Chapter 6: Rebecca’s Bargain
Rebecca Hale did not look like a woman who had spent twelve years hiding a secret.
She looked immaculate.
Her black coat was tailored perfectly. Her blond hair fell in soft waves over one shoulder. A diamond bracelet caught the fluorescent hospital light whenever she moved her hand.
She closed the door behind her.
Then she looked directly at Mia.
“So,” Rebecca said softly, “you’re Mia.””
Mia said nothing.
Adrian stepped between them.
“Why are you here?””
Rebecca’s expression remained calm.
“I heard Elena was dying.””
“She isn’t.””
“Not yet.””
Elena’s monitor accelerated.
Adrian turned toward the bed.
“Get out.””
Rebecca didn’t move.
“Still protective.””
“I said get out.””
“And I said we need to talk.””
“We have nothing to discuss.””
Rebecca smiled faintly.
“That’s not what your father believed.””
Adrian’s face hardened.
“Don’t bring my father into this.””
“Why not?””
“Because he’s dead.””
Rebecca tilted her head.
“Dead people can still ruin lives.””
Mia looked at Adrian.
“What does she know?””
Rebecca’s gaze shifted toward the girl.
“More than you’ve been told.””
Adrian moved closer to Rebecca.
“Choose your next words carefully.””
Rebecca lowered her voice.
“You think Victor was the villain because Elena finally told you a version of the story that makes her look innocent.””
Elena struggled against the pillow.
“She’s lying.””
Rebecca glanced toward her.
“You always were good at that.””
Mia stepped forward.
“Don’t talk to my mom like that.””
Rebecca’s eyes rested on her.
For the first time, something colder appeared in her expression.
“You have your father’s temper.””
Adrian froze.
Mia noticed.
“What does that mean?””
Rebecca looked at Adrian.
“You haven’t told her?””
“Told her what?””
“That you have proof.””
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Proof of what?””
Rebecca smiled.
“That she’s yours.””
Mia stared.
“I already know he’s my father.””
Rebecca’s smile disappeared.
“Do you?””
Mia frowned.
Adrian moved closer.
“What are you doing?””
“I’m giving you a choice.””
“I don't want anything from you.””
“You will.””
Rebecca reached into her handbag.
Adrian immediately caught her wrist.
“Slowly.””
She looked down at his hand.
Then back at him.
“Still controlling everything.””
“Show me what’s in the bag.””
Rebecca pulled out a thin black folder.
“I brought this because Elena never gave you the entire story.””
Adrian took it.
The first page contained bank records.
Payments.
Transfers.
Names.
Dates.
His father’s private account.
Then Elena’s.
Adrian stared.
“What is this?””
“Money your father paid Elena.””
Mia looked over his shoulder.
“My mom didn’t take his money.””
Rebecca gave a quiet laugh.
“No. She didn’t.””
“Then why are there payments?””
“Because he found ways to make sure she had no choice.””
Adrian turned the page.
Medical bills.
Apartment payments.
School expenses.
Every month.
For twelve years.
He looked at Elena.
“You told me he never helped.””
“He didn’t,” Elena whispered.
Rebecca shook her head.
“He didn't help her.””
She pointed at the papers.
“He controlled her.””
Adrian looked up.
“Explain.””
Rebecca folded her arms.
“Victor put the apartment under a trust.””
“And?””
“Every payment came with a condition.””
Elena closed her eyes.
Rebecca continued.
“She could keep Mia only if she stayed away from you.””
Adrian felt sick.
“And if she contacted me?””
“The payments stopped.””
“How did she survive?””
Rebecca looked at him.
“She worked.””
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“She cleaned offices while raising my daughter and managing a heart condition.””
Rebecca didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
Mia stared at the papers.
“Mom?””
Elena reached for her.
“Mia, I never wanted you to know.””
“Why?””
“Because I wanted you safe.””
Mia’s eyes filled.
“You keep saying that.””
Rebecca looked away.
“I know what you’re feeling.””
Mia turned toward her.
“You don’t know me.””
Rebecca smiled without warmth.
“Maybe not.””
Then she looked at Adrian.
“But I know what happens when powerful families decide a child is inconvenient.””
Adrian’s voice became colder.
“Tell me why you helped Victor.””
Rebecca’s expression changed.
There it was.
The question she had hoped he wouldn't ask.
“I didn't help him because I wanted to hurt Elena.””
“Then why?””
“Because I loved you.””
Adrian stared.
“You forged my messages.””
“Yes.””
“You convinced Elena I'd abandoned her.””
“Yes.””
“You helped my father hide my daughter.””
Rebecca’s eyes glistened.
“Yes.””
“And you call that love?””
Her jaw tightened.
“You were going to leave me.””
“I never promised you anything.””
“You promised Elena.””
“And?””
“You were going to choose her.””
Adrian gave a bitter laugh.
“So you destroyed her life.””
Rebecca’s voice cracked.
“I thought I was saving mine.””
Mia stared at her.
“That’s not love.””
Rebecca looked at the child.
“No. It wasn’t.””
For a moment, she looked almost broken.
Then the expression vanished.
She became composed again.
“I came here because there is one thing you need.””
Adrian looked at her.
“What?””
She placed another document on the table.
“A release agreement.””
He glanced down.
“What am I releasing?””
“Control of certain Cross family assets.””
Adrian looked up sharply.
“This has nothing to do with Elena.””
“It has everything to do with her.””
“What did my father put in here?””
Rebecca nodded toward the papers.
“A clause.””
Adrian read it.
Then read it again.
If Mia were ever publicly recognized as Victor Cross’s descendant, a portion of the family estate would be placed under her control.
But there was another condition.
Adrian’s ownership of the company would be reviewed.
His father had built a trap into the inheritance.
Mia was not merely a daughter.
She was a threat to the empire.
Adrian looked at Rebecca.
“That’s why he wanted her hidden.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew.””
“Yes.””
“Why tell me now?””
Rebecca’s eyes went to Elena.
“Because Victor is dead.””
“And?””
“Now the only person who can activate that clause is you.””
Adrian understood.
His father had made the last move years before dying.
Mia’s existence could destabilize the company.
Unless Adrian refused to acknowledge her.
Unless he kept her hidden.
Unless he signed away his claim.
A cold realization settled over him.
“My father expected me to choose the company.””
“He expected you to choose the empire.””
“And what did you expect?””
Rebecca looked at Mia.
“I expected you to choose me.””
Mia stepped between them.
“He should choose his daughter.””
Rebecca stared at her.
“You sound very sure.””
“I am.””
Something flashed in Rebecca’s eyes.
Not anger.
Fear.
Adrian noticed.
“Why are you afraid of her?””
Rebecca didn’t answer.
“Rebecca.””
Silence.
“Why?””
Rebecca finally whispered:
“Because she has something Victor spent years trying to find.””
Adrian’s pulse jumped.
“What?””
Rebecca looked toward Elena.
“Elena, tell him.””
Elena turned her face away.
Rebecca moved closer to the bed.
“The original genetic report.””
Adrian stared.
“What report?””
“The one proving your bloodline.””
Elena’s hand trembled.
“Rebecca, please.””
“Where is it?””
“No.””
“Where?””
Elena said nothing.
Adrian looked between them.
“What report?””
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“You still don't understand.””
She pulled another photograph from her purse.
She placed it on the table.
It showed a young Elena standing outside a clinic.
And beside her was a baby.
Mia.
On the back was a date.
The date Mia was born.
Underneath it was a handwritten note.
*DNA confirmed. Father: Adrian Cross.*
Adrian’s throat tightened.
“Where did you get this?””
Rebecca looked at Elena.
“She sent it to Victor.””
Mia’s eyes widened.
“Mom?””
Elena’s tears spilled.
“I was desperate.””
“You sent my report to him?””
“I didn't know what else to do.””
Rebecca stepped back.
“That report disappeared.””
Adrian looked up.
“Who took it?””
Rebecca’s face went pale.
“Victor.””
“But you said you knew about it.””
“I did.””
“Then where is it?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Adrian moved toward her.
“You’re lying.””
“No.””
“You know where it is.””
“I knew.””
“Knew?””
Rebecca looked toward the hallway.
“After Victor died, I searched his private office.””
“And?””
“I found a safe.””
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“What was inside?””
Rebecca took a breath.
“Letters.””
“From who?””
“Elena.””
“How many?””
“Thirty-two.””
Adrian’s blood ran cold.
“Thirty-two letters?””
Rebecca nodded.
“Letters Elena wrote to you.””
Mia whispered:
“Why would she write letters if she thought he had abandoned her?””
Adrian looked at Elena.
She began crying.
Rebecca answered instead.
“Because she never stopped loving your father.””
Adrian corrected her.
“I'm not my father.””
Rebecca’s expression shifted.
“I know.””
She slowly pulled out a final envelope.
Old.
Yellowed.
Sealed.
Adrian recognized the handwriting immediately.
Elena.
His name was written across the front.
But this time, beneath his name, there were two additional words.
*For Adrian.*
He reached for it.
Rebecca didn’t let go.
“Before you open it, understand something.””
“What?””
“If you read this, you’ll learn why Elena disappeared.””
Adrian's eyes hardened.
“That's what I want.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at Mia.
“You’ll learn why she was forced to run.””
Then she looked back at him.
“And who followed her.””
Adrian took the envelope.
“Who?””
Rebecca’s voice fell to a whisper.
“The person your father hired to make sure Mia never reached you.””
Before Adrian could open it, the hospital lights flickered.
The hallway outside erupted in shouting.
A nurse ran past the room.
Then another.
Adrian opened the door.
“What happened?””
The nurse stopped.
“Sir, you need to stay inside.””
“Why?””
Her face was pale.
“Someone entered through the emergency entrance.””
“Who?””
“We don't know.””
Adrian looked toward Elena’s room.
The nurse continued in a trembling voice.
“But whoever it is…”
She swallowed.
“They knew exactly which room belonged to Elena Carter.””
Adrian turned back.
Mia was standing beside her mother.
Rebecca was gone.
The black folder remained on the table.
And the envelope Elena had written twelve years ago was suddenly missing from Adrian’s hand.
He looked down.
His fingers were empty.
Then, from somewhere in the darkened hallway, a man’s voice whispered:
“Adrian Cross?””
He turned.
May you like
The lights went out.
And Mia screamed.
