THE COLD CEO OBSESSIVE POSSESSION

THE GIRL WHO WAS NEVER MEANT TO EXIST

CHAPTER 14

The laboratory fell into darkness.

Amelia stood completely still.

Her fingers were cold.

Her mind refused to accept what she had just heard.

Elena was created from the genetic material of Amelia's family.

She looked at Adrian.

"Tell me that isn't real."

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

"Adrian."

He looked at the documents again.

"I don't know yet."

"Then find out."

Her voice trembled.

"Please."

Adrian nodded.

"We will."

Amelia turned toward the screen where her grandmother's face had appeared.

"She said she was dead."

"According to every official record, she is."

"Then who was that?"

"I don't know."

Amelia laughed bitterly.

"Everyone keeps saying that."

She wiped away a tear.

"I want one person to tell me the truth."

Adrian stepped closer.

"I will."

She looked at him.

"Even if the truth hurts?"

"Especially then."

THE LABORATORY

Adrian began searching the room.

He opened drawers.

Checked computers.

Examined documents.

Amelia remained beside him.

"Look at this."

She held up another file.

It had her name on it.

AMELIA CARTER — SUBJECT A.

Adrian took it.

Inside were photographs of her from different ages.

Five years old.

Ten.

Fifteen.

Eighteen.

And then photographs from recent months.

Amelia's face went pale.

"They've been watching me."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Yes."

"Since I was a child."

"Apparently."

"Why?"

He turned another page.

There was a note.

SUBJECT A MUST REMAIN UNAWARE OF HER GENETIC ORIGIN.

Amelia swallowed.

"Why keep me unaware?"

Adrian read the next line.

DISCOVERY MAY TRIGGER UNCONTROLLED RESPONSE.

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

She looked at him.

"Could this be why the Black Rose wants me?"

"Possibly."

"Could I be dangerous?"

Adrian immediately shook his head.

"No."

"You don't know that."

"I know you."

She stared at him.

He continued:

"Whatever they studied, whatever they discovered, it doesn't change who you are."

Amelia looked down.

"I wish I could believe that."

"You can."

Suddenly, a sound came from one of the computers.

BEEP.

Adrian turned.

A hidden screen had activated.

A message appeared.

SUBJECT A DETECTED.

Then:

SECOND SUBJECT STATUS: ACTIVE.

Amelia froze.

"Elena."

Adrian moved toward the screen.

A map appeared.

One red dot.

Then another.

The first was their location.

The second was moving.

Adrian stared.

"She's alive."

Amelia stepped closer.

"Where?"

The map displayed a location.

Adrian recognized it.

"The old Blackwood estate."

Amelia looked at him.

"Your family's old house?"

"Yes."

"We have to go."

"We will."

THE OLD BLACKWOOD ESTATE

The estate had been abandoned for nearly fifteen years.

Trees had grown over the driveway.

The mansion looked like a ghost from another time.

Adrian's convoy stopped outside.

Amelia stepped out.

She stared at the building.

"Why was this place abandoned?"

"My father ordered it closed."

"Why?"

"After my uncle disappeared."

Amelia looked at him.

"So this is where he was hiding?"

"Maybe."

They entered carefully.

The air smelled of dust and old wood.

Their footsteps echoed through the hallway.

Amelia suddenly noticed a photograph hanging on the wall.

It showed Adrian's father.

Beside him stood Daniel.

And between them—

her grandmother.

Amelia stepped closer.

"They were all working together."

Adrian nodded.

"Apparently."

She pointed at another person in the photograph.

"Who is that?"

Adrian looked.

His face changed.

"I don't know."

Amelia frowned.

"Are you sure?"

He stared at the man.

"I've never seen him."

Amelia studied the photograph.

The man's eyes looked strangely familiar.

Then she realized why.

He had the same eyes as Elena.

"Adrian..."

He turned.

"What?"

"Look at him."

Adrian stared.

"That's impossible."

"Why?"

"Because that man is Daniel's brother."

Amelia's heart raced.

"Your uncle knew him?"

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

Adrian took a breath.

"Thomas Carter."

Amelia froze.

"Carter?"

"Yes."

"My father's brother?"

Adrian nodded.

"Apparently."

"So Elena..."

"Could be related to him."

Before they could continue, they heard a noise upstairs.

Amelia grabbed Adrian's arm.

"Someone's here."

"I know."

They moved silently toward the staircase.

A shadow passed across the hallway.

Adrian raised his weapon.

"Come out."

No answer.

He moved forward.

Then a woman appeared.

Elena.

Amelia's heart jumped.

"Elena!"

Elena looked at her.

"Don't come closer."

Amelia stopped.

"What happened?"

Elena's eyes were filled with fear.

"He knows you're here."

"Who?"

Elena looked behind her.

"Thomas."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"Where is he?"

Elena shook her head.

"He's been waiting for you."

A man's voice echoed through the mansion.

"Not just for him."

Everyone turned.

A figure appeared on the upper balcony.

Thomas Carter.

Amelia stared.

He looked older than the photograph, but the resemblance was unmistakable.

He smiled.

"Hello, Amelia."

Adrian stepped in front of her.

"Stay away from her."

Thomas laughed.

"You sound just like your father."

"Where is my uncle?"

Thomas smiled.

"He's not your only enemy."

Adrian's expression changed.

"What does that mean?"

Thomas looked at Amelia.

"Your grandmother didn't create Elena."

Amelia froze.

"Then who did?"

Thomas's smile disappeared.

"Your mother."

Amelia turned toward her mother.

But her mother wasn't there.

She had stayed behind at the mansion.

Amelia's heart sank.

"No."

Thomas continued.

"Your mother knew everything."

Elena shook her head.

"Don't listen to him."

Thomas looked at Elena.

"Ask her."

Amelia's voice trembled.

"Ask who?"

Thomas smiled.

"Ask your mother why she lied about your birth."

THE CONFESSION

Back at the Blackwood mansion, Maria sat alone in the library.

She was staring at an old photograph.

Her hands trembled.

A phone rang.

She answered.

"Hello?"

A voice spoke.

"Thomas found them."

Maria closed her eyes.

"Please."

"You knew this day would come."

"I didn't know it would be this soon."

"You should have told Amelia."

"I was protecting her."

"You were protecting yourself."

Maria's eyes filled with tears.

"I made a mistake."

The voice became cold.

"You made several."

The call ended.

Maria stood.

She walked toward the window.

A black car was parked outside.

Someone stepped out.

Maria recognized him.

Her face went pale.

"Daniel."

BACK AT THE ESTATE

Thomas descended the stairs.

Amelia stood beside Elena.

"Why did my mother create you?"

Elena looked at her.

"I don't know."

Thomas answered.

"Because your grandmother wanted a replacement."

"For what?"

"For you."

Amelia frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"Your grandmother knew that the Black Rose would eventually come for Amelia."

"So she created Elena to protect me?"

"No."

Thomas's voice became cold.

"She created Elena because she believed Amelia would die."

Silence.

Amelia's heart broke.

"Die?"

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"She thought you wouldn't survive."

Thomas continued.

"So she created another child using your family's genetic material."

Amelia stared at Elena.

"You're saying she's my sister."

"Biologically, yes."

Elena looked at her.

"Not naturally."

Amelia stepped closer.

"You are still my sister."

Elena began crying.

"No one has ever said that to me."

Amelia hugged her.

For a moment, the world disappeared.

Then Thomas spoke again.

"There's something else."

Amelia slowly released Elena.

"What?"

"Elena wasn't created to replace you."

"Then why?"

Thomas looked toward Adrian.

"She was created to unlock something."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"What?"

Thomas smiled.

"The research."

Amelia froze.

"Elena carries the missing genetic marker."

Adrian stepped forward.

"You're lying."

Thomas shook his head.

"Test her."

Adrian looked at Elena.

She looked terrified.

Thomas continued:

"Your grandmother couldn't complete the research because Amelia carried one half of the genetic pattern."

He pointed at Elena.

"And Elena carries the other half."

Amelia's heart pounded.

"Then together..."

Thomas smiled.

"They can unlock the entire archive."

Adrian's expression became deadly.

"That's why the Black Rose wants both of them."

Thomas nodded.

"Exactly."

Suddenly, gunshots erupted outside.

Adrian grabbed Amelia.

"Down!"

Elena dropped behind a pillar.

Thomas disappeared through a hidden doorway.

Security returned fire.

Amelia screamed.

"Where is Thomas?"

"He's gone."

"Elena!"

"I'm here!"

Adrian rushed toward her.

"We need to leave."

They ran toward the entrance.

Then Amelia stopped.

"Wait."

"What?"

"My mother."

Adrian looked at her.

"She stayed at the mansion."

"I need to go back."

"We can't."

"She's my mother."

"Amelia, it's too dangerous."

"I don't care."

Adrian looked at her.

He knew he couldn't stop her.

"Fine."

They rushed outside.

THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

Back at the mansion, Maria was standing in the library.

Daniel stood across from her.

After twenty years apart, they were finally face to face.

Maria's eyes filled with tears.

"You're alive."

Daniel nodded.

"I've always been alive."

"Why didn't you come back?"

"Because you know why."

Maria looked away.

"I was protecting Amelia."

"You were protecting the secret."

"I had no choice."

"You always had a choice."

Daniel stepped closer.

"You let them take Elena."

Maria began crying.

"I didn't know what they were going to do."

"You signed the papers."

"I was threatened."

"By whom?"

Maria remained silent.

Daniel's expression hardened.

"Who threatened you?"

Maria whispered:

"Your mother."

Daniel froze.

"My mother died years ago."

Maria shook her head.

"No."

She looked toward the window.

"She didn't."

Daniel's face went pale.

"What are you saying?"

Maria whispered:

"She's alive."

A car suddenly stopped outside.

The doors opened.

Adrian arrived with Amelia and Elena.

Amelia rushed inside.

"Mum!"

Maria turned.

Her face was covered in tears.

Amelia stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Maria looked at Daniel.

Then at her daughters.

She whispered:

"I have to tell you everything."

Adrian stepped closer.

Maria looked directly at Amelia.

"Your grandmother is alive."

Amelia's breath caught.

"And she's coming for you."

Before anyone could respond, every light in the mansion went out.

A woman's voice echoed through the darkness.

"Hello, Amelia."

Amelia froze.

She knew that voice.

Her grandmother.

Then the doors slammed shut.

And from somewhere upstairs came a slow, deliberate sound.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Someone was applauding.

The woman who had supposedly been dead for twenty years had finally come home.