Chapter 7 - The Man Who Wanted MiaDaniel Shaw was more dangerous than Sebastian.
Because Sebastian operated in shadows.
Daniel operated in daylight.
Charities.
Hospitals.
Political fundraisers.
He had a perfect reputation.
And he wanted one thing.
The Cross inheritance.
He believed Mia could legally unlock it.
But there was a problem.
Mia wasn't a Cross.
Not by blood.
Yet the old documents had been altered.
Someone had forged her identity.
Daniel needed the court to believe she was an heir.
That meant eliminating every person who could prove otherwise.
Me.
Elena.
Julian.
Adrien.
The plan was simple.
We needed to expose the documents before Daniel could destroy them.
The evidence was hidden in a hospital archive.
Elena knew where.
We went at night.
Adrien stayed with Mia.
Julian and I entered.
We found the files.
Birth records.
Adoption documents.
DNA reports.
And the original proof.
Mia was mine.
Not a Cross.
Not an asset.
My daughter.
We left.
Then the doors locked.
Security alarms sounded.
Daniel appeared on the monitors.
“You should have stayed invisible.”
He looked directly at me.
“Give me the records.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“Then your daughter becomes evidence.”
The cameras showed Mia.
Two men stood behind her.
Adrien was fighting.
Gunfire.
Chaos.
I screamed.
“Adrien!”
Daniel smiled.
But suddenly the screen went black.
Then the lights returned.
Adrien stood in the hallway.
Mia in his arms.
The two men were unconscious.
He looked at me.
“She’s okay.”
I ran to them.
Mia reached for me.
I held her.
Adrien touched my shoulder.
“We need to go.”
We escaped through a service corridor.
Outside, police surrounded Daniel Shaw's offices.
The files had already been sent.
Elena had planned ahead.
Daniel was arrested.
But Sebastian remained.
He had taken Julian.
Again.
This time, we found him in an old warehouse.
Sebastian stood beside Julian.
“You should have accepted my offer.”
Adrien raised his gun.
“You're finished.”
Sebastian laughed.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“You know why you're dangerous?”
I shook my head.
“Because you're the only thing Adrien would die for.”
Adrien stepped forward.
“And you're the only thing I would never become.”
Sebastian looked at him.
“You think you're better than me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I choose my family.”
Sebastian's face hardened.
“I chose mine.”
“No.”
Adrien shook his head.
“You chose power.”
A gunshot sounded.
Julian ducked.
Adrien fired.
Sebastian's men scattered.
I grabbed Julian.
We escaped.
Outside, Sebastian was nowhere to be found.
But he left a message.
One day.
I'll take what you love most.
Adrien looked at Mia.
May you like
Then at me.
“We end this.”
