THE BILLIONAIRE'S HIDDEN DAUGHTER

Chapter 10: The secret vault

Adrian stared at the silver key in Ava's hand as though he had seen a ghost.

For several seconds, he couldn't speak.

The room fell into complete silence.

Lucas looked from the key to his father.

"Father... what is it?"

Adrian finally took a deep breath.

"Twenty-three years ago, before Ava was born, I created a private vault beneath Ashford Estate."

"No one knew about it."

"Not even my lawyers."

William frowned.

"I thought the documents were destroyed."

"So did I."

Adrian tightened his grip on the key.

"If this key is here..."

"...then someone has already been inside my office."

Daniel looked alarmed.

"Do you think they were searching for the vault?"

"I don't know."

"But we can't take that chance."

Adrian turned to William.

"Come with me."

"You too, Lucas."

He looked at Ava.

"And you."

Ava blinked in surprise.

"Me?"

Adrian nodded.

"Everything inside that vault belongs to you as much as it belongs to me."

William pressed a hidden switch behind a bookshelf.

With a soft rumble, the bookshelf slowly slid aside, revealing a narrow staircase leading underground.

Ava's eyes widened.

"There's a basement?"

Lucas smiled faintly.

"I've lived here my whole life."

"I never knew this existed."

The four of them carefully walked down the dimly lit staircase.

At the bottom stood a massive steel door protected by a fingerprint scanner and a keyhole.

Adrian inserted the silver key.

Then he placed his thumb on the scanner.

A mechanical click echoed through the chamber.

The heavy vault door slowly opened.

Rows of shelves filled the room.

There were stacks of confidential documents, old journals, photographs, hard drives, and several locked metal boxes.

Everything had been perfectly preserved.

Ava looked around in amazement.

"It feels like a museum."

Adrian smiled sadly.

"In many ways..."

"It is."

He walked to a wooden cabinet in the corner and removed a thick photo album.

"This is where I've kept every memory of you."

Ava opened the album.

Her heart ached.

Each page contained photographs of birthday cakes Adrian had bought every year, even though she was never there to celebrate.

There were letters addressed to her.

Tiny bracelets.

A pair of baby shoes.

Even newspaper clippings from schools he believed she might have attended.

"He never stopped searching," William said quietly.

Ava wiped away a tear.

"I don't deserve this."

Adrian gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"No."

"I don't deserve your forgiveness."

Before Ava could answer, Lucas noticed something unusual.

"Father..."

"Someone has been here."

Everyone turned.

One of the metal boxes was already open.

Its lock had been forced.

William immediately inspected it.

"The thief found the vault."

"But why leave everything else behind?"

Lucas searched the room.

"They took something very specific."

Adrian looked inside the damaged box.

His face lost all color.

"No..."

William stepped closer.

"What was inside?"

Adrian spoke in a barely audible whisper.

"A DNA report."

Ava frowned.

"A DNA report?"

Adrian slowly looked into her eyes.

"The report that proves..."

He paused, struggling to say the words.

"...you aren't my only missing child."