Chapter 10 The Lie That Destroyed Us
1655 Words
The old warehouse appeared ahead through the darkness.
Adrian pressed harder on the accelerator.
His hands were tight around the steering wheel, and his eyes remained fixed on the road.
Elena sat beside him, holding the tiny memory card Rebecca had given her.
Neither of them spoke.
They were both thinking about the same thing.
Noah.
Their son was somewhere inside that warehouse.
Every second mattered.
Adrian's phone rang.
Daniel.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
"We are almost there."
"Adrian, listen carefully. We have security teams surrounding the building, but there are several vehicles inside."
"How many?"
"At least eight."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Any sign of Noah?"
"Not yet."
Elena's heart sank.
Adrian glanced at her.
"Keep searching."
"We are."
The call ended.
Elena looked at him.
"Do you think he is okay?"
"Yes."
"You don't know that."
"I know."
She shook her head.
"How?"
"Because I refuse to believe anything else."
Her eyes filled with tears.
Adrian reached across and held her hand.
"We're bringing him home."
She squeezed his fingers.
"I hope you're right."
The warehouse was only a few minutes away.
Adrian slowed as they approached.
Several vehicles were parked near the entrance.
The security team was hiding behind cars and buildings.
Daniel ran toward them.
"Adrian."
Adrian stepped out.
"Where is Noah?"
"We haven't found him."
"What about Victor?"
"He's inside."
Adrian's expression changed.
"How do you know?"
"We saw him enter."
"How many people are with him?"
"About ten."
Adrian looked toward the building.
"Then we go in."
Daniel grabbed his arm.
"Wait."
Adrian turned.
"What?"
"We need a plan."
"My son is inside."
"I know."
Adrian looked at the warehouse.
"We don't have time."
Elena stepped out of the vehicle.
"I am coming."
Adrian immediately shook his head.
"No."
"I am Noah's mother."
"That's exactly why you stay here."
She stepped closer.
"If Victor has Noah, he may only release him if I am there."
Adrian wanted to argue.
But he knew she was right.
"Stay beside me."
"I will."
Daniel looked at both of them.
"Then stay behind the security team."
They moved toward the warehouse.
Inside, the building was almost completely dark.
Adrian's eyes adjusted slowly.
He heard voices.
Then a child crying.
Elena's heart broke.
"Noah."
She tried to run forward.
Adrian caught her hand.
"Wait."
The crying continued.
"Mommy."
Elena could not hold herself back.
She ran toward the voice.
They entered a large room.
Noah was sitting on a chair.
His hands were free.
A man stood behind him.
Victor was standing several feet away.
Elena rushed toward Noah.
"Baby."
Noah ran into her arms.
She hugged him tightly.
"I missed you."
"I missed you too."
Adrian knelt beside them.
"Noah."
The boy hugged him.
"Daddy."
Adrian closed his eyes.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
His son was alive.
That was all that mattered.
Victor watched them.
"You should have stayed away."
Adrian stood.
"You took my son."
"I borrowed him."
Adrian stepped toward him.
"Do not ever say that again."
Victor smiled.
"You have become emotional."
"You threatened my family."
"I warned you."
Elena looked at him.
"Why?"
Victor's eyes moved toward her.
"Because your father should have kept his mouth shut."
"What did he know?"
"Too much."
"What happened to him?"
Victor smiled.
"Ask your mother."
Elena's face became pale.
"You know where she is."
"Of course."
"Where?"
Victor did not answer.
Adrian stepped between them.
"You are going to tell us everything."
Victor laughed.
"You still think you are in control."
"I am."
"No."
Victor pointed toward the ceiling.
"Look around."
Adrian looked up.
Cameras.
Dozens of them.
Victor smiled.
"Everything you say is being recorded."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Why?"
Victor looked at him.
"Because there are people who need to know what happens next."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
Victor shook his head.
"You don't have the authority to ask."
Adrian laughed.
"I own this company."
"Not for much longer."
Victor pulled a document from his jacket.
Adrian looked at it.
"What is that?"
"Transfer papers."
Adrian took the document.
His expression changed.
Someone had transferred controlling shares of Blackwood Holdings.
The signature appeared to be his father's.
But his father had been dead for years.
"This is fake."
Victor smiled.
"Is it?"
Daniel examined the document.
"The signature looks authentic."
Adrian stared at him.
"My father didn't sign this."
Victor leaned closer.
"Your father signed many things before he died."
"You're lying."
"Maybe."
Victor smiled.
"But you don't know."
Elena stepped forward.
"Where is the ledger?"
Victor looked at her.
"You have the key."
"Where is the ledger?"
"You will never find it."
Elena reached into her pocket.
She held up the memory card.
Victor's face changed.
For the first time, his confidence disappeared.
"Where did you get that?"
Elena smiled faintly.
"Rebecca."
Victor's expression hardened.
"That woman should have stayed hidden."
Adrian noticed his reaction.
"You know Rebecca."
"Of course."
"She worked for my father."
"She worked for everyone."
Elena looked at Victor.
"What is on this card?"
Victor remained silent.
Adrian stepped closer.
"Tell us."
Victor's eyes moved toward Noah.
"If you want your son to remain safe, you will give me the card."
Adrian immediately moved Noah behind him.
"You won't touch him again."
Victor laughed.
"You're still thinking too small."
"What does that mean?"
"The person who ordered this isn't me."
Silence filled the room.
Adrian stared at him.
"Who?"
Victor smiled.
"You really want to know?"
"Yes."
Victor looked at Elena.
"Her mother."
Elena froze.
"No."
Victor nodded.
"Your mother is alive."
Elena's breathing became uneven.
"You are lying."
"She has been alive all these years."
"Where?"
Victor ignored the question.
"She knew what your father was doing."
"My father wasn't doing anything wrong."
Victor laughed.
"Your father was trying to expose the wrong people."
"Then why did he disappear?"
"Because he failed."
Elena stepped forward.
"Did you kill him?"
Victor's expression became serious.
"No."
"Then who did?"
He looked at the memory card.
"That is what you will find out."
Adrian took Elena's hand.
"We're leaving."
Victor shook his head.
"Not yet."
Security guards suddenly entered from both sides.
Adrian immediately moved Noah behind him.
Daniel raised his hand.
"Nobody move."
Victor smiled.
"You brought security."
Adrian looked around.
"We came prepared."
Victor laughed.
"You came exactly as I expected."
Suddenly, all the lights went out.
Elena heard Noah scream.
"Mommy."
She grabbed his hand.
"Don't let go."
Adrian reached for them.
"Elena."
"I'm here."
A loud crash echoed through the building.
Then another.
People shouted.
The darkness became chaotic.
Adrian felt Noah's hand slip from Elena's.
"Noah."
Elena screamed.
"Adrian."
He moved toward them.
Then the lights came back.
Victor was gone.
Several guards were unconscious.
Daniel was on the floor.
And Noah was nowhere.
Elena collapsed.
"No."
Adrian searched the room.
"Noah."
Nothing.
He turned toward Victor's empty position.
His face became cold.
"He took him again."
Elena shook her head.
"No."
Adrian pulled her into his arms.
"We will find him."
"But he was right here."
"I know."
"He was holding my hand."
"I know."
"How did he disappear?"
Adrian looked around.
Then he noticed a small door behind the shelves.
He rushed toward it.
The door opened into a hidden tunnel.
Daniel slowly stood.
"Adrian."
He looked inside.
"They planned this."
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
Elena wiped her tears.
"Then we follow them."
Adrian turned toward her.
"We will."
They entered the tunnel.
After several minutes, they reached an underground room.
There was no Victor.
No Noah.
Only a table.
On it lay a single envelope.
Adrian opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Elena stared at it.
Her heart stopped.
The photograph showed a woman standing beside Noah.
A woman Elena had not seen in years.
Her mother.
Alive.
Elena's knees almost gave way.
"No."
Adrian held her.
She stared at the photograph.
"My mother."
There was a message written beneath the picture.
Come to the Blackwood tower alone.
Bring the memory card.
And you will see your mother again.
Elena looked at Adrian.
"They have my mother."
Adrian's expression was grim.
"Maybe."
"What do you mean?"
He pointed at the photograph.
"Look carefully."
Elena stared.
The picture had been taken recently.
But something was wrong.
Her mother's face looked frightened.
And behind her stood a man.
Elena recognized him.
Marcus.
She looked at Adrian.
"Marcus has my mother."
Adrian shook his head.
"Then why would he help us before?"
"I don't know."
He looked at the memory card in her hand.
"Maybe he never did."
Elena's heart sank.
"What if everything he told us was a lie?"
Adrian looked at her.
"Then we have been following his plan from the beginning."
A phone began ringing somewhere inside the underground room.
They searched until Adrian found it beneath the table.
He answered.
A woman's voice spoke.
"Elena."
She froze.
"Mom?"
There was silence.
Then the woman whispered.
"Do not trust Adrian."
Elena's eyes widened.
"Mom?"
The call ended.
Adrian looked at her.
"What did she say?"
Elena stared at him.
"She said not to trust you."
Adrian's face became unreadable.
Then the phone rang again.
This time, a man's voice spoke.
"Your mother told you the truth."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
The man laughed.
"You will find out soon."
The call ended.
Elena looked at Adrian.
"We don't know who to trust anymore."
Adrian reached for her hand.
"Trust me."
She stared at him.
"I want to."
"Then do."
She nodded slowly.
"I do."
But neither of them noticed the small camera hidden above the door.
Someone was watching them.
Someone who had heard everything.
And on another screen across the city, Noah sat beside a woman.
The woman touched his hair gently.
"Your father is coming."
Noah looked up.
"Will Mommy come too?"
The woman smiled.
"Of course."
Then she looked toward the camera.
Her expression changed.
"Everything is going exactly as planned."
Chapter 10 End
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