Chapter 5 - THE SECOND FATHERWe found the supposed Architect on the twelfth floor.
Or what looked like him.
A man in a charcoal suit stood alone beneath the emergency lights.
Gray hair.
Silver watch.
Calm expression.
He looked at me as if he'd been waiting my entire life.
"Nina."
Dad raised his weapon.
"Don't."
The man smiled.
"You've spent thirty years threatening me."
Dad's voice was ice.
"You murdered Elena."
The man shook his head.
"No."
Then he looked at me.
"She died protecting you."
I couldn't move.
"Who are you?"
He answered without hesitation.
"Adrian Cross."
The name meant nothing.
But Dad reacted.
"You took the name."
Adrian smiled.
"Your father gave it to me."
My head spun.
"What is happening?"
Adrian stepped forward.
"I knew your mother before she met Elias."
Dad's face tightened.
"I loved her."
The room seemed to contract.
Adrian continued.
"Elena and I created the first version of Vale Dominion. Elias joined later."
I turned toward Dad.
"You said Mom helped build it with you."
"She did."
"You never told me there was someone else."
"Because he betrayed us."
Adrian shook his head.
"Elena betrayed me."
I stared.
"Why?"
"Because she chose your father."
Dad took one step forward.
"Enough."
Adrian ignored him.
"She believed Elias could build a better world."
He laughed softly.
"He built an empire."
Then Adrian looked at me.
"And Nathan's father tried to destroy it."
I didn't know whom to believe.
Then Adrian placed a file on the table.
"Your mother left this for you."
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of three people.
My mother.
My father.
Adrian.
And one little girl.
Me.
On the back, my mother's handwriting said:
Three men. One secret. One daughter who must never know the truth until the time comes.
I looked at Adrian.
"Am I your daughter?"
He nodded.
Dad closed his eyes.
I felt as though someone had pulled the world apart around me.
"Then why did you let me marry Nathan?"
Adrian's expression became cold.
"Because I didn't."
My blood froze.
"What?"
"Nathan's marriage to you wasn't part of my plan."
He looked toward Dad.
"Your father allowed it."
I stared at Dad.
"Why?"
He finally answered.
"Because Nathan had found Victor's files."
"And?"
"I wanted him close."
I stepped backward.
"You used my marriage."
Dad said nothing.
I turned toward Adrian.
"You knew?"
"I discovered it too late."
"Then all of you treated me like a piece on a board."
Neither man denied it.
I walked toward the elevator.
Dad called my name.
I stopped.
"Where are you going?"
"Somewhere neither of you can control."
I entered the elevator.
The doors began closing.
Then Adrian said something that stopped me.
"Your husband is not the person you should be afraid of."
I looked at him.
"Who should I fear?"
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"Celeste."
The doors closed.
And at that exact moment, my phone received a photograph.
Celeste standing beside a man in prison.
Nathan's father.
Victor Ashford.
The photograph had been taken that morning.
May you like
Which meant one impossible thing.
Victor Ashford was alive.
