THE COLD CEO OBSESSIVE POSSESSION

THE FIRST. DAUGHTER

CHAPTER 16

The laboratory fell into a terrifying silence.

Eva stood barefoot on the cold floor.

She looked perfectly calm.

Too calm.

Amelia stared at her.

"You said you're my grandmother's daughter."

Eva smiled.

"Yes."

Evelyn's face was pale.

"You're supposed to be dead."

Eva slowly turned toward her.

"You've said that about a lot of people."

Daniel raised his weapon.

"Stay where you are."

Eva laughed softly.

"You look just like your father."

Adrian immediately stepped in front of Amelia.

"Who are you?"

Eva's eyes moved toward him.

"Adrian Blackwood."

She smiled.

"The cold CEO."

Adrian's expression hardened.

"How do you know me?"

"I've been watching you."

"From where?"

"The same place I've been watching Amelia."

Amelia's heart pounded.

"You've been watching me?"

"All your life."

"Why?"

Eva's smile disappeared.

"Because you have something that belongs to me."

Amelia frowned.

"What?"

"My inheritance."

THE FIRST SECRET

Evelyn stepped forward.

"You were never supposed to survive."

Eva laughed.

"Yet here I am."

"I destroyed the project."

"You destroyed my life."

"I was protecting the family."

"You were protecting yourself."

Evelyn's face hardened.

"You don't understand what you became."

Eva's eyes turned cold.

"I understand perfectly."

She pointed toward the glass chambers.

"You created twenty-seven copies."

Amelia looked at Evelyn.

"Copies?"

Evelyn remained silent.

Eva continued.

"You failed twenty-seven times."

She looked at Amelia.

"Then you succeeded."

Amelia swallowed.

"Why me?"

"Because you were the original genetic carrier."

"I don't understand."

Eva walked closer.

"Your grandmother's research began with me."

She touched her chest.

"I was the first."

"First what?"

"First successful genetic subject."

Amelia stared.

"Then why did she create me?"

Eva smiled bitterly.

"Because I became unstable."

Adrian frowned.

"Unstable?"

Eva nodded.

"My body began rejecting the modifications."

"What modifications?"

"Regeneration."

Amelia's eyes widened.

"Like mine?"

"Exactly."

Eva looked at her.

"But your body adapted naturally."

Amelia shook her head.

"So I'm the perfected version."

Eva nodded.

"Yes."

THE BLACK ROSE'S TRUE PURPOSE

Adrian stepped forward.

"Then why is the Black Rose interested in her?"

Eva looked at him.

"Because they don't want to study Amelia."

"Then what do they want?"

"They want to reproduce her."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"Why?"

"Imagine a person who can heal from injuries faster than normal."

Amelia looked at her.

"They could create soldiers."

"Soldiers."

"Workers."

"Medical subjects."

"People who could survive conditions ordinary humans couldn't."

Amelia felt sick.

"And they want to use me to create them."

Eva nodded.

"Yes."

Adrian's voice became cold.

"They'll never touch her."

Eva looked amused.

"You say that as though you can stop them."

"I can."

"You can't even protect her from the people inside your own company."

Adrian froze.

Amelia looked at him.

"What does she mean?"

Eva smiled.

"Ask him about the laboratory beneath Blackwood Industries."

Amelia turned toward Adrian.

"You have another laboratory?"

Adrian's expression changed.

"I didn't know."

Eva laughed.

"Of course you didn't."

She looked at Amelia.

"Your husband isn't as powerful as he thinks."

THE TRAITOR

Suddenly, Adrian's phone rang.

He answered.

"Yes?"

Ethan's voice came through.

"Sir, we have a problem."

"What?"

"Someone accessed the private server."

"Who?"

"We don't know."

"Find them."

"We're trying."

Adrian's expression became cold.

Then Ethan said:

"Sir, there's something else."

"What?"

"The security system shows an authorized entry."

"Name."

There was a pause.

Then Ethan answered.

"Victoria."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"That's impossible."

"Her access code is active."

Adrian ended the call.

Amelia stared at him.

"Victoria?"

Eva smiled.

"Now you understand."

Amelia's stomach tightened.

"She's working with them."

Adrian shook his head.

"I don't know."

Eva laughed.

"You never know."

Adrian glared at her.

"Enough."

Eva stepped closer.

"You want the truth?"

"Yes."

"Victoria was never your enemy."

Amelia frowned.

"What?"

"She was protecting you."

Adrian looked surprised.

"From whom?"

Eva pointed toward Evelyn.

"Her."

Everyone turned.

Evelyn remained silent.

Eva continued.

"Your grandmother wanted Amelia controlled."

"Why?"

"Because Amelia's existence threatens everything she built."

Amelia stared at Evelyn.

"Is that true?"

Evelyn looked at her.

"I was trying to protect you."

"By creating people like me?"

"I didn't know what would happen."

"You knew enough."

Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.

"I made mistakes."

"Twenty-seven people are lying in glass chambers because of your mistakes."

Evelyn looked away.

"I know."

THE ESCAPE

Suddenly, alarms began screaming.

The lights flashed red.

Adrian grabbed Amelia's hand.

"We're leaving."

"Wait."

"We don't have time."

"What about them?"

She pointed at the chambers.

"We can't leave them."

Adrian looked at the women.

"We can't move twenty-seven people during an attack."

"Then we wake them."

Eva shook her head.

"They won't survive."

Amelia looked at her.

"How do you know?"

"Because I was one of them."

"What happened to you?"

Eva looked away.

"I survived."

Adrian pulled Amelia toward the exit.

"We have to go."

Then the laboratory doors exploded.

Armed men stormed inside.

Adrian pushed Amelia behind him.

"Stay down!"

Gunfire erupted.

Daniel returned fire.

Elena screamed.

Evelyn ducked behind a console.

Eva stood completely still.

One of the attackers aimed at Amelia.

Eva moved faster.

She grabbed him.

He fired.

The bullet struck Eva in the shoulder.

She didn't fall.

Instead, she pulled the gun from his hand and threw him across the room.

Amelia stared.

"You're hurt!"

Eva looked at the wound.

Blood was already slowing.

"Not badly."

Amelia's eyes widened.

"You really can heal."

Eva smiled.

"Now you understand."

ADRIAN'S PROMISE

The attackers were eventually forced back.

Adrian grabbed Amelia.

"We're leaving now."

She looked at him.

"What about Eva?"

"We take her with us."

Eva looked surprised.

"Why?"

Adrian answered:

"Because she has information."

Eva smiled.

"You've finally learned."

They ran through the underground passage.

The mansion above was still under attack.

Adrian kept Amelia close.

She looked at him.

"You really don't trust anyone."

"I trust you."

"Even after everything?"

"Especially after everything."

She looked away.

"Adrian."

"Yes?"

"If I wasn't the heir..."

He stopped walking.

"What?"

"If I wasn't important..."

She looked at him.

"Would you still want me?"

His expression softened.

"Yes."

"How do you know?"

"Because the first time I wanted you, I didn't know any of this."

She stared at him.

"And now?"

"Now I want to protect you because you're Amelia."

He reached for her face.

"Not because you're an heir."

Amelia's eyes filled with tears.

She leaned into his hand.

"I want to believe you."

"Then believe me."

THE REVELATION

They reached the surface.

Security vehicles were waiting.

Ethan rushed toward them.

"Sir!"

Adrian turned.

"What happened?"

"The attackers have retreated."

"Any casualties?"

"Several guards injured."

Adrian nodded.

Then Ethan looked at Eva.

"Who is she?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Eva smiled.

"Someone your boss's family tried to kill."

Ethan looked confused.

Amelia stepped forward.

"She knows about the Black Rose."

Ethan nodded.

"We need to get her somewhere secure."

Eva laughed.

"There's nowhere secure."

Everyone turned.

"Why?"

Eva pointed toward the road.

"Because they're already here."

Far in the distance, several black vehicles appeared.

Adrian's security team immediately raised their weapons.

Adrian grabbed Amelia.

"Get in the car."

"What about everyone?"

"Now!"

They rushed toward the vehicles.

But before Amelia could enter, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Amelia."

She froze.

She knew that voice.

She turned.

Victoria stood on the road.

Her hands were raised.

Adrian immediately pointed his weapon at her.

"Don't move."

Victoria's eyes filled with tears.

"I didn't betray you."

Adrian didn't lower the gun.

"Then explain the security access."

Victoria looked at Amelia.

"I was trying to stop them."

"Who?"

Victoria looked toward the approaching vehicles.

"The Black Rose."

Amelia stepped closer.

"Why did they use your access?"

"Because they have someone inside Blackwood Industries."

"Who?"

Victoria swallowed.

Then she whispered:

"Your head of security."

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Ethan?"

Victoria nodded.

"He has been working for them from the beginning."

Everyone turned toward Ethan.

He stood frozen.

Then—

He smiled.

Adrian's expression became deadly.

"Ethan."

The security chief slowly raised his weapon.

But he wasn't pointing it at Adrian.

He pointed it at Amelia.

"Nobody move."

Adrian stepped in front of her.

"Ethan, put the gun down."

Ethan smiled.

"I'm sorry, sir."

Adrian's voice became cold.

"You've been with me for ten years."

"I know."

"Why?"

"Because your father asked me to watch you."

Adrian froze.

"My father?"

Ethan nodded.

"He knew the Black Rose would eventually come for Amelia."

Amelia's heart raced.

"Then why point a gun at me?"

Ethan's eyes became cold.

"Because your father wasn't the only one who wanted you."

He looked at Eva.

"He wants you alive."

Eva's face changed.

"Who?"

Ethan smiled.

Then a black car stopped behind him.

The door opened.

A man stepped out.

Amelia's breath caught.

It was the man she had believed was dead.

Her father.

Daniel Carter.

But Amelia was standing beside Daniel.

She looked at the man in confusion.

"That's impossible."

Daniel smiled.

"Hello, my daughter."

Amelia stared between the two men.

One Daniel stood beside her mother.

The other stood beside Ethan.

They looked identical.

Eva whispered:

"Now you know."

Adrian looked at her.

"Know what?"

Eva's expression was grim.

"Daniel Carter had a twin."

She looked at Amelia.

"And one of them has been working for the Black Rose all along."

The two men smiled at each other.

And Amelia realized the nightmare was far bigger than she had ever imagined.