Chapter 18 — The Bloodline
1334 Words
Elena couldn't move.
Alexander's words echoed through the room, refusing to make sense in her mind.
Your marriage to Damian was arranged.
Because nobody can inherit the Cross fortune if the truth about Elena's bloodline becomes public.
She looked at Damian.
He was staring at her with the same disbelief that she felt. For once, the powerful billionaire who always seemed to have an answer for everything looked completely lost.
“My father?” Damian finally whispered.
Evelyn nodded.
“Your father was Elena's biological father.”
Damian shook his head.
“No.”
His voice was low, almost to himself.
“My father was married to my mother.”
“I know.”
“He loved my mother.”
Evelyn looked away.
“People can be married and still keep secrets.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
She looked at her sister.
“Then why did my mother marry my father?”
“Because Richard agreed to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?”
“From the Cross family.”
Elena's breathing became uneven.
“So my father knew?”
“Richard knew everything.”
A bitter laugh escaped Elena.
“Of course he did.”
She turned away.
Her entire childhood suddenly felt like a carefully constructed lie.
The stories about her birth.
The photographs of her mother.
The way her father had always refused to talk about the past.
The mysterious contract that had forced her into Damian's life.
None of it was accidental.
Damian stepped closer.
“Elena.”
She immediately moved away from him.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“Were you supposed to marry me because of this?”
“I didn't know.”
“But your family knew.”
“I didn't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
His answer came without hesitation.
“I didn't know you were connected to my family when I signed the contract.”
Elena shook her head.
“But someone knew.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Damian looked at Alexander.
“My father.”
Alexander didn't deny it.
Damian's expression hardened.
“Why would he arrange a marriage between his son and his own daughter?”
Alexander looked at Elena.
“Because the marriage wasn't intended to be permanent.”
Elena frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“The agreement was designed to give Damian legal control over your assets after the marriage.”
Damian's face darkened.
“That isn't what my contract says.”
“It was altered.”
“By whom?”
Alexander remained silent.
Damian stepped toward him.
“Answer me.”
“Your father.”
Damian's hands curled into fists.
“You forged the contract?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Alexander looked at Elena.
“Victoria.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
“Victoria arranged everything?”
“She manipulated the agreement.”
“Why?”
“Because she needed access to the Cross inheritance.”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
“What does Elena have to do with the inheritance?”
Alexander sighed.
“Your grandfather created a bloodline clause in his will.”
Damian stared at him.
“What clause?”
“The Cross fortune can only pass to a direct descendant of your grandfather.”
Elena frowned.
“And?”
“You are not the only direct descendant.”
Silence filled the room.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Your mother had another child before you.”
Elena looked at her.
“That was you.”
“Yes.”
“But you're a Hart.”
“Legally.”
Damian's expression changed.
“You're a Cross by blood.”
Evelyn nodded.
“My biological father was Damian's father.”
Elena's heart sank.
“So both of us are connected to the Cross family.”
“Yes.”
“Then why was I hidden?”
Evelyn looked at her sadly.
“Because your mother was afraid of what would happen if anyone discovered that she had two children connected to the Cross bloodline.”
“What would happen?”
“Victoria would have tried to eliminate both of us.”
Elena stared at her.
“And the marriage?”
Evelyn looked at Damian.
“Victoria wanted you married to Damian because she believed it would give her control over the inheritance.”
Damian shook his head.
“She wouldn't control it.”
“She would if something happened to you.”
The room became silent.
Elena suddenly understood.
“She planned to kill Damian.”
Evelyn nodded.
“And then control the estate through me?”
“Yes.”
Damian looked at Alexander.
“And you helped her.”
Alexander's face tightened.
“I didn't know how far she would go.”
“You knew enough.”
“I was trying to stop her.”
“By keeping Evelyn here?”
“Yes.”
Damian laughed bitterly.
“You call this protecting her?”
“I kept her hidden.”
“You kept her prisoner.”
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
Damian looked at her.
“I'm sorry.”
She nodded.
“You weren't the one who did it.”
Elena looked between them.
“Where is Victoria now?”
Alexander didn't answer.
“Where is she?”
“She left the country.”
Damian immediately shook his head.
“No.”
Alexander looked at him.
“You don't believe me?”
“I don't.”
“Why?”
“Because she called Elena tonight.”
Alexander's face changed.
“What?”
“She knows everything we've found.”
Alexander suddenly looked frightened.
“What did she say?”
“She said the wedding was never about the money.”
Alexander's expression became grim.
“She was right.”
Elena's phone suddenly rang.
Everyone froze.
The screen showed an unknown number.
Damian reached for it.
Elena stopped him.
“I'll answer.”
She pressed the button.
“Hello?”
Victoria's voice came through.
“You've finally learned the truth.”
Elena's heart pounded.
“Where is my father?”
“Safe.”
“Let me speak to him.”
“You're not in a position to make demands.”
“Then what do you want?”
“A decision.”
“What decision?”
Victoria laughed softly.
“You can save your father.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“How?”
“Leave Damian.”
Damian's expression hardened.
Victoria continued.
“Return the box to me and disappear from the Cross family.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then Richard dies.”
Elena's breathing stopped.
Damian stepped closer.
“Put the phone on speaker.”
She did.
Victoria's voice filled the room.
“Damian, you really should have stayed out of this.”
He answered coldly.
“You've made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You threatened my wife.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Victoria laughed.
“Wife?”
Her voice became colder.
“She isn't your wife, Damian.”
Elena's heart sank.
“What do you mean?”
Victoria replied,
“Because if the truth about her blood is confirmed, your marriage is illegal.”
Damian's expression changed.
Victoria continued.
“And when the DNA test proves Elena is my brother's daughter…”
She paused.
“…you'll discover that you married your own sister.”
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Elena stared at Damian in horror.
Damian looked equally shaken.
Then Evelyn suddenly screamed.
“No!”
She rushed toward the table.
“That's impossible!”
Elena turned toward her.
“Why?”
Evelyn was crying.
“Because I know who your real father is.”
Elena's heart pounded.
“Who?”
Evelyn looked at Damian.
“It's not his father.”
Damian stared at her.
“Then who is it?”
Evelyn wiped her tears.
“Your father's brother.”
Alexander went completely pale.
Elena slowly turned toward him.
Her eyes widened.
“Alexander?”
Nobody answered.
But the silence was enough.
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