can be.”
Amelia frowned.
“I don't think you're scary.”
He looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Mommy isn't afraid of you.”
That answer hit him.
He crouched.
“What's your name?”
“Amelia.”
“Nice to meet you.”
She held out her hand.
Adrian shook it.
Then she looked at me.
“Can we keep him?”
I laughed for the first time in days.
Adrian stood.
“I've been reduced to a rescue animal.”
My sister laughed too.
For a moment, the fear disappeared.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
He answered.
His smile vanished.
“What?”
A pause.
He looked directly at me.
“Your sister wasn't the target.”
“What?”
“They took her to find Amelia.”
I went cold.
“Why would Damian want my daughter?”
Adrian opened the file.
Inside was a birth record.
Amelia Voss.
I stared.
“That isn't her name.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Not officially.”
He showed me another document.
A DNA report.
Damian had secretly tested Amelia six months earlier.
He knew.
He knew she was his daughter.
My world tilted.
“He knew?”
Adrian nodded.
“Damian discovered Amelia's existence before you left.”
“Then why did he never say anything?”
“Because he didn't want a daughter.”
I stared.
“What did he want?”
Adrian looked at the document.
“An heir.”
The next line explained everything.
Damian's company was facing an internal succession crisis.
His legitimate children were dead or estranged.
If Amelia were proven to be his daughter, she could become the legal beneficiary of a fortune worth billions.
But Damian didn't intend to let her inherit.
He intended to use her as leverage.
I held my daughter tighter.
“No.”
Adrian nodded.
“That's why you ran at the right time.”
“What happens now?”
“We disappear.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere Damian can't touch.”
Adrian looked at Amelia.
Then at me.
“There is one place.”
“Where?”
He paused.
“My childhood home.”
I didn't understand.
“You still have family?”
“No.”
“Then who lives there?”
May you like
He looked at me.
“Someone who has been waiting for you.”
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