THE LAWYER WHO LOVED HER ENEMY

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE NAME HE FEARED

For a moment, I couldn't understand what Adrian had just said.

His grandfather.

The man in the photograph.

The same man whose voice had followed us through the warehouse.

The same man who had apparently been inside the room when my father disappeared.

The same man who had been watching me for years.

I stared at the photograph again.

A newborn version of me lay in my mother's arms.

My father stood beside her.

And behind them—

him.

He wasn't smiling.

He was simply watching.

Watching the baby.

Watching my parents.

Watching everything.

I looked at Adrian.

"Your grandfather?"

He nodded slowly.

"I haven't seen him in years."

"Who is he?"

Adrian swallowed.

"Alexander Cross."

The name seemed to echo through the archive room.

"Victor's father?"

"Yes."

I looked back at the photograph.

"Then why was he there?"

"I don't know."

"You said he disappeared."

"He did."

"When?"

"Years ago."

"How many?"

"Almost fifteen."

My heart tightened.

"The same year my father died."

Adrian nodded.

"Exactly."

I looked at the photograph again.

"Then he's been alive all this time."

"Apparently."

"Why would he be watching me?"

"I don't know."

"You keep saying that."

"I know."

I turned toward him.

"Then let's find out."

---

We left the law office carrying the documents.

I kept the photograph.

Adrian carried the file.

Neither of us spoke until we reached his car.

He opened the passenger door for me.

I hesitated.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

He nodded.

"Neither am I."

I got inside.

He closed the door.

When he entered the driver's seat, he didn't start the engine.

Instead, he stared straight ahead.

"I should tell you something."

I looked at him.

"What?"

"My grandfather isn't just a businessman."

"What is he?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"He founded Cross Holdings."

I already knew that.

But there was something in his voice that told me there was more.

"He was the one who built everything."

"Victor inherited it?"

"Yes."

"And Alexander?"

"He controlled everything behind the scenes."

I frowned.

"Then why did everyone say Victor was responsible?"

"Because Alexander disappeared."

"Why?"

Adrian looked at me.

"Because people were afraid of him."

I felt a chill.

"Even your father?"

"Especially my father."

I stared at him.

"Then why did your father work with him?"

"He didn't."

"What?"

"My father tried to destroy him."

My eyes widened.

"Victor tried to destroy his own father?"

Adrian nodded.

"He discovered what Alexander had been doing."

"The project?"

"Among other things."

I looked down at the file.

"So Victor wasn't the mastermind."

"No."

"He was trying to stop him?"

"At first."

"At first?"

Adrian looked away.

"Then something changed."

"What?"

"I don't know."

I sighed.

"You really need to stop saying that."

He smiled faintly.

"I'm working on it."

---

We drove to my house.

My mother was still missing.

I tried calling her again.

Nothing.

Adrian contacted the police.

But he didn't mention everything.

He told them she had disappeared and that we had received a threatening message.

The officer promised to investigate.

But I could see the doubt in Adrian's eyes after the call ended.

"You don't trust them."

"Not completely."

"Why?"

"Because whoever is behind this has been hiding evidence for fifteen years."

I nodded.

"Then we find her ourselves."

"Yes."

I looked at the documents.

"There has to be something here."

We spread the papers across my dining table.

Bank records.

Medical documents.

Contracts.

Photographs.

Notes.

Everything my father had hidden.

Then I noticed something.

A repeated number.

714.

It appeared on several documents.

"Adrian."

He looked over.

"What?"

"This number."

"File number?"

"Maybe."

I pointed to another document.

"It's here too."

Then another.

"And here."

Adrian examined it.

"It's not a file number."

"Then what?"

He turned the paper over.

There was a handwritten note.

Seven. One. Four.

He looked at me.

"An address?"

"Maybe."

We searched online.

Nothing.

Then Adrian suddenly stood.

"Wait."

"What?"

"My grandfather owned a private property."

"Where?"

"Outside the city."

"Address?"

"I don't remember."

"Then how are we supposed to find it?"

He thought for a moment.

"My father kept old property records."

"Where?"

"At home."

I stared at him.

"You're going back to your father's house?"

"Yes."

"Won't he notice?"

"I'll find a way."

I stood.

"I'm coming."

He looked at me.

"No."

"Why?"

"My father won't welcome you."

"I don't care."

"Serena—"

"I'm not letting you go alone."

He sighed.

"Fine."

---

Cross Manor stood on a hill overlooking the city.

The gates opened automatically when Adrian approached.

I looked through the window.

The property was enormous.

Elegant.

Cold.

It looked less like a home and more like a fortress.

"Your family lives here?"

"Yes."

"Why does it feel like a prison?"

"Because it is."

I looked at him.

He didn't smile.

We entered the house.

A housekeeper immediately appeared.

"Mr. Cross."

Adrian nodded.

"Where is my father?"

"In his office."

"Good."

She looked at me.

"Who is she?"

"My friend."

The woman looked suspicious.

Adrian didn't wait.

He took my hand and led me upstairs.

"Your friend?"

I whispered.

"What should I have said?"

"Nothing."

He smiled.

"You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Keep walking."

We reached the hallway.

Then a voice stopped us.

"Adrian."

We turned.

Victor Cross stood at the end of the hall.

His expression hardened when he saw me.

"Serena Vale."

I stared at him.

"Mr. Cross."

"What are you doing here?"

"Looking for answers."

His eyes moved to Adrian.

"I told you to stay away from her."

Adrian stepped forward.

"I don't take orders from you anymore."

Victor's expression darkened.

"You're making a mistake."

"No."

Adrian's voice was calm.

"For the first time, I'm making my own decision."

Victor looked at me.

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"Then tell me."

He remained silent.

"Where is your father?"

Victor's face changed.

For the first time, I saw fear.

"Why are you asking about him?"

"Because he's alive."

Victor stared at me.

Adrian watched him carefully.

"Where is Alexander?"

Victor slowly shook his head.

"You shouldn't say that name."

"Why?"

"Because if he's listening..."

He looked toward the ceiling.

"...he already knows you're looking for him."

My heart tightened.

"You know where he is."

"No."

"You know something."

"I know enough."

"Then tell me."

Victor stepped closer.

"Your father was trying to protect you."

"I know."

"Do you?"

He looked at me.

"Because if you knew the truth, you wouldn't be standing beside my son."

I felt Adrian tense.

"Don't talk about her."

Victor ignored him.

"Ask your mother what happened before you were born."

I froze.

"What does that mean?"

He walked away.

"Ask her why your father agreed to the project."

I turned to Adrian.

"What project?"

He looked toward his father.

"Wait."

But Victor had already disappeared.

---

We found the property records in Alexander's old study.

Adrian opened several drawers.

Then he found a locked cabinet.

He tried a key.

Nothing.

Another.

Nothing.

Then he remembered something.

He removed the ring from his finger.

It had a small engraving.

A.C.

He pressed it against the lock.

Click.

The cabinet opened.

Inside were dozens of folders.

He pulled one.

PRIVATE PROPERTIES.

We searched.

Then found it.

PROPERTY 714.

Address:

Blackwood Estate.

Adrian stared at it.

"I know this place."

"Where?"

"About two hours from here."

"Is it abandoned?"

"Supposedly."

I took a photograph of the address.

"We go tomorrow."

Adrian nodded.

Then something fell from the folder.

A small envelope.

It had one name written on it.

ELENA.

My mother.

I opened it.

Inside was a letter.

Alexander's handwriting.

Elena,

If you're reading this, then Daniel has failed.

My heart stopped.

I continued.

You know what must be done.

The girl cannot remain with you.

My hands began shaking.

She belongs to the family.

I couldn't breathe.

Then:

If Daniel refuses, use the agreement.

I looked at Adrian.

"What agreement?"

He didn't answer.

I continued reading.

You promised to give her to us when she turned nineteen.

My entire body went cold.

Nineteen.

My age.

I dropped the letter.

Adrian picked it up.

He read it.

His face turned pale.

"No."

"What?"

"That's why they waited."

"What do you mean?"

He looked at me.

"The agreement."

"What agreement?"

"Your nineteenth birthday."

I felt sick.

"What happens when I turn nineteen?"

He stared at me.

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Then why do you look terrified?"

He stepped closer.

"Because my grandfather's agreements aren't normal."

"What does that mean?"

"They're contracts."

"Legal contracts?"

"Yes."

"Then we can fight them."

He shook his head.

"Not if you signed one before you were born."

I stared at him.

"That's impossible."

"Not if your parents signed for you."

I felt my knees weaken.

Adrian caught me.

"Serena."

I pushed him away.

"No."

He stepped closer.

"Listen to me."

"No."

"I won't let them take you."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I do."

"You don't!"

My voice broke.

"I don't even know who I am anymore."

He reached for me.

I pulled away.

"Everyone has been deciding my life for me."

"Not me."

"You said my father trusted you."

"He did."

"And now I find out that I'm some kind of subject in a project."

"I know."

"Then what am I supposed to believe?"

He looked at me.

"Believe me."

I stared at him.

He took a breath.

"I don't know what Project S.V. is."

"But I know what I feel."

My eyes filled with tears.

"I know that every time you're in danger, I want to protect you."

He stepped closer.

"I know that when you leave, I wait for you."

His voice softened.

"I know that when you're afraid, I want to be the person you reach for."

I couldn't speak.

"And I know..."

He hesitated.

"...that whatever your grandfather wants from you, he isn't getting it."

I whispered:

"Why?"

"Because you're not his."

He touched my hand.

"You're yours."

A tear slipped down my cheek.

Then another.

He gently wiped it away.

"And if you want..."

He paused.

"I'll help you fight."

I looked into his eyes.

"Even against your family?"

"Especially against my family."

For a moment, I forgot the documents.

The threats.

My missing mother.

The project.

Everything.

I only saw him.

The boy who had once been my enemy because of his surname.

The boy who had become my partner.

The person I was slowly, dangerously falling for.

I whispered:

"Promise?"

He took my hand.

"Promise."

---

That night, I couldn't sleep.

At midnight, my phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

I opened the message.

There was a photograph.

My mother.

She was sitting in a dark room.

Alive.

But beside her stood an older man.

Silver hair.

Cold eyes.

A familiar face.

Alexander Cross.

My breath caught.

Below the photograph was a message.

COME TO BLACKWOOD ESTATE ALONE.

Another message arrived.

OR YOUR MOTHER DIES.

I stared at the screen.

Then another message appeared.

DON'T TELL ADRIAN.

I looked toward my bedroom door.

I thought about the promise he had made.

I'll help you fight.

But this was my mother.

And I couldn't risk her life.

So I made a decision.

For the first time in this entire nightmare...

I would keep a secret from Adrian.

I quietly got out of bed.

I took my coat.

And before leaving, I looked at the necklace around my neck.

The necklace my father had given Adrian.

The necklace that had led me to the truth.

I whispered:

"I'm sorry."

Then I walked out into the darkness.

Alone.

I didn't know that Adrian was standing outside my house.

Watching.

Because he had received a message too.

A photograph of me leaving.

And underneath it were seven words:

SHE'S GOING TO BLACKWOOD. FOLLOW HER.