Chapter 4 - Adrien Learns His Father Was the Monster Behind the Lie
The recording changed the entire situation.
Adrien listened in silence.
Isabel's voice came through the speaker.
“If Adrien hears this, then I'm probably gone.”
He closed his eyes.
“I need him to know one thing.”
Her voice trembled.
“I never betrayed you.”
Adrien's breathing stopped.
“Your father knows about Mia.”
He opened his eyes.
“He knows I'm carrying your child.”
A pause.
“He told me you would never forgive me.”
Adrien gripped the desk.
“He showed me messages.”
“Fake.”
“He threatened Elena.”
Adrien turned toward the security chief.
“Why didn't we find this?”
“Because the recording was hidden.”
“Where?”
“In a storage unit.”
Adrien looked at the screen.
Isabel continued.
“I'm sorry.”
Her voice broke.
“I wanted to tell you.”
Then she said something else.
“The person helping your father is not who you think.”
The recording ended.
Adrien knew immediately.
The answer was closer than he thought.
He searched his father's records.
A name appeared again.
Gideon Cross.
But another name appeared more often.
Margaret Hale.
Adrien's father's former executive assistant.
The woman who still worked for Adrien.
He confronted her.
She didn't deny it.
“I was ordered to monitor Isabel.”
“By my father?”
“Yes.”
“Did you threaten her?”
“No.”
“Did you forge the messages?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Margaret looked at him.
“You're asking the wrong person.”
Adrien slammed a hand on the table.
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Your mother.”
He froze.
“My mother died when I was twelve.”
“She disappeared.”
Again.
Another lie.
Another missing woman.
Adrien felt the foundation beneath his life collapsing.
His mother had not died.
She had escaped.
And she had been involved with Gideon.
But why?
Margaret showed him a file.
Adrien's father had been moving illegal funds through shell companies.
His mother discovered it.
She wanted out.
Gideon helped her.
His father found out.
Then his mother disappeared.
Everyone believed she was dead.
But she wasn't.
She had been hiding.
All these years.
Adrien looked at the file.
“Where is she?”
Margaret didn't answer.
Then a phone rang.
Adrien's.
Unknown number.
A woman's voice whispered:
“She saved you.”
“Who are you?”
“Your mother.”
Adrien stopped breathing.
“Where are you?”
“Not where you think.”
“What happened to Isabel?”
Silence.
“Your father ordered the manipulation.”
“And Gideon?”
“Gideon took it further.”
“Where's Elena?”
“He has her.”
“How do I get her back?”
“Don't bring Mia.”
Adrien looked toward the window.
“I won't.”
“Bring me instead.”
The line ended.
Adrien knew what he had to do.
He traveled to the abandoned estate where Gideon was holding Elena.
But he wasn't alone.
His mother was waiting.
She looked older.
Tired.
Alive.
Adrien stared at her.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“Your father.”
His eyes filled.
“You could have told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“The night before I disappeared.”
She handed him a letter.
It was addressed to him.
He had never received it.
His father had kept it.
Adrien's mother had written:
My son,
If you ever read this, remember that love is not the same as trust.
Trust must be earned.
Do not become your father.
Adrien cried.
He hadn't cried for her since he was twelve.
Now he understood why.
She hadn't abandoned him.
She had sacrificed herself.
Gideon appeared.
“You always were sentimental.”
Adrien turned.
“Where is Elena?”
Gideon pointed.
She was brought into the room.
Alive.
Shaken.
Adrien moved toward her.
Gideon raised a gun.
“One wrong step.”
Adrien stopped.
“I came alone.”
“I know.”
“You want me?”
“I want Mia.”
“You'll never have her.”
Gideon smiled.
“Then you lose Elena.”
Adrien looked at Elena.
She shook her head.
“No.”
He understood.
She was signaling something.
The watch on Gideon's wrist.
The reflection in the window.
A camera.
Someone else was watching.
Adrien realized his mother had arranged something.
Gideon hadn't noticed.
The lights suddenly went out.
Gunfire.
Chaos.
Adrien grabbed Elena.
They ran.
His mother stayed behind.
“Go!”
Adrien shouted:
“Mom!”
She smiled.
“Take care of your family.”
They escaped.
By dawn, Gideon's operation had been exposed.
But he was gone.
So was Adrien's mother.
Only one message remained.
YOU SAVED THE WRONG WOMAN.
Adrien looked at Elena.
She was holding Mia.
Alive.
Safe.
But now Elena understood.
The war was not over.
May you like
Gideon was still out there.
And he wanted Mia badly enough to destroy everything.
Related Stories
