Chapter 3 - Nathaniel Cross Was Supposed to Be Dead—But Someone Left a Rose Outside My Daughter’s BedroomThe next morning, there was a black rose outside Mia's bedroom door.
No vase.
No note.
Just one flower.
I stared at it for nearly a minute.
Mia came running down the hallway.
“Mommy!”
I quickly picked up the rose.
She stopped.
“What is that?”
“Nothing.”
“It's pretty.”
I threw it away.
She frowned.
“Why did you throw it away?”
“Because flowers belong outside.”
She looked suspicious.
“You're acting weird.”
“I always act weird.”
“No.”
She pointed at me.
“More weird.”
I almost smiled.
Then my phone rang.
Adrian.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Lock everything.”
“I already did.”
“Again.”
I looked toward the windows.
“Why?”
“Someone accessed my private security network last night.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“Someone was looking for your address.”
I froze.
“Did you find them?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Adrian paused.
“Someone using the name Nathan Cross.”
I closed my eyes.
“He found me.”
“I think so.”
“Then we're leaving.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“I do.”
I looked at Mia.
“Where?”
“My house.”
“No.”
“It's protected.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“I said no.”
“Why?”
“Because if they know I'm connected to you, they'll follow.”
Adrian became silent.
Then:
“They already know.”
I looked out the window.
A black SUV sat across the street.
My heart stopped.
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“There's a car outside.”
“Don't go near the windows.”
I pulled Mia away.
“Take her upstairs.”
“I'm not with you.”
“I'll send security.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“I said no.”
I hung up.
Then I did something I hadn't done in years.
I opened the hidden compartment beneath my kitchen floor.
Inside was a passport.
A second phone.
Cash.
And a small silver gun.
I stared at it.
I hadn't touched it since Mia was born.
My hands shook.
I closed the compartment.
I didn't want that life.
But the past wasn't asking permission.
An hour later, Adrian arrived with security.
He entered through the back.
Mia ran toward him.
“Mr. Handsome!”
He smiled.
“Hello, Mia.”
“You came to be my daddy?”
I almost died.
Adrian looked at me.
“Apparently I have competition.”
Mia frowned.
“What competition?”
“Never mind.”
She took his hand.
“Come see my drawings.”
Adrian looked surprised.
“Okay.”
I watched them walk upstairs.
For a moment, something inside me softened.
Adrian was different around Mia.
Gentler.
Less controlled.
Less like the billionaire everyone feared.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message.
You should have told her about me.
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
She deserves to know her father is alive.
My heart raced.
I typed:
Stay away from her.
Three dots appeared.
Then:
I never stayed away. I stayed hidden.
I dropped the phone.
Adrian came downstairs.
“What happened?”
I showed him.
He read the message.
“That's him.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Nathaniel always used the same phrase.”
“What phrase?”
“He never disappeared.”
I looked at him.
“He simply became invisible.”
I sat down.
“Why didn't he come back?”
“I don't know.”
“Why now?”
Adrian looked toward Mia.
“Maybe because he thinks she's finally old enough.”
I shook my head.
“She isn't.”
Adrian crouched in front of me.
“Claire, someone has already found you.”
“I know.”
“And if Nathaniel is really back, he may not be the only one.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Come with me.”
I laughed.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I'm serious.”
“Why?”
“Because I owe Nathaniel.”
He paused.
“And because I care about Mia.”
I looked at him.
“You barely know her.”
“I know enough.”
That evening, we moved into Adrian's penthouse.
Mia thought it was a vacation.
She ran from room to room.
“This is bigger than our whole house!”
Adrian smiled.
“You like it?”
“Yes!”
She turned toward me.
“Mommy, can we stay forever?”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“No.”
Adrian laughed.
Mia pointed at him.
“See? He agrees with me.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You laughed.”
Adrian looked at me.
“She has a point.”
I rolled my eyes.
That night, Mia fell asleep on the couch.
Adrian carried her to the guest bedroom.
When he returned, he found me standing beside the window.
“You should sleep.”
“I can't.”
“You're thinking about Nathaniel.”
“Yes.”
“Do you still love him?”
I turned.
The question hurt.
“I don't know.”
“You loved him.”
“Yes.”
“Do you still?”
I looked down.
“I don't know.”
Adrian nodded.
“I understand.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
He looked away.
“Because some people leave scars even when they aren't there.”
We stood in silence.
Then he said:
“You're allowed to love the man he was.”
I looked at him.
“But you don't have to forgive the man he became.”
Before I could answer, the penthouse lights went out.
Complete darkness.
Mia screamed.
Adrian moved instantly.
“Stay here.”
I heard footsteps.
Then glass breaking.
Security shouted from the hallway.
I grabbed Mia.
Adrian pulled open a hidden door.
“Inside.”
“What is this?”
“Safe room.”
We rushed inside.
The door locked.
Mia was shaking.
I held her.
Then my phone rang.
No caller ID.
I answered.
Nathaniel's voice whispered:
“Claire.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Where are you?”
“Watching.”
“Why?”
“To protect my daughter.”
“She doesn't need you.”
“She does.”
“No.”
He became quiet.
Then:
“Tell her I love her.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“You had seven years.”
“I know.”
“Seven years.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you come back?”
Silence.
Then he said:
“Because if I had, she would have died.”
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Adrian looked at me.
“What did he say?”
I whispered:
“He said he stayed away to keep Mia alive.”
Then the lights returned.
Security had caught one intruder.
But he had escaped.
All he left behind was a black rose.
And a message written on the wall.
THE CROSS FAMILY DOES NOT FORGET.
I looked at Adrian.
“What does that mean?”
He didn't answer.
Because both of us knew.
May you like
Nathaniel wasn't the only Cross still alive.
And someone had just declared war.
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