Chapter 7 - THE CHILD THEY WANTED TO OWN
Adrian had never been afraid of becoming a father.
He had simply never allowed himself to imagine it.
Now, standing in an abandoned hotel with gunfire above him and Thomas Harper bleeding from a cut across his forehead, he understood how much he had already lost.
“What about the baby?” he demanded.
Thomas shook his head.
“Your mother knows.”
“Knows what?”
“She believes the child is the only way to secure control of the organization after you.”
Adrian stared at him.
“That makes no sense.”
“Your father established a private trust before his death. The majority of the legitimate family holdings were placed in it.”
“Who controls it?”
“The first biological grandchild.”
Adrian went still.
The trust wasn't simply money.
It included properties, legal businesses, and controlling shares in companies that Eleanor had spent years trying to acquire.
“Does Mia know?”
“No.”
“Then how does my mother know?”
“Because she has been searching for the trust documents since the night you were shot.”
A bullet struck the wall.
Adrian fired toward the stairwell.
“Marcus!” he shouted into his phone. “Get us out of here!”
Celeste appeared at the doorway, holding her side.
“We need to move!”
Adrian helped Thomas stand.
They escaped through a service corridor and emerged behind the building, where Marcus had brought a second vehicle.
As the car sped away, Adrian called Mia.
This time, she answered.
“Don't hang up,” he said immediately.
Silence.
Then her voice.
“What do you want?”
“To tell you the truth.”
“You had six years.”
“I know.”
“You had six years to tell me you didn't love me.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“I was wrong.”
“No, Adrian. You were honest. I wish you had been honest before I sacrificed my entire life for you.”
He had no defense.
“I found your father.”
A long silence followed.
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
Mia began to cry.
Adrian gripped the phone.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you can't reach.”
“Your father wants to see you.”
“Then let him call me.”
“He's hurt.”
Her breathing changed.
“What happened?”
“Your mother-in-law's people attacked the hotel.”
Mia was silent.
Then she asked, “Why would Eleanor do that?”
Adrian looked at Thomas.
“Because she wants something your father hid.”
“The ledger?”
“And something connected to our baby.”
Mia's voice became cold.
“Don't call the baby yours.”
Adrian swallowed.
“You're right.”
“I didn't leave because I wanted you to chase me. I left because I finally understood that I could not raise a child in a house where love was a debt.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't.”
She ended the call.
Adrian stared at his phone.
Marcus spoke quietly.
“Sir, we have a problem.”
“What now?”
“We traced the person who sent the photograph of Mrs. Vale.”
“Who?”
“Your private physician.”
Adrian frowned.
“Dr. Bennett?”
“Yes.”
The same doctor who had treated Mia after her accident.
The same doctor who had monitored her rehabilitation.
The same doctor who had access to her medical records.
Adrian called him.
No answer.
Then Marcus placed a second report on the seat.
“There's another issue. Someone accessed Mrs. Vale's prenatal records yesterday.”
Adrian opened the document.
The report included the ultrasound date, pregnancy stage, and blood test results.
At the bottom was a note:
Patient's medical history requires review. Previous neurological injury. Potential complications.
Adrian stared at it.
Mia's disability had been part of her medical file for years.
But one line had been added recently.
Pregnancy classified as high-risk by external consultant.
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“Who authorized this?”
Marcus shook his head.
“The doctor.”
Adrian's phone rang again.
An unknown number.
He answered.
A familiar male voice spoke.
“Mr. Vale, if you want your wife and child to survive, stop looking for the ledger.”
Adrian recognized the voice.
Dr. Bennett.
Then the doctor added:
“Because the person who ordered me to monitor Mia was not your mother.”
May you like
A pause.
“It was your wife.”
