THE COLD CEO OBSESSIVE POSSESSION

THE MAN WHO WASN'T HER FATHER

CHAPTER 17

The world seemed to stop.

Amelia stared at the two men standing several feet apart.

One stood beside her mother.

The other stood beside Ethan.

They had the same face.

The same eyes.

The same voice.

Even the same small scar above the left eyebrow.

But they couldn't both be her father.

Amelia's breathing became uneven.

"No..."

The man beside Maria stepped toward her.

"Amelia."

She immediately moved behind Adrian.

"Don't."

The man stopped.

His eyes filled with pain.

"Sweetheart, it's me."

"No!"

Her voice cracked.

"You can't be my father."

He looked devastated.

"Why?"

"Because my father is standing there."

She pointed toward the other man.

The second Daniel smiled.

"Your father?"

Amelia stared at him.

He looked at her with a strange calmness.

"Perhaps you should ask your mother."

Maria began crying.

"Amelia..."

"Which one is my father?"

Silence.

"Mom!"

Maria covered her face.

"I don't know anymore."

Amelia's heart shattered.

"You don't know?"

The man beside Maria stepped forward.

"I am your father."

The other man laughed.

"You're still lying after all these years."

Adrian raised his weapon.

"Everyone stay where you are."

Ethan's gun remained pointed at Amelia.

"Drop yours, sir."

Adrian's eyes became cold.

"You've forgotten who you're speaking to."

"No."

Ethan smiled.

"I know exactly who I'm speaking to."

THE TWINS

Eva walked forward.

"Enough."

Everyone looked at her.

She pointed at the two Daniels.

"His name is Daniel Carter."

Then she pointed at the other man.

"His name is David Carter."

Amelia stared.

"David?"

Eva nodded.

"They are identical twins."

Maria whispered:

"Separated at birth."

Adrian looked at her.

"Why?"

Maria answered through tears.

"Your grandmother."

Evelyn stepped forward.

"Yes."

Amelia turned toward her.

"You separated them?"

"I had to."

"Why?"

"Because they were both dangerous."

David laughed.

"She always said that."

Daniel looked at his brother.

"You became everything she feared."

David smiled.

"And you became everything she wanted."

Amelia looked between them.

"Which one is my father?"

Daniel stepped forward.

"I am."

David shook his head.

"No."

He looked at Amelia.

"I am."

Amelia closed her eyes.

"I can't do this."

Adrian reached for her hand.

She didn't pull away.

THE BLOOD TEST

Eva suddenly spoke.

"We can determine the truth."

Everyone looked at her.

"How?"

"DNA."

She looked at the two men.

"One of them is Amelia's biological father."

David smiled.

"Do it."

Daniel nodded.

"I have nothing to hide."

Adrian turned toward Ethan.

"Lower the weapon."

Ethan hesitated.

"Not yet."

Adrian's voice became dangerous.

"Ethan."

"You'll get your answer."

He lowered the gun slightly.

Eva approached Amelia.

"Give me your hand."

Amelia hesitated.

Then she allowed Eva to take a small blood sample.

Eva collected samples from both men.

Minutes passed.

Nobody spoke.

Finally, the machine beeped.

Eva looked at the screen.

Her face changed.

Amelia noticed.

"What?"

Eva didn't answer.

"Tell me."

Eva looked at her.

"Neither of them is your father."

Everyone froze.

"What?"

Maria stumbled backward.

"No."

Eva turned the screen toward them.

"The DNA doesn't match."

Amelia stared at the results.

"Then who is my father?"

Evelyn answered.

"Daniel Carter."

Amelia shook her head.

"You just said he isn't."

"I said the man you believe is Daniel isn't your biological father."

"Then who is?"

Evelyn looked at Eva.

Eva whispered:

"Me."

Silence.

Amelia stared.

"What?"

Eva's eyes filled with tears.

"Your grandmother used my genetic material to create you."

Amelia's mouth opened.

"You are my..."

"Your biological mother."

Nobody moved.

Adrian looked shocked.

Elena began crying.

Maria covered her mouth.

Eva continued:

"I was your grandmother's first successful experiment."

Amelia stepped backward.

"You are my mother?"

Eva nodded.

"But Maria raised you."

Amelia looked at Maria.

"Then what are you?"

Maria was crying.

"I am the woman who chose to love you."

Amelia's tears fell.

"You knew?"

"I knew the truth after you were born."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Evelyn threatened to take you away."

Amelia looked at Evelyn.

"You stole me."

Evelyn's expression remained cold.

"I created you."

"No."

Amelia's voice shook.

"My mother is the woman who raised me."

She looked at Eva.

"And you..."

Eva stepped closer.

"I never got the chance to be your mother."

Amelia's heart broke.

THE REAL PLAN

David suddenly laughed.

"Beautiful."

Adrian turned toward him.

"What's funny?"

"All this time, you thought Amelia was the key."

He pointed at Eva.

"But she's only half of it."

Eva's expression changed.

"David."

He smiled.

"You know exactly what I mean."

Adrian stepped forward.

"Explain."

David looked at Elena.

"The other half is her."

Elena froze.

"Me?"

"Yes."

Amelia turned toward her sister.

"What does he mean?"

David smiled.

"You were created using Eva's genetic material."

Elena shook her head.

"No."

"Yes."

"You said I was created using Amelia's."

"I lied."

Elena looked horrified.

David continued.

"You're a hybrid of both genetic lines."

Amelia's eyes widened.

"So Elena..."

"Carries both sides."

Eva closed her eyes.

"That's impossible."

David smiled.

"That's why the Black Rose wants her."

Elena stepped backward.

"No."

David looked at Amelia.

"And that's why they want you alive."

Amelia stared.

"What happens if they get both of us?"

David's smile disappeared.

"They can recreate Eva's original experiment."

THE BLACK ROSE ARRIVES

A siren sounded in the distance.

Adrian's security team turned toward the road.

Black vehicles were approaching.

Dozens of them.

Adrian looked at Ethan.

"How many?"

Ethan smiled.

"Enough."

Adrian grabbed Amelia.

"Everyone inside."

David laughed.

"You still think you can protect her."

Adrian turned toward him.

"I don't think."

He raised his weapon.

"I know."

Gunfire erupted.

Security guards returned fire.

Adrian pulled Amelia behind a vehicle.

"Stay here."

"No."

"Amelia."

"I'm not hiding."

He stared at her.

"Please."

The word shocked her.

Adrian Blackwood was asking.

Not ordering.

She nodded.

"Be careful."

He touched her face.

"I'll come back."

Then he disappeared into the chaos.

ELENA'S CHOICE

Elena stood near Eva.

She looked at her.

"Is it true?"

Eva nodded.

"Yes."

"I'm part of you?"

"Yes."

"And Amelia?"

"Part of you."

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"Then we're really sisters."

Eva looked at both women.

"More than sisters."

Elena looked toward Amelia.

"We're family."

Amelia nodded.

"Always."

Suddenly, Ethan appeared behind them.

He grabbed Elena.

"Let her go!"

Amelia screamed.

Ethan held a gun against Elena's head.

"Stay back."

Eva stepped forward.

"Take me instead."

Ethan laughed.

"They don't want you."

He looked at Elena.

"They want her."

Elena struggled.

"Amelia, don't come closer!"

Ethan dragged her toward a black vehicle.

Amelia wanted to follow.

But Adrian suddenly appeared.

He tackled Ethan.

The gun flew away.

Elena ran.

Adrian and Ethan fought violently.

Ethan was strong.

But Adrian was stronger.

He slammed Ethan against the vehicle.

"You betrayed me."

Ethan smiled.

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because your father ordered it."

Adrian froze.

"My father is dead."

Ethan laughed.

"Is he?"

Adrian's expression changed.

Ethan whispered:

"Ask the man who raised you."

THE FINAL BETRAYAL

Adrian stared at Ethan.

"What are you talking about?"

Ethan smiled.

"Your father didn't die."

Adrian's blood ran cold.

"You're lying."

"No."

Ethan looked toward the mansion.

"He's been watching you."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Where?"

Ethan pointed.

"Inside."

Everyone looked toward the mansion.

A figure stood in an upstairs window.

A man.

Older.

But unmistakable.

Adrian stopped breathing.

His father.

The man who had supposedly died ten years ago.

Standing alive.

Watching them.

Adrian whispered:

"Father."

The man smiled.

Then he lifted his hand.

Behind him stood Victoria.

Amelia's heart sank.

"Victoria..."

Victoria looked down at them.

Her eyes were full of tears.

She mouthed one word.

Run.

Then the window shattered.

A gunshot rang through the night.

Victoria fell.

"VICTORIA!"

Amelia screamed.

Adrian immediately turned toward the mansion.

But his father had disappeared.

The Black Rose vehicles began retreating.

The attack was over.

For now.

Adrian ran toward the mansion.

Amelia followed.

They found Victoria lying on the floor.

Blood stained her clothes.

Amelia dropped beside her.

"Victoria!"

Victoria opened her eyes.

"He's coming."

"Who?"

Victoria grabbed Amelia's hand.

"Your father."

Amelia froze.

"Which one?"

Victoria looked at her.

"The real one."

Then her eyes closed.

Adrian stared at the blood on his hands.

His father was alive.

The Black Rose had infiltrated his company.

Elena carried a secret genetic connection.

And somewhere in the darkness, a man claiming to be Amelia's father was coming for her.

But the most terrifying truth was still hidden.

Because the person who had ordered the entire operation...

was someone Amelia had trusted her entire life.