Chapter 10: The Man Behind the Stolen Crib
I stared at the photograph until my eyes burned.
The little boy on the screen was my son.
My baby.
The child I had mourned.
The child I thought had only existed in memories and dreams.
But he was alive.
And another man had been the one holding him when he cried.
Another man had watched him learn to smile.
Another man had heard his first laugh.
The thought shattered something inside me.
“Take me to him.””
Nobody moved.
Matteo looked at me.
“Elena.””
“No.””
My voice was stronger than I expected.
“I don’t care who he is. I don’t care what he has done.””
I pointed at the photograph.
“That is my son.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“He’s dangerous.””
I looked at him.
“So am I now.””
The words surprised everyone.
Including myself.
Matteo studied me for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
“Okay.””
My mother looked at him.
“Matteo, you know what this means.””
“Yes.””
“You’re walking into a trap.””
Matteo looked at me.
“I know.””
I held my son closer.
“We’re going.””
The journey to the estate felt endless.
Nobody spoke.
The silence was filled with everything we didn’t know.
Who had taken my son?
Why had Matteo’s enemy raised him?
Why had he kept him alive?
As the car moved through the countryside, Daniel finally spoke.
“There’s something you need to know.””
I looked out the window.
“What?””
“The man we’re meeting…”
He paused.
“His name is Viktor Hale.””
Matteo’s expression darkened.
“He was my father’s closest advisor.””
I turned.
“Your father trusted him?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Matteo looked away.
“He betrayed him.””
The car became silent.
Daniel continued.
“Viktor believed the empire should have belonged to him.””
“And my son?””
Daniel swallowed.
“He believed your son could be used to control the future.””
I felt sick.
“He’s not a weapon.””
“No,” Matteo said quietly.
“He isn’t.””
For some reason, hearing that from him mattered.
The gates appeared ahead.
Massive iron doors.
Security cameras.
Armed guards.
A fortress.
But inside that fortress was my baby.
The doors opened.
We entered.
The house was beautiful.
Cold.
Expensive.
Empty.
The kind of place where nobody laughed.
Then I heard it.
A child’s voice.
A tiny laugh.
My heart stopped.
I ran.
“Elena!”” Matteo shouted.
But I couldn’t stop.
I followed the sound.
A room at the end of the hallway.
The door was open.
And there he was.
A little boy sitting on the floor.
Playing with wooden blocks.
My breath disappeared.
He looked up.
Our eyes met.
And something inside me broke.
Because he looked confused.
Not afraid.
Just confused.
Like he knew something was missing.
I dropped to my knees.
“Baby…”
The boy stared.
A woman nearby immediately stepped back.
“Who are you?””
I couldn’t answer.
I couldn’t breathe.
The little boy tilted his head.
Then slowly reached toward me.
A sound escaped my lips.
My son.
I moved forward.
But before I could touch him, a voice stopped me.
“She’s not supposed to be here.””
I froze.
A man stood at the doorway.
Older.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
Viktor Hale.
He looked at me.
Then smiled.
“So the missing daughter finally returned.””
Matteo entered behind me.
His weapon was raised.
“Stay away from her.””
Viktor laughed.
“You always were emotional when it came to family.””
I stood.
“You stole my son.””
Viktor looked at the boy.
“No.””
He spoke calmly.
“I saved him.””
My anger burned.
“You kidnapped a newborn.””
“I protected him from a war.””
“He was my child.””
Viktor’s expression changed slightly.
“And you were too weak to protect him.””
The words hit hard.
Matteo stepped forward.
“That’s enough.””
Viktor looked at him.
“You think you can judge me?””
“Yes.””
Matteo’s voice became colder.
“Because I never stole children from their mothers.””
Silence.
Viktor smiled.
“Interesting.””
He looked at me.
“Did he tell you everything?””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
Viktor walked closer.
“Did Matteo tell you why your son was really taken?””
I looked at Matteo.
His face changed.
A warning.
“Elena, don’t listen to him.””
But Viktor continued.
“Your son wasn’t taken because of me.””
My heart pounded.
“Then why?””
Viktor smiled.
“Because Matteo ordered it.””
The room went silent.
I turned slowly.
And looked at the man who had saved my daughter.
The man who had protected me.
My brother.
“Matteo?””
May you like
He didn’t answer.
And that was the first time I was truly afraid of him.
