Chapter 12 - SofiaSofia Moretti stepped out of the darkness.
Adrian couldn't move.
His mother looked exactly as she had in his childhood memories.
Older now.
Gray hair.
Tired eyes.
But alive.
Mia ran toward her.
“Grandma!”
Sofia opened her arms.
Adrian stared.
“You knew her.”
Sofia nodded.
“I've known her since she was born.”
Adrian's voice broke.
“Why didn't you come back?”
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.”
“I know.”
She approached him.
“I failed.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“You watched from the shadows.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe my brother was dead.”
“Yes.”
“You let me raise my daughter without knowing me.”
Sofia's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
Adrian's voice became quiet.
“Then why?”
“Because Lucian didn't want your life.”
She pointed toward Mia.
“He wanted your bloodline.”
Sofia explained everything.
The research.
The genetic mutation.
The experiments.
The children.
Her attempt to destroy the program.
Matteo's betrayal.
Lucian's rise.
Marcus's disappearance.
Clara's infiltration.
And Mia's birth.
Adrian listened in silence.
Finally he asked:
“Why was Mia registered as Isabella Volkov?”
Sofia looked at Clara.
Clara stepped forward.
“Because my father was Volkov.”
Adrian stared.
“He knows about her.”
“Yes.”
“But why does she matter?”
Clara's voice trembled.
“Because Volkov's family carries the opposite genetic profile.”
Adrian looked confused.
Sofia explained.
“Your mutation causes instability.”
“Her mother’s genetics stabilize it.”
Adrian slowly understood.
“Mia is the combination.”
“Yes.”
“She could cure me.”
“Potentially.”
“And Lucian wants to reproduce it.”
Sofia nodded.
Adrian looked at Mia.
She was holding Mr. Buttons.
The torn teddy bear.
Sofia walked toward her.
“Mia.”
The child looked up.
“Why does everyone call me Isabella?”
Sofia knelt.
“Because that was the name they gave you before your mother chose another life for you.”
Mia frowned.
“I like Mia.”
Sofia smiled.
“Then Mia you are.”
Suddenly gunfire erupted.
Security teams stormed the corridor.
Marcus returned fire.
Vincent dragged Clara behind cover.
Sofia grabbed Mia.
Adrian raised his weapon.
Lucian appeared at the far end.
He wasn't running.
He was walking.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Holding a gun.
Adrian aimed.
Lucian stopped.
“You're all making the same mistake.”
“What?”
“You think this is my laboratory.”
He gestured around.
“It isn't.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
Lucian smiled.
“This entire building belongs to you.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
Lucian dropped a folder.
Inside were property records.
Shell companies.
Bank transfers.
The facility had been financed through Adrian's own organization.
His own money.
His own network.
His own people.
Lucian had been using him without his knowledge.
“You built the machine,” Lucian said.
“I merely turned it on.”
Adrian stared.
Then he noticed the final page.
A list of names.
Every member of Adrian's senior leadership team.
Most had been marked with a red X.
One name remained unmarked.
Vincent Russo.
Adrian slowly looked at Vincent.
Vincent saw the list.
His face changed.
Adrian raised his gun.
“Why are you the only one left?”
Vincent didn't move.
“I don't know.”
Lucian smiled.
“Oh, he knows.”
Vincent's eyes met Adrian's.
Then Vincent whispered:
May you like
“I'm the one who brought Mia to Clara.”
Adrian froze.
