Chapter 8: The Enemy I Never Saw
I read the message ten times.
Not because I didn’t understand it.
Because I did.
Someone was watching me.
Someone knew exactly what I was doing.
My father immediately called his security team.
“Trace the number.””
The head of security nodded.
“Already trying.””
I looked at my father.
“Is this what happened to Mom?””
His face became unreadable.
“Yes.””
The answer came too quickly.
Too easily.
“You always knew someone was after us.””
He looked down.
“I suspected.””
“Suspected?””
My voice rose.
“My mother died, Dad.””
“I know.””
“And you let me live my entire life believing it was an accident.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I was afraid.””
That stopped me.
My father admitting fear was something I never expected.
“Of what?””
He looked at the photograph of Alexander.
“Of losing you too.””
The anger inside me weakened.
Not disappeared.
But softened.
Because beneath all the secrets was a father who had spent twelve years terrified.
Still, fear did not erase the truth.
“We need to find Alexander.””
My father nodded.
“He disappeared after your mother’s death.””
Clara looked at the notebook.
“He didn’t disappear.””
We turned toward her.
“What?””
She flipped through several pages.
“Your mother tracked him.””
She pointed to a name.
A company.
A foundation.
A charity organization.
I frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
My father looked closer.
Then his expression changed.
“What?””
“That foundation has existed for years.””
“Yes,” Clara said.
“And it has received millions from anonymous donors.””
My stomach sank.
“Who?””
Clara looked at me.
“The Vale family.””
The room went silent.
My husband’s family.
My father’s missing brother.
My mother’s death.
All connected.
I spent three years sleeping beside a man whose bloodline was tied to the people who destroyed my family.
That realization felt worse than Adrian’s betrayal.
Because Adrian hurt me.
But this was bigger.
This was a war that started before I was born.
My father’s phone rang.
He answered.
Then his face changed.
“What happened?””
He listened.
“No.””
His voice became cold.
“Secure the building immediately.””
He ended the call.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“The company archives were broken into.””
My heart sank.
“What was stolen?””
My father hesitated.
“Your mother’s files.””
Clara stood quickly.
“They found out.””
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone already knew.
That evening, Adrian came to the estate again.
This time, security stopped him.
I saw him through the window.
He looked desperate.
I almost ignored him.
Almost.
But something made me walk outside.
“What do you want?””
He looked exhausted.
“I know who sent the messages.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
He looked around.
“Not here.””
“You don’t get to give orders anymore.””
His jaw tightened.
“I know.””
That was new.
Adrian Vale admitting he had no power.
“I found something in my father’s old records,” he said.
“My father was investigating Alexander Ashford.””
I stared at him.
“You knew?””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I found out yesterday.””
I studied his face.
For the first time in months, I saw genuine fear.
Not fear of losing money.
Fear of losing control over the truth.
“Why tell me?””
He looked down.
“Because if what I found is real…”
He swallowed.
“Then my father wasn’t the only monster.””
The wind moved through the garden.
I waited.
“What did you find?””
Adrian reached into his coat.
He handed me a small envelope.
Inside was a single document.
A birth certificate.
I looked at the name.
Then my blood ran cold.
Because the document proved something impossible.
Alexander Ashford had another child.
A child born before Adrian.
A child nobody knew existed.
May you like
And beneath the name was one word:
*Lillian.*
