Chapter 5: The Secret Damon’s Mother Buried
Damon read the words again.
Protect her from the Cross family.
The sentence burned into his mind.
He had spent his entire life believing his family name meant something.
Strength.
Success.
Legacy.
But now those same words felt like a warning.
“Margaret.””
His voice was low.
“What is this?””
She looked exhausted.
“I hoped you would never find out.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“No.””
Margaret looked toward the fireplace.
“It’s a confession.””
Damon tightened his grip on the photograph.
“Then confess.””
For several seconds, Margaret said nothing.
Then she sat down.
“When your mother was alive, she discovered something about your grandfather.””
Damon frowned.
“My grandfather?””
“Yes.””
“Robert Cross?””
Margaret nodded.
Damon knew the name.
Everyone did.
Robert Cross had built the foundation of the Cross empire.
He was remembered as a brilliant businessman.
A visionary.
A legend.
But Damon also remembered the stories his mother told him.
That his grandfather was difficult.
Cold.
Obsessed with reputation.
“What did she discover?””
Margaret looked at him.
“He was hiding children.””
The words made no sense.
“What?””
“Not hiding them physically.””
She swallowed.
“Hiding their identities.””
Damon stared.
“Why?””
Margaret looked at the photograph.
“Because your grandfather believed certain people could damage the Cross name.””
The pieces began falling together.
Damon’s stomach turned.
“Lily…”
Margaret nodded.
“Her mother was your grandfather’s daughter.””
Silence.
The room seemed to shrink.
Damon stared at her.
“No.””
“It’s true.””
“My grandfather had another child?””
“Yes.””
“A daughter?””
Margaret nodded.
“She was never publicly acknowledged.””
Damon walked away.
His mind refused to accept it.
The billionaire family.
The perfect legacy.
The carefully polished history.
All built on something hidden.
“Why didn’t my mother tell me?””
Margaret’s eyes softened.
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of my grandfather?””
“Yes.””
Damon looked back.
“But he’s dead.””
“He is.””
“Then why hide it?””
Margaret looked at him.
“Because some people who inherit power become more dangerous than the people who created it.””
Damon thought of Clara.
Of Elisa.
Of the gala.
“How is Lily connected?””
Margaret took a deep breath.
“Your grandfather’s daughter had a child.””
“Lily’s mother.””
“Yes.””
“And Evan?””
“Her son.””
Damon looked down at the photograph.
The baby.
The brown eyes.
The family secret.
“How did my mother know?””
Margaret’s expression changed.
“She helped them.””
Damon froze.
“What?””
“Your mother found Lily’s mother when she was young. She tried to protect her.””
“From who?””
Margaret looked toward the door.
“From Robert.””
The next morning, Damon returned to the hospital.
He needed answers from Lily.
But when he entered the room, she was sitting by the window.
Watching people outside.
“Hey.””
She turned.
“Mr. Damon.””
He sat beside her.
“Can I ask you something?””
She nodded.
“Your mother.””
Lily’s face changed.
“What about her?””
“Did she ever talk about a woman named Margaret?””
The little girl thought.
Then shook her head.
“No.””
“Anyone named Cross?””
Her eyes widened.
A tiny reaction.
But Damon saw it.
“Lily?””
She looked scared.
“Mom said never say that name.””
Damon felt cold.
“Why?””
“Because bad things happen when people know.””
Damon stayed quiet.
“Who told her that?””
Lily looked at the floor.
“Grandpa.””
The word surprised him.
“You had a grandfather?””
She nodded.
“He was mean.””
Damon’s chest tightened.
“What did he look like?””
Lily frowned, trying to remember.
“Old.””
“Anything else?””
She whispered:
“He had a ring.””
Damon stopped.
“What kind of ring?””
“A black one.””
He knew immediately.
The Cross family ring.
A symbol passed down for generations.
A ring his grandfather wore every day.
Damon stood.
Rachel entered the room.
She immediately noticed his expression.
“What happened?””
Damon looked at her.
“We need to find everything about Robert Cross.””
Rachel hesitated.
“Damon…”
“Everything.””
“There’s one more thing.””
“What?””
Rachel handed him her phone.
On the screen was a news article.
*MARGARET VALE ACCUSED OF CHARITY FRAUD.*
Damon scrolled.
The accusations had appeared overnight.
Donations missing.
Records altered.
Anonymous complaints.
He looked up.
“This is fake.””
Rachel nodded.
“I think so.””
“Who released it?””
She hesitated.
“We traced the source.””
“And?””
Rachel’s face was serious.
“It came from inside your company.””
Damon stared.
“My company?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Rachel turned the phone around.
The name appeared on the screen.
*Adrian Cross.*
Damon went completely still.
His cousin.
The man who had worked beside him for years.
The man who had smiled at the gala.
The man who had helped organize the charity event.
The man who had been standing near Lily when she entered.
Rachel whispered:
“Damon…”
He barely heard her.
Because suddenly he understood.
The gala wasn’t a mistake.
Lily wasn’t there by accident.
Someone wanted him to see something.
Someone wanted him to uncover the truth.
But before he could find Adrian, Damon received a message from an unknown number.
One sentence.
One photograph.
May you like
And a warning.
*If you want Lily alive, stop searching for the truth.*
