Chapter 14: The Last Enemy
Damon had faced angry investors.
Hostile competitors.
People who wanted his company destroyed.
None of them frightened him.
But seeing someone hold a photograph of his children changed everything.
He moved immediately.
"Everyone away from the windows.""
Sarah grabbed Lily and Noah.
Evelyn looked terrified.
"They found us.""
Damon looked at her.
"Who?""
His mother didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
A knock came at the door.
Slow.
Calm.
Confident.
The kind of knock from someone who believed they owned the world.
A voice followed.
"Damon.""
He froze.
Because he knew that voice.
Not from memory.
From the documents.
From the photograph.
From the name that had haunted his family for years.
"Alexander.""
His uncle laughed softly.
"Good.""
The door opened before anyone touched it.
Alexander Cross walked inside.
He looked older than Damon expected.
But his eyes were familiar.
The same cold confidence his father had.
"I wondered when you would discover the truth.""
Damon stepped forward.
"You destroyed my family.""
Alexander smiled.
"No.""
He looked around the room.
"Your family destroyed itself.""
Sarah held Noah and Lily closer.
Damon noticed.
Alexander noticed too.
"You see?""
His uncle pointed.
"That's your weakness.""
Damon's expression didn't change.
"My children are not weakness.""
"They are.""
Alexander walked closer.
"They are the reason I won.""
Damon felt rage.
"What do you want?""
Alexander smiled.
"What I always wanted.""
He looked around.
"The Cross name.""
"You had it.""
"No.""
Alexander’s expression darkened.
"Your father stole it from me.""
Damon shook his head.
"This was never about inheritance.""
"Everything is about inheritance.""
Alexander laughed.
"You were raised to believe love mattered.""
He looked at Sarah.
"Your father taught me differently.""
Damon stared.
"What did you do?""
Alexander looked amused.
"Ask your mother.""
Everyone turned.
Evelyn looked down.
Damon felt confused.
"Mom?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I knew Alexander before I married your father.""
Silence.
Damon stepped back.
"What?""
Evelyn whispered:
"He loved me.""
Alexander smiled.
"Richard took everything from me.""
Damon looked at his mother.
"Is that why?""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"I chose Richard.""
Alexander’s face changed.
"And I never forgave her.""
Damon finally understood.
This wasn't about business.
It was obsession that lasted decades.
Alexander blamed everyone for a choice he couldn't accept.
Then Damon noticed something.
Alexander wasn't looking at him.
He was looking at Noah.
"Why him?""
Damon asked.
Alexander smiled.
"Because he is the future.""
Damon’s eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?""
Alexander walked toward Noah.
"Your son has something you don't.""
"What?""
"A claim.""
Damon frowned.
Alexander laughed.
"The original Cross inheritance documents named the first male heir.""
The room went silent.
Damon understood.
"Noah.""
Alexander nodded.
"Your father changed the documents after you were born.""
Damon stared.
"So you took Noah to control the inheritance.""
"Exactly.""
Sarah stepped forward.
"You stole a child for money.""
Alexander looked at her.
"No.""
His voice became colder.
"I stole a child because everyone in this family stole from me first.""
Damon looked at him.
"You are sick.""
Alexander smiled.
"Maybe.""
Then he pulled out a folder.
"Inside are documents proving Damon Cross is not the rightful owner of the company.""
He placed it on the table.
"And once those documents become public, everything you built disappears.""
Damon looked at the folder.
Then at his children.
Then at Sarah.
Years ago, he would have chosen the company.
The empire.
The reputation.
But he was not that man anymore.
He pushed the folder away.
"Keep it.""
Alexander frowned.
"What?""
Damon looked at him.
"I don't care.""
For the first time, Alexander looked surprised.
"You would give up everything?""
Damon smiled.
"Everything?""
He looked at Lily and Noah.
"I already found everything.""
A sound came from outside.
Sirens.
Alexander turned.
"What did you do?""
Damon looked at him calmly.
"Something I should have done seven years ago.""
Alexander’s expression changed.
"You called the police?""
"No.""
Damon looked toward the door.
"I called someone who had been waiting for this moment.""
The door opened.
Michael walked inside.
Behind him were investigators.
And beside them...
Elisa Rochefort.
Handcuffed.
Alexander stared.
"What is this?""
Michael smiled.
"Your biggest mistake.""
Damon looked at Alexander.
"You thought everyone was afraid of you.""
He stepped closer.
"But you forgot something.""
"What?""
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Damon answered:
"Truth survives.""
