Chapter 13: The Mother Behind the Secret
Damon read the final sentence again.
Your mother is still alive, and she knows the truth about all of this.
For several seconds, he forgot how to breathe.
His mother.
The woman he had buried in his memories years ago.
The woman everyone told him had died when he was a teenager.
Impossible.
A thousand questions hit him at once.
Sarah.
Noah.
Elisa.
His father.
And now his mother.
"What does this mean?""
His voice was barely controlled.
Patricia looked away.
"I thought your father told you.""
"Told me what?""
"That your mother disappeared by choice.""
Damon stared.
"My mother died.""
Patricia shook her head.
"No.""
The word was quiet.
But it shattered everything.
"Your father wanted you to believe she was gone.""
Damon felt anger rising.
"My entire life has been a lie.""
Patricia didn't argue.
"Yes.""
Elisa laughed from across the room.
A cold, bitter sound.
"You finally understand.""
Damon turned toward her.
"How long have you known?""
Elisa smiled.
"Longer than you.""
The answer made his stomach turn.
"You knew my mother was alive?""
"Of course.""
"Where is she?""
Elisa looked at the letter in his hand.
"Your father hid her because she knew too much.""
"About what?""
Elisa didn't answer.
Damon stepped forward.
"Where is she?""
The woman who had controlled his life for seven years finally looked uncertain.
That was the first time Damon saw fear in her eyes.
"I don't know.""
He studied her.
"You’re lying.""
"No.""
For the first time, Elisa sounded honest.
"Your father kept secrets from me too.""
Patricia moved closer.
"Richard Cross wasn't just protecting his empire.""
Damon looked at her.
"What was he protecting?""
Patricia swallowed.
"The truth about how the Cross family fortune was built.""
The letter contained an address.
A small town outside Atlanta.
Damon arrived there the next morning with Sarah, Lily, and Noah.
He had wanted to go alone.
Sarah refused.
"You spent seven years trying to carry everything yourself.""
She looked at him.
"Don't do it again.""
Damon didn't argue.
Because she was right.
They found the house at the end of a quiet road.
Old.
Simple.
Nothing like the Cross mansions Damon grew up around.
A woman opened the door.
And Damon forgot every word he knew.
She was older.
Her hair was gray.
Her face carried years of pain.
But he knew her.
Because some memories never disappear.
"Mom?""
The woman covered her mouth.
"Damon.""
The single word broke them both.
He stood frozen.
His mother reached for him.
And after years of believing she was gone...
He finally hugged her.
Inside the house, his mother, Evelyn Cross, told them everything.
"I found out your father had been hiding money.""
Damon listened carefully.
"Money?""
She nodded.
"Money from illegal deals. Deals he wanted to end.""
Sarah looked surprised.
"So he wasn't the person behind everything?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No.""
She looked at Damon.
"Your father made terrible choices. But near the end, he tried to fix them.""
Damon looked down.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he was afraid.""
"Of who?""
Evelyn’s expression changed.
"Your uncle.""
The room became silent.
"Alexander?""
She nodded.
"Your father had an older brother. Alexander was supposed to inherit everything.""
"But he didn't.""
"No.""
Evelyn sighed.
"Your grandfather chose Richard instead.""
Damon understood.
A family war.
A war that destroyed everyone around them.
"Alexander blamed your father for everything.""
Evelyn continued.
"He built alliances. He used Elisa. He created chaos.""
Sarah asked:
"Why involve the children?""
Evelyn looked at Noah and Lily.
"Because Alexander knew children were the one thing Damon would never abandon.""
Damon felt sick.
"He used them as leverage.""
"Yes.""
His mother reached into a drawer.
She removed a small box.
"Your father left this for you.""
Damon opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Another one.
This time addressed directly to him.
Damon,
I failed you as a father.
But I need you to know one thing.
I never wanted you to lose Sarah.
I never wanted you to lose your children.
Damon's vision blurred.
The next line broke him.
Elisa was never acting alone.
She had someone above her.
Someone who is still watching.
Then the final sentence appeared.
Find Alexander before he finds you.
The lights suddenly went out.
Everyone froze.
A sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Then another.
Damon looked toward the window.
Two men stood outside the house.
May you like
And one of them was holding a photograph.
A photograph of Lily and Noah.
