Chapter 4 - Adrian Promised to Protect My Daughter—Then the Billionaire Discovered the Secret Nathaniel Had Hidden From MeThe next morning, Adrian received a call from his head of security.
“Mr. Kane.”
“Yes?”
“We found the intruder's identity.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“Samuel Cross.”
I froze.
Nathaniel's brother.
Adrian looked at me.
“Who is Samuel?”
I whispered:
“Nathaniel's older brother.”
“What does he want?”
I swallowed.
“Mia.”
Adrian's face changed.
“Why?”
“Because Nathaniel betrayed him.”
“Betrayed him how?”
I looked away.
“I don't know.”
But I did.
Seven years ago, Nathaniel had discovered that his family was involved in something monstrous.
Human trafficking.
Financial fraud.
Political blackmail.
He had tried to expose them.
His brother had ordered him killed.
Nathaniel survived.
Then disappeared.
I had been pregnant.
And I had been told that if I ever tried to contact him, Mia would be taken.
So I ran.
Adrian listened silently.
“You knew.”
“I knew enough.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was protecting my daughter.”
He nodded.
“Then let me protect her now.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because someone has to.”
That answer broke something inside me.
For seven years, I had done everything alone.
And now someone was offering to stand beside me.
Not because he wanted something.
Not because he was obligated.
But because he cared.
Later that day, Mia found us arguing in the kitchen.
“Are you fighting?”
“No,” I said.
Adrian answered at the same time.
“Yes.”
I glared at him.
He smiled.
Mia crossed her arms.
“You both need a timeout.”
Adrian laughed.
I couldn't help it.
I laughed too.
For the first time in days, Mia smiled.
Then she asked:
“Mommy, is my daddy coming home?”
The room went silent.
I crouched beside her.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because Mr. Handsome looks sad when you talk about him.”
Adrian looked away.
Mia continued.
“Is Daddy really dead?”
I couldn't lie anymore.
“No.”
Her eyes widened.
“He's alive?”
I nodded.
She whispered:
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Does he know me?”
“Yes.”
“Does he love me?”
I started crying.
“Yes.”
She hugged me.
“Then why doesn't he come home?”
I had no answer.
Adrian stepped closer.
“Sometimes adults stay away because they think they're protecting the people they love.”
Mia looked at him.
“Is that why Mommy cries?”
“Yes.”
She thought about it.
Then asked:
“Are you going to leave too?”
Adrian's expression softened.
“No.”
Mia nodded.
“Good.”
Then she returned to her coloring book.
I looked at Adrian.
He looked back.
Something changed between us that day.
Something neither of us named.
That night, Nathaniel finally appeared.
Not in person.
On television.
A breaking news report showed a photograph of him leaving a private building.
The anchor said:
“Authorities have confirmed that notorious financier Nathan Cross may still be alive.”
I stared at the screen.
Adrian stood beside me.
“That's him.”
“Yes.”
The reporter continued.
“Cross disappeared seven years ago following an alleged assassination attempt.”
My hands shook.
Then the screen showed another photograph.
Nathaniel walking beside a young man.
I recognized him.
Samuel.
The reporter said:
“Sources suggest a dispute within the Cross family may be connected to a series of recent financial crimes.”
I looked at Adrian.
“This is bigger than Mia.”
“Yes.”
“Then why is he coming back now?”
Adrian looked at me.
“Because the people who tried to kill him are moving.”
I understood.
Nathaniel wasn't returning because he wanted revenge.
He was returning because the war had started again.
At midnight, I found an envelope beneath the penthouse door.
Inside was a letter.
No signature.
But I recognized the handwriting.
Claire,
I know you hate me.
You should.
I left you alone with our daughter because I believed distance would keep you safe.
I was wrong.
The people who came for me have now come for Mia.
There is something you don't know.
Mia was never supposed to survive.
I stopped reading.
My hands trembled.
I continued.
Seven years ago, the order was given to eliminate everyone who knew about the Cross operation.
You were on the list.
Mia was on the list.
I stopped them.
But I could not stop everyone.
One person inside my organization betrayed me.
That person is still close to you.
I dropped the letter.
Adrian picked it up.
“What's wrong?”
I pointed at the final sentence.
He read it.
Then looked at me.
“Someone close to you?”
I nodded.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Adrian became very still.
Then he said:
“We find out.”
“How?”
He looked at me.
“Together.”
I stared at him.
“Why are you doing this?”
He smiled faintly.
“Because Mia asked me to be her daddy.”
I laughed through my tears.
“That is a terrible reason.”
“Maybe.”
He looked toward the bedroom.
“But I think I like the job.”
For the first time in seven years, I didn't feel alone.
And that frightened me almost as much as the threat.
May you like
Because hope was dangerous.
Especially for someone who had spent years surviving without it.
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