Chapter 6: The Man Who Wanted the Girl Gone
Damon stared at the message until the screen went dark.
Then he turned it back on.
The photograph was still there.
Lily.
Standing outside the hospital.
Taken only minutes earlier.
His blood ran cold.
Someone was watching them.
Someone close enough to take pictures.
“Rachel.””
She immediately looked up.
“What happened?””
He handed her the phone.
Her expression changed.
“Damon…”
“Get security here.””
“Already doing it.””
“No.””
He looked toward Lily.
“Not hospital security.””
Rachel understood.
“You think they’re compromised?””
“I think someone inside my own company helped hide a child for years.””
His voice hardened.
“I trust almost no one right now.””
They moved Lily and Evan to a private location owned by Damon.
A place hidden from public records.
A safe house.
For the first time in days, Lily slept peacefully.
Damon stood outside her room.
Watching.
She looked so small.
Too small for the secrets surrounding her.
Rachel approached.
“We found Adrian.””
Damon turned.
“Where?””
“He’s at Cross Industries.””
“Of course he is.””
Rachel handed him a file.
“Damon, before you confront him, read this.””
Inside were financial documents.
Transfers.
Hidden accounts.
Charity funds.
Damon scanned the numbers.
His expression darkened.
“He stole from the foundation.””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“Over eight million dollars.””
“And Clara Voss?””
“Connected.””
“To Adrian?””
Rachel nodded.
“They’ve been working together.””
Damon closed the file.
“So they weren’t helping children.””
“No.””
“They were using them.””
Rachel didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
Adrian was waiting when Damon entered the office.
He stood by the window.
Relaxed.
Almost amused.
“I wondered when you’d come.””
Damon closed the door.
“You threatened a child.””
Adrian smiled.
“Careful.””
“No.””
Damon stepped forward.
“I’m done being careful.””
Adrian laughed softly.
“That’s always been your problem.””
“What?””
“You think being emotional makes you moral.””
Damon stared.
“You erased children.””
Adrian turned.
“No.””
He corrected him.
“I protected the company.””
Damon felt disgust.
“From what?””
“The truth.””
Adrian walked toward the desk.
“Do you know what happens when people learn the Cross family is built on lies?””
“They learn who you really are.””
Adrian smiled.
“Exactly.””
The calmness was worse than anger.
“You don’t understand, Damon. Our family survived because we controlled the story.””
“And Lily?””
“She was a mistake.””
The word made Damon’s fists tighten.
“A mistake?””
“Yes.””
Adrian shrugged.
“She should have disappeared years ago.””
Damon stepped closer.
“You’re talking about a child.””
“I’m talking about a threat.””
The room went silent.
Damon looked at him.
“Why?””
Adrian’s smile faded.
“Because if Lily exists, then everything belongs to her.””
Damon froze.
“What?””
Adrian leaned back.
“The old Cross inheritance.””
The realization hit.
Lily wasn’t just a secret.
She was an heir.
“The company?””
“Half of it.””
Damon stared.
“My grandfather left something?””
Adrian smiled.
“Your mother never told you.””
Another secret.
Another lie.
Damon felt sick.
“You tried to get rid of a little girl because of money?””
Adrian looked offended.
“No.””
He walked closer.
“I tried to protect everything our family built.””
Damon shook his head.
“You sound just like him.””
For the first time, Adrian’s expression cracked.
“Don’t compare me to him.””
“Why?””
Damon’s voice lowered.
“Because you know I’m right.””
Adrian looked away.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“What?””
A pause.
His face changed.
“What do you mean she’s gone?””
Damon noticed.
“Who?””
Adrian ended the call.
Too late.
Damon already knew something happened.
“What did you do?””
Adrian looked at him.
Then smiled.
A cold, empty smile.
“It’s not what I did.””
He walked toward the door.
“It’s what Clara did.””
Damon grabbed his arm.
“Where is Lily?””
Adrian looked down at his hand.
Then back at him.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
Damon’s heart stopped.
“Know what?””
Adrian whispered:
“Clara was never the person in control.””
A notification appeared on Damon’s phone.
A new message.
A location.
A single image.
Lily’s empty bed.
May you like
And beneath it, four words:
*Come find your sister.*
