Chapter 6 - The Man Behind the EmpireAdrien's uncle was Sebastian Cross.
Everyone believed he had died overseas.
He had not.
He had rebuilt himself under another name.
And for twenty years, he had controlled the criminal organization from the shadows.
Elena knew him.
My mother knew him.
Julian had been raised by men working for him.
And now Sebastian wanted Mia.
Not because she was an heir.
Because she was leverage.
Sebastian had been using the Cross fortune to maintain his empire.
If Adrien withdrew, the system would collapse.
So Sebastian needed something powerful enough to control him.
His niece.
Mia.
That night, we hid in a safe house.
Mia slept.
Elena sat beside her.
Julian stood near the door.
Adrien stared out the window.
I joined him.
“You haven't slept.”
“Neither have you.”
“I've had practice.”
He smiled.
“That's not a good thing.”
I looked at him.
“Are you afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Of Sebastian?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Of failing you.”
My heart tightened.
“You won't.”
“You can't promise that.”
“Neither can you.”
He turned toward me.
For a moment, we simply stood there.
Then he reached for my hand.
“I was afraid of touching your life.”
“Why?”
“Because everything around me gets hurt.”
I shook my head.
“You didn't hurt us.”
“I brought danger.”
“You also brought safety.”
He looked at me.
“I don't know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Love someone.”
My breath caught.
“Adrien…”
He shook his head.
“I'm not asking for an answer.”
He stepped away.
But I caught his hand.
“I think you already know.”
He looked at me.
Then kissed me.
It was gentle.
Nothing like the man people feared.
It was hesitant.
Almost uncertain.
And when he pulled away, Mia began crying.
We both laughed.
The moment broke.
In the morning, Sebastian sent a message.
Bring Elena.
Bring Julian.
Bring Charlotte.
And the child.
Adrien responded:
No.
Sebastian replied:
Then I burn every Cross asset.
Adrien smiled.
“He thinks I care about the money.”
“You don't.”
“No.”
He looked at Mia.
“I care about her.”
They created a plan.
Adrien would pretend to cooperate.
Elena would decode the remaining ledger.
Julian would infiltrate Sebastian's network.
I would stay with Mia.
The plan worked.
For three days.
Then Julian disappeared.
A message arrived.
He betrayed us.
Adrien didn't believe it.
Neither did I.
But Sebastian sent us a video.
Julian was tied to a chair.
Sebastian stood behind him.
“Your brother has a choice.”
He looked at Adrien.
“Bring me the ledger.”
Adrien refused.
Sebastian smiled.
“He won't survive.”
I stepped forward.
“Give me the phone.”
Adrien hesitated.
I took it.
I looked at Sebastian.
“You want the ledger?”
“Yes.”
“You can have it.”
Adrien stared.
I continued.
“But first, let my brother go.”
Sebastian laughed.
“You negotiate?”
“No.”
I looked at Mia.
“I threaten.”
Sebastian's expression changed.
“You have no power.”
I smiled.
“I'm the woman who knows where the ledger is.”
Silence.
Sebastian stopped smiling.
I had his attention.
“I know the location.”
“Where?”
“I'll tell you.”
“Tonight.”
“Yes.”
“Come alone.”
“No.”
He looked annoyed.
“I'll bring Adrien.”
“And the child.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Sebastian leaned toward the camera.
“Then Julian dies.”
I looked at him.
“Do it.”
Adrien stared at me.
Sebastian frowned.
“You don't love your brother?”
“I do.”
“Then why?”
“Because if you kill him, you lose the only reason you're still alive.”
Sebastian froze.
I held up the ledger.
He could see it.
“You don't need me.”
He stared.
“You need me alive.”
Then I ended the call.
Adrien stared at me.
“What was that?”
“Buying time.”
“For what?”
Elena appeared behind us.
“For us to find his weak point.”
She opened the ledger.
And pointed to one name.
Sebastian Cross.
Underneath:
FINANCED BY—
A politician.
A judge.
Three hospitals.
And one company.
Shaw Medical.
The same company that had employed the man who stole my mother's identity.
We finally understood.
Sebastian didn't control the network alone.
A powerful businessman did.
And his name was Daniel Shaw.
The man who had been trying to buy Cross Logistics for years.
Adrien looked at me.
“Then Sebastian isn't the final enemy.”
“No.”
May you like
Elena whispered:
“He's the middle.”
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