Chapter 7: The Heir Nobody Knew Existed
The word stared back at me from the folder.
SUCCESSOR.
I didn’t understand why everyone around me suddenly looked afraid.
Not surprised.
Not confused.
Afraid.
The doctor who had told me my sons were dead stood in the middle of the warehouse holding my entire life in his hands.
“Explain,” Matteo said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm that came before violence.
The doctor smiled.
“Still pretending you’re in control, Matteo?””
A guard stepped forward.
Matteo raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
I looked at him.
“Who is he?””
Nobody answered.
That scared me.
Because for the first time since I met Matteo Volkov, he looked like he didn’t have the answer.
The doctor opened the folder.
“My name is Adrian Cross.””
I froze.
Because I knew that name.
Not personally.
But from the hospital records.
Dr. Adrian Cross.
The neonatal specialist who handled my delivery.
The man who looked me in the eyes and told me my babies didn’t survive.
“You were there,” I whispered.
Adrian smiled.
“Yes.””
My grip tightened around my son.
“You lied to me.””
“I protected you.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
My voice shook.
“But somehow every person who protected me destroyed me.””
Adrian looked toward Matteo.
“That’s because nobody wanted you to remember.””
“Remember what?””
He lifted the folder.
“Who you are.””
My mother stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Adrian looked at her.
“You should have told her years ago.””
My mother’s face hardened.
“You promised me she would never be dragged into this.””
“And you believed me?””
The tension between them was immediate.
They knew each other.
They had worked together.
I looked between them.
“How many people have been lying to me?””
Nobody spoke.
Then my son made a tiny sound.
The world narrowed.
Not the mafia.
Not secrets.
Not revenge.
My baby.
I looked down at him.
Three months ago, I thought I would never feel his heartbeat against my chest.
Now I was holding him.
Alive.
Adrian watched me.
“That is why they chose you.””
I looked up.
“Why?””
“Because your bloodline is the only one capable of uniting both sides.””
I frowned.
“What sides?””
He looked at Matteo.
“The old empire.””
Matteo’s expression changed.
“My father’s empire.””
Adrian nodded.
“And hers.””
I looked at Matteo.
“You knew about my father?””
“No.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
His jaw tightened.
“I knew your father existed. I never knew he had a daughter.””
Adrian laughed.
“That was the secret that kept everyone alive.””
My mother moved closer.
“Adrian, stop.””
But he continued.
“Elena’s father created the foundation of the organization. Matteo’s father expanded it. When they died, everyone expected Matteo to inherit everything.””
He looked at me.
“But they were wrong.””
The folder shook slightly in his hand.
“The original documents named Elena as the rightful successor.””
Silence.
I stared.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“I’m a nurse from Boston.””
Adrian smiled sadly.
“No. You are the woman everyone has been searching for.””
A sudden noise came from outside.
A vehicle.
Then another.
Matteo immediately looked toward the entrance.
“How many?””
The guard checked his device.
“Too many.””
Daniel moved beside me.
“They tracked us.””
Matteo looked at Adrian.
“You brought them here.””
Adrian shook his head.
“No.””
Then he looked at me.
“They followed her.””
My stomach dropped.
“Me?””
He nodded.
“Your existence has been a secret for thirty years.””
A gunshot shattered the window.
Everyone dropped.
Matteo grabbed me and pulled me behind cover.
The baby cried.
My heart broke.
Not again.
Not another person I loved being taken away.
Matteo looked at me.
“Stay with me.””
I stared at him.
“You’re my brother.””
His expression softened for half a second.
“I know.””
The words felt impossible.
A man I met hours ago.
A stranger.
Family.
Daniel handed me something.
A small necklace.
I recognized it immediately.
My childhood necklace.
“How do you have this?””
Daniel looked away.
“Your father gave it to me.””
I stared.
“You knew him?””
“Yes.””
Before I could ask more, the warehouse doors exploded open.
Men rushed inside.
Matteo’s guards returned fire.
Adrian disappeared into the chaos.
My mother grabbed my arm.
“We need to leave.””
I pulled away.
“No.””
She looked shocked.
“I’m not running anymore.””
I looked at my son.
Then at Matteo.
Then at the people who had controlled my life.
“For years, everyone decided what was best for me.””
My voice became stronger.
“Not anymore.””
The fighting grew louder.
And then one of the attackers shouted:
“Find Elena Volkov!””
Every weapon stopped.
Because everyone heard it.
My real name.
May you like
And for the first time…
I wasn’t afraid of it.
