CHAPTER 7: THE SECOND CHILD
The call lasted less than thirty seconds.
But those thirty seconds destroyed everything Adrian Vale thought he understood.
For twenty years, he believed he knew the story.
Elena left.
Damian lied.
His father was the villain.
The past was a tragedy caused by one man's greed.
Simple.
Painful.
But simple.
Now nothing was simple.
Because Elena, the woman who had disappeared from his life, had just returned with a warning.
Don't trust Damian.
And then...
The person who destroyed our family is standing beside you right now.
Adrian looked at Damian.
His brother looked back at him.
Neither man spoke.
The silence between them felt heavier than any accusation.
Finally, Damian said:
"She called you."
It wasn't a question.
Adrian didn't answer.
"You heard her."
Still nothing.
Damian looked away.
"Then you know."
"Know what?"
Damian's expression darkened.
"That this isn't over."
Adrian stepped closer.
"No."
His voice was cold.
"I know one thing."
A pause.
"I don't know who to believe anymore."
Those words hurt Damian more than anger would have.
Because anger meant Adrian still knew who the enemy was.
Confusion meant everyone was a suspect.
Including him.
Including family.
Adrian looked at Clara.
"We're going to see your mother."
Damian immediately shook his head.
"No."
Adrian turned.
"You don't decide that."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
Damian hesitated.
"The facility where Elena is being kept..."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Kept?"
Damian realized his mistake.
But it was too late.
Adrian heard the word.
Not treated.
Not staying.
Kept.
"Damian."
His voice became dangerous.
"Who is keeping her there?"
Damian didn't answer.
And Adrian already knew.
Someone was still controlling Elena.
Someone still had power over her.
"Take us there."
Damian looked at him.
"If we go there, they will know you found out."
Adrian smiled slightly.
A cold smile.
"Good."
"What?"
"I spent twenty years not knowing who my enemy was."
He looked toward the dark street outside.
"Now I want them to know I'm coming."
Three hours later.
The city looked different.
Adrian had spent years driving through these streets in luxury cars.
Always protected.
Always surrounded by people.
Tonight, he sat in an ordinary vehicle with his daughter beside him.
No security.
No assistants.
No empire.
Just three people chasing the truth.
The medical facility was located outside the city.
Hidden behind tall gates.
No public signs.
No website.
No information.
A place designed to disappear.
Adrian stared at the building.
"This place doesn't exist."
Damian nodded.
"Exactly."
"How did you find it?"
"I didn't."
Adrian looked at him.
"Then who?"
Damian remained silent.
That answer was becoming familiar.
Too familiar.
Inside the facility, everything was clean.
Too clean.
The kind of place where secrets were kept behind white walls.
A woman at the front desk looked up.
Then immediately froze.
Because she recognized Adrian.
Everyone recognized Adrian Vale.
But her reaction wasn't admiration.
It was fear.
"Mr. Vale..."
Adrian stepped closer.
"I'm here to see Elena Marquez."
The woman swallowed.
"I need authorization."
"From who?"
Silence.
Adrian leaned forward.
"From who?"
The woman looked toward the security cameras.
A small movement.
But Adrian noticed.
Someone was watching.
He turned toward the camera.
"Whoever is watching..."
His voice echoed through the hallway.
"You've spent twenty years hiding from me."
A pause.
"Come out."
Nothing happened.
Then the elevator doors opened.
A doctor walked out.
Older.
Gray hair.
Calm expression.
But Adrian immediately recognized him.
Not personally.
From photographs.
From old company records.
Dr. Victor Hale.
The man who served as his father's private physician.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"You."
The doctor smiled.
"Adrian."
"Why are you here?"
The doctor looked at Damian.
Then back at Adrian.
"Because your father trusted me."
"My father is dead."
"His plans are not."
Adrian felt anger rise.
"Where is Elena?"
Dr. Hale didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Clara.
The moment he saw her...
His face changed.
A flicker of shock.
Fear.
Recognition.
Adrian noticed.
"What?"
The doctor looked away.
"She shouldn't be here."
Those words made Adrian's blood run cold.
"Why?"
The doctor remained silent.
Adrian grabbed his coat.
"Where is Elena?"
Finally, the doctor stepped aside.
"Room 304."
Adrian walked quickly.
Every step felt heavier.
Twenty years.
Twenty years of imagining this moment.
Twenty years wondering if he would ever see her again.
Would she hate him?
Would she forgive him?
Would she even recognize him?
He opened the door.
And there she was.
Elena.
Older.
Paler.
Weak.
But alive.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The woman who haunted his memories.
The woman he searched for in every crowd.
The woman he believed was gone.
She looked at him.
And tears immediately filled her eyes.
"Adrian."
His throat tightened.
"Elena..."
She tried to sit up.
He moved toward her.
But before he could reach her, she whispered:
"Where is Clara?"
Adrian looked back.
The little girl stood at the doorway.
Elena's face collapsed.
A mother seeing her child after years.
But then...
Something strange happened.
Elena didn't smile.
She looked terrified.
"No..."
Adrian froze.
"What?"
Elena stared at Clara.
Then at Adrian.
"She can't be here."
"Why?"
Elena grabbed his arm.
Her strength was weak.
But her fear was real.
"Because if they know Clara is alive..."
A pause.
"They will come for the other one."
Adrian felt the room tilt.
"The other one?"
Elena closed her eyes.
Realizing she had said too much.
Adrian stepped closer.
"What other one?"
Silence.
"Elena."
She looked at him.
And whispered:
"The child they took from me."
Adrian's heart stopped.
"What are you talking about?"
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
"Clara wasn't the only baby."
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
The world outside continued.
Cars moved.
People walked.
The city lived.
But inside that room...
Adrian Vale's entire reality shattered again.
"There was another child?"
Elena nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Where?"
Her lips trembled.
"I don't know."
Adrian felt sick.
"How could you not know?"
"Because they took him."
The word echoed.
Him.
Not her.
A son.
Another child.
Another secret.
Another life stolen.
Adrian looked at Damian.
His brother looked just as shocked.
Which meant...
Damian didn't know.
For the first time, Adrian saw genuine surprise on his brother's face.
Elena whispered:
"Your father wanted an heir."
Adrian stared.
"What?"
"He believed Clara was a weakness."
Her voice broke.
"So he took our son."
The room became silent.
Then Elena said the sentence that made Adrian's blood run cold.
"The child they took..."
She looked directly at him.
"Is alive."
A pause.
"And he has spent his entire life being raised to destroy you."
May you like
Hết Chapter 7
(Chapter 8: Adrian truy tìm đứa con trai bị cướp mất. Nhưng bí mật kinh hoàng được hé lộ: đứa trẻ ấy không chỉ sống sót, mà còn đang ở vị trí có thể khiến Adrian mất tất cả.)
