Chapter 6 - The Name Hidden in the BloodAdrian couldn't move.
“What did you say?”
Natalie was breathing hard.
“The child you brought home…”
She couldn't finish.
Adrian grabbed her shoulders.
“Say it.”
“Owen is Ethan's son.”
The words seemed to erase every sound around them.
Adrian thought of the tiny hand moving behind the SUV window.
The blue eyes.
The little cry.
His son.
Or not his son.
“Ethan had a child?”
Natalie nodded.
“Before he disappeared.”
“Who is the mother?”
“I am.”
Adrian stared.
“You?”
“I was seventeen.”
Adrian stepped backward.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Ethan was already being hunted.”
“By your family?”
“No.”
Natalie looked toward the corridor.
“By your father.”
She explained.
Years ago, before Adrian met her, Natalie had been connected to Ethan.
Not romantically at first.
She worked part-time at a medical center where Ethan was secretly treated.
He was a patient under another name.
He was brilliant.
Quiet.
Terrified.
He told Natalie the Vale family was using him as leverage.
When she became pregnant, Ethan made one request.
“Never let them know the child exists.”
But they found out.
Ethan disappeared.
Natalie was forced into hiding.
Then Julian found her.
He promised protection.
They created a plan.
The child would be born secretly.
The baby would be placed under Adrian's name.
That baby became Owen.
Adrian stared at her.
“You let me believe he was mine.”
“I didn't have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
Natalie closed her eyes.
“You are right.”
That answer hurt more than any excuse.
Adrian's phone rang.
Daniel.
He answered.
“Where is my son?”
“Still at the hospital.”
“Is he safe?”
“For the moment.”
Adrian's voice hardened.
“What did you find?”
“The DNA results.”
Silence.
“Daniel.”
“The baby is not biologically related to you.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Natalie began crying.
Daniel continued.
“But there's more.”
“What?”
“I ran another comparison.”
“To who?”
“Your father.”
Adrian's pulse stopped.
“And?”
“The baby is his biological grandson.”
Adrian looked at Natalie.
She covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“The genetic profile strongly matches Ethan's family line.”
Adrian felt dizzy.
“Why did my father want Owen?”
“Because the child can legally activate the old trust.”
Adrian understood.
Not just inherit.
Control.
The trust could shift ownership of billions.
Whoever controlled Owen controlled the empire.
Adrian's father didn't want the baby dead.
He wanted the baby alive.
Until the papers were signed.
Then the child could disappear.
“Where is Ethan?” Adrian asked.
Daniel replied:
“I found an address.”
Adrian's heart hammered.
“Send it.”
A message arrived.
A photograph of a remote facility.
Then coordinates.
“Daniel,” Adrian whispered.
“What?”
“Who owns it?”
Daniel took a breath.
“A company your father created twenty-nine years ago.”
Adrian stared at the screen.
“But that company was dissolved.”
“No.”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“It went underground.”
Adrian hung up.
Natalie grabbed his arm.
“Don't go.”
“Why?”
“Because that's where Ethan was kept.”
“Then I'm going.”
“They'll kill you.”
“They already tried to kill my son.”
Adrian turned toward the door.
Natalie caught his hand.
“Adrian.”
“What?”
She looked at him.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“The baby wasn't supposed to be in the SUV.”
Adrian stopped.
“What do you mean?”
“The man who threatened me said someone else would move him.”
“Who?”
“I never saw his face.”
“Then why did he leave Owen there?”
Natalie swallowed.
“Because someone changed the plan.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Maisie suddenly appeared at the end of the hallway.
She was covered in dust.
Adrian ran to her.
“Maisie!”
She threw herself into his arms.
“He came back.”
“Who?”
“The man from the basement.”
Adrian looked around.
“No one is here.”
Maisie shook her head.
“He didn't leave.”
Adrian stiffened.
“What did he say?”
The girl whispered:
“He said your real baby is not Owen.”
Adrian's heart stopped.
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Then she added:
“He said your real baby is still in this house.”
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