Chapter 13: The Man Who Paid the Price
Sofia read the photograph again.
The image showed a younger Damian standing outside a hospital entrance, his face pale beneath the fluorescent lights. Beside him stood a woman in a nurse's uniform, holding a clipboard.
On the back, someone had written a date.
Six years earlier.
The night Ethan Cross supposedly died.
"He's lying," Isabella whispered.
Sofia looked up.
"How do you know?""
"Because Damian was at the hospital that night. He came to see me.""
Sofia frowned.
"You knew Damian before?""
Isabella nodded slowly.
"I was in the hospital after a car accident. Alexander had been looking for me, and I'd been hiding under another name. Damian found me before his father did.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know who you were. And because Damian made me promise not to talk about what happened.""
Sofia looked back at the photograph.
"Adrian said Damian ordered the attack on my mother.""
"Adrian wants you to doubt him.""
"That doesn't mean it's untrue.""
Isabella took Sofia's hand.
"Listen to me. Your mother saved my life. She told me that if anything happened to her, I should find Damian. She trusted him.""
Sofia swallowed.
"What if she was wrong?""
Before Isabella could answer, the door opened.
Adrian entered carrying a folder.
"Have you two finished discussing my family?""
Sofia pushed the photograph toward him.
"Why did you show me this?""
"Because you deserve to know the truth.""
"Then tell me who ordered the attack on my mother.""
Adrian sat across from her.
"Alexander.""
"That's not what you said.""
"I said Damian paid for your mother's hospital bills. I never said he ordered the attack.""
Sofia's face tightened.
"You're playing with words.""
"Your mother was attacked because she stole a ledger. Damian was sent to retrieve it. He found you instead.""
"How old was I?""
"Sixteen.""
Sofia went still.
She remembered the hospital.
The smell of antiseptic. Her mother's frightened face. A man standing outside the room, speaking quietly to a doctor.
She had never seen his face clearly.
Adrian opened the folder.
Inside were hospital records, photographs, and a copy of a payment authorization.
The signature at the bottom belonged to Damian Cross.
"He paid for everything," Adrian said.
"Your mother's treatment, your medication, the private security around the hospital. He even arranged for you to receive a new identity.""
Sofia stared at the document.
"Why?""
"Ask him.""
Adrian closed the folder.
"Perhaps he felt guilty. Perhaps he wanted to keep you alive. Perhaps he knew your mother had hidden something that could destroy his father.""
Sofia looked up.
"Where is the ledger?""
Adrian smiled.
"That's what I want to know.""
He stood.
"Your mother left you something, didn't she?""
Sofia said nothing.
Adrian leaned toward her.
"Your mother was a clever woman. She understood that the Cross family would tear itself apart over that ledger. She also understood that the only person who could expose us was you.""
"Then why haven't you killed me?""
His smile vanished.
"Because I need you to tell me where the original is.""
He walked to the door.
"Enjoy your stay.""
When he left, Isabella moved closer.
"Don't give him anything.""
Sofia looked at the hospital records.
"Maybe Damian really did save us.""
"Then why would Adrian want you to believe otherwise?""
Sofia had no answer.
At the warehouse, Damian stood over the photograph of Sofia.
His arm was bleeding, but he barely noticed.
Ethan paced behind him.
"We have to move.""
"We don't know where the estate is.""
"Victor knows.""
Damian looked toward the spot where Victor had fallen.
The older man was gone.
Marcus was gone.
And their security network had been compromised.
"Find Victor's phone," Damian ordered.
Ethan searched the floor and found a broken device near a shipping container.
"Here.""
Damian took it.
The screen was cracked, but one recent call remained visible.
A number without a name.
He called it.
A woman answered.
"You're late, Damian.""
He recognized the voice.
Vivian.
"Where are you?""
"Somewhere your father can't reach me.""
"Where's Sofia?""
"With Adrian.""
"Give me the address.""
Vivian laughed softly.
"Still giving orders as if the world belongs to you.""
"Vivian.""
Her voice changed.
"Listen carefully. Adrian isn't the only one who wants Sofia. Alexander believes she has the original ledger, but Arthur wants something else.""
"What?""
"Her birth certificate.""
Damian frowned.
"Why?""
"Because the ledger isn't the only document Rose Voss left behind.""
A pause.
Then Vivian continued.
"There's a trust. It was created before Alexander married Margaret. The original beneficiary was supposed to inherit everything.""
"Who?""
"Sofia.""
Damian went still.
Ethan stopped pacing.
"That's impossible.""
Vivian sighed.
"Your father stole the Voss estate and used it to build his empire. But Rose had one condition. If her granddaughter was ever found, ownership would return to her.""
Damian looked at Ethan.
"Is that why Adrian took her?""
"Partly," Vivian replied.
"But Alexander has a more personal reason.""
"What reason?""
"Because Sofia isn't Elena's biological daughter.""
The words seemed to drain the air from the warehouse.
Damian tightened his grip on the phone.
"Explain.""
"I don't have time.""
"Vivian—"
"Your father has spent sixteen years making sure no one learns who Sofia's real parents are. If Adrian discovers the truth before you do, she won't survive.""
The call ended.
Damian stared at the phone.
Ethan spoke first.
"She could be lying.""
"She isn't.""
"How do you know?""
"Because I remember Father ordering Elena's records destroyed.""
Ethan looked at him.
"What records?""
Damian's eyes hardened.
"The night Sofia was born.""
At the coastal estate, Sofia stood beside the window.
Beyond the glass, waves crashed against the rocks.
The property was beautiful, but every exit was guarded.
She heard footsteps and turned.
Adrian entered with a small wooden box.
"Your mother left this at the old Voss house.""
Sofia recognized it immediately.
It was the same box she had found in Elena's apartment.
"Where did you get that?""
"Your grandmother's belongings were divided after her disappearance. This was among the things Alexander kept.""
Adrian placed it on the bed.
"Open it.""
Sofia hesitated.
"Why?""
"Because there's something inside you should see.""
She lifted the lid.
A faded hospital bracelet lay inside.
The name printed on it was barely legible.
*Baby Voss.*
Below it was a date.
The day Sofia had been born.
But the bracelet was not the only object inside.
There was also a second photograph.
A young woman held a newborn baby in her arms.
The woman's face was unmistakable.
Margaret Cross.
Sofia looked up.
"That's impossible.""
Adrian's voice was almost gentle.
"Welcome to your family, Sofia.""
Then he placed a final document on the bed.
A birth certificate.
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The mother's name was Margaret Cross.
And the father's name was Alexander Cross.
