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Billionaire Adrian Cross possesses everything-authority, riches, and a life that many can only fantasize about. However, his existence is disrupted when he receives an anonymous message revealing that he has a child he was unaware of. Then, the unimaginable occurs. Elena Rivera returns saying that she have a son for him and he is in imminent danger. As enemies close in on them, Adrian and Elena must confront their painful history while striving to safeguard their child. Yet, the more Adrian investigates, the more hidden truths he uncovers-deceptions regarding Elena's disappearance, the genuine identity of their son, and the perilous game they have become entangled in. Some betrayals run too deep. And this time, discovering the truth could cost them everything.
Chapter 1 The Message That Changed Everything
Adrian Cross was a man who had everything-power, wealth, and control. But the text on his private line shattered the illusion of control in an instant.
"You have a son. And he's in danger."
For a moment, he thought it was a hoax. A cheap ploy to shake him. But Adrian hadn't built an empire by ignoring threats.
Sitting in the top-floor office of Cross Enterprises, he stared at the message, his mind dissecting every possibility. He had spent years protecting himself from blackmailers, enemies, and corporate sharks. This was different. This wasn't a demand for money.
This was personal.
A knock at the door. His assistant, Claire, stepped in. "Sir, there's someone here to see you. She says it's urgent."
Before Adrian could wave her away, the door opened wider.
And there she was.
Elena Rivera.
The woman who had died ten years ago.
Adrian rose from his chair, his pulse a war drum in his chest. "You're supposed to be dead."
Elena's dark eyes met his, filled with something unreadable. "I don't have time for explanations. Our son is in danger."
Adrian Cross didn't believe in ghosts. But as he looked at the woman he had once loved-the woman he had mourned-he realized one thing.
Whatever had brought Elena back into his life was about to change everything.
Adrian's mind reeled. He had spent a decade convincing himself that Elena was gone. That whatever they had shared had died with her.
Now she stood in front of him, alive. And her first words to him weren't an apology. Weren't even an explanation.
Our son is in danger.
A son.
He moved around his desk slowly, as if closing the distance would make this nightmare real. "I don't believe you," he said, his voice as sharp as the suits he wore. "This is a setup."
Elena took a deep breath. "I haven't got time for your suspicion, Adrian. Lucas is real. And if you don't assist me, he won't be."
Lucas.
His child.
A chill fear crept into his chest. "Where is he?"
"In hiding," Elena replied. "But they're closing in."
Adrian had endured years of hostile takeovers, betrayals, and foes who wanted him down. He had witnessed men lying, scheming, and misleading in pursuit of power. Elena's desperation was genuine, however.
Nonetheless, he was not a man who let feeling control him. He required answers.
"You need my assistance?" His tone was as lethal as ice. "Then start talking."
She had been in hiding for a decade, keeping Lucas hidden from the world that had almost killed her.
But running wasn't an option anymore.
She had seen the men watching them. The same kind of men who had destroyed her life before. And this time, they weren't just after her.
They wanted Lucas.
She drew a deep breath, preparing herself to face Adrian's gaze. "I never lied to you," she said. "I discovered something dangerous all those years ago. And when I was getting too close to the truth, they attempted to murder me."
Adrian's face hardened. "So you let me think you were dead?"
"I had no choice."
He laughed, but it wasn't a merry one. "There is always a choice, Elena.".
For an instant, the burden of all that was between them bore down-years of hurt, of loss, of unspoken.
Then the door to Adrian's office exploded inward.
Gunshots rang out.
Elena dove, taking cover. Adrian was already moving, grabbing a sleek pistol from his desk drawer.
The past wasn't just knocking on the door.
It had just kicked it open.
Adrian moved like a predator, his instincts sharper than ever. The moment the first bullet shattered the glass doors of his office, he pulled Elena down behind his desk, shielding her with his body.
Outside, chaos erupted as security responded to the attack. The gunmen-masked, efficient-weren't amateurs. This wasn't a robbery or a random hit. This was a message.
"Stay down," Adrian ordered, peering over the edge of the desk. He reached into the drawer, pulling out a second gun, and handed it to her.
Elena took it without hesitation. He didn't doubt she knew how to use it.
Through the shattered glass, Adrian caught a glimpse of a man in tactical gear signaling to his partners. They were moving in.
He turned to Elena. "We need to move."
She nodded. No argument. No wasted words.
In the past, she would have questioned his orders. But now?
Now she knew what they were up against.
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