CHAPTER 9 THE ECHO NOBODY EXPECTED

The morning after the attack, the penthouse was silent except for the faint beeping of medical machines and the low hum of police radios downstairs. Elara sat up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, one hand over her stomach, the other gripping Lucian’s sleeve.

Lucian hadn’t let go of her since dawn.

Marek rested in a separate room, stabilized but exhausted.

Elara exhaled shakily.

“Lucian… what happens now?”

Lucian rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Now? I will keep you safe. And Marek. And the baby.”

She looked at him, eyes soft and uncertain.

“You still look shocked.”

“I am.” Lucian’s voice dropped. “Elara… the idea that the child is mine is…”

“It is. And I feel it inside me everytime,” she whispered.

Silence swelled between them, heavy but warm.

Lucian finally spoke.

“I would never… ever hurt either of you.”

Elara blinked. “I know.”

A moment passed.

Then the elevator dinged.

Lucian stood instantly. “No one else is supposed to be here.”

Elara tightened her blanket. “Is it the police?”

“I didn’t request anyone.” Lucian moved toward the elevator, tense. “Stay behind me.”

The doors slid open.

A tall woman stepped out.

Dark coat. Calm expression. Eyes sharp enough to cut glass.

Lucian’s face was drained of color.

Elara whispered, “Lucian? Who is she?”

He didn’t answer.

The woman stepped forward.

“Hello, Lucian.”

His jaw locked. “You’re supposed to be dead.”

Elara’s breath caught. “Dead..?”

The woman lifted a brow.

“Surprised? After all, you buried me.”

Elara’s eyes widened in confusion.

“Lucian… what is she talking about?”

Lucian stepped between them. “You shouldn’t be here, Selene.”

Selene smirked.

“You still say my name like it burns.”

Elara stood cautiously. “Lucian… who is Selene?”

Selene’s gaze slid to Elara’s pregnant belly.

“Oh,” she whispered, amused. “So this is why you never came looking for me.”

Elara stepped back. “Looking for you?”

Lucian clenched his fists.

“Selene, don’t start.”

She stalked forward, ignoring him entirely.

“You didn’t tell her, did you?”

“Tell me what?” Elara asked softly.

Lucian’s voice darkened. “Selene…stop.”

Selene crossed her arms.

“Elara, sweetheart… I’m Lucian’s wife.”

The room went silent.

Completely silent.

Elara’s breath left her body.

“His… what?”

Lucian stepped forward instantly. “It’s not what it sounds like…”

Selene cut in.

“He married me seven years ago. It was all Hale family arrangement. Political alliance. And then he disappeared. No body. No goodbye. No explanation.”

Elara stared at Lucian.

“You told me you left the Hale family on your own.”

“I did,” Lucian muttered, voice strained. “But the marriage wasn’t exactly what it seems”

“Real?” Selene scoffed. “Legal says otherwise.”

Elara’s throat tightened.

“You’re… married?”

Lucian shook his head. “It’s complicated.”

Selene smirked. “Oh, is it? Because it feels simple to me.”

Elara stepped back again.

“Lucian… why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought she was dead,” he snapped. “I watched the car explode.”

Selene’s eyes glinted.

“And you never questioned how convenient that explosion was?”

Lucian fell silent.

Elara whispered, “Why come now?”

Selene glanced around the damaged penthouse.

“Because Damien isn’t the only one who wants Elara.”

Elara felt her stomach tighten protectively.

“Why me?”

Selene took a step closer.

“Because you’re pregnant with something that could destroy the Hale family. And once they learn the truth? They will come. Every single one of them.”

Lucian stiffened. “How much do they know?”

Selene crossed her arms.

“Enough to start hunting.”

Lucian cursed under his breath.

“Elara needs to leave the city.”

Selene tilted her head.

“Funny. That’s exactly why I came. To take her myself.”

Elara froze.

“What?”

Lucian lunged forward. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”

“Oh, but I am,” Selene said calmly. “Because the Hales think she’s carrying Damien’s heir. And if I don’t return with her… they’ll send an entire faction to drag her out.”

Elara shook her head, voice cracking.

“No. No, I’m not going with you.”

Selene shrugged.

“You won’t have a choice.”

Lucian growled, “Over my dead body.”

Selene’s eyes flickered with something sharp.

“If you get in the way, Lucian… the Hales will make sure that happens.”

Elara clutched her stomach.

“You both need to stop. Please…just tell me the truth.”

Selene looked at her. “Fine. Truth?”

She lifted her chin.

“The Hales want the child.”

Lucian tensed. “And I won’t let them near her.”

Selene leaned in close to Elara.

“Then you should know one more thing.”

Elara swallowed. “What?”

Selene whispered:

“Lucian isn’t the only father they’re hunting.”

Lucian froze.

Elara whispered, trembling, “What does that mean?”

Selene straightened.

“It means… the Hales think the baby is Damien’s. But someone else in the family claimed it might be theirs.”

Elara’s heart stopped. “What? who?”

Selene’s gaze darkened.

“Damien’s older brother.”

Lucian’s eyes flashed with shock.

“Elara… stay away from her.”

Elara stepped back, dizzy.

“This can’t be happening.”

Selene smiled thinly.

“Oh, darling. This is only the beginning.”

The tension inside the penthouse thickened until Elara felt she could barely breathe.

Lucian stood like a barrier between her and Selene, his voice low and dangerous.

“You’re not taking her anywhere.”

Selene gave a humorless laugh.

“You still think you can stop a family like the Hales by yourself?”

Lucian didn’t flinch. “Watch me.”

Elara gripped his sleeve from behind.

“Lucian… please. Somebody needs to explain what’s happening.”

Selene’s eyes softened, only for a second.

“Elara, you’re in danger because of something you didn’t choose. And because you’re pregnant, everything is moving faster.”

Elara swallowed hard.

“You said Damien’s older brother claimed”

“Yes,” Selene cut in. “Adrian Hale. 

The real heir. Damien was always second choice.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched at Adrian’s name.

Elara exhaled shakily. “Why would Adrian claim the baby is…”

“He didn’t say it was,” Selene answered. “He said he wanted it to be.”

Elara froze.

Lucian’s voice snapped.

“Selene. Enough.”

Selene crossed her arms. “Then tell her yourself.”

Lucian breathed out slowly, turning to Elara.

“Adrian is worse than Damien. If he gets involved.”

“He already is,” Selene said. “You think I came here by accident?”

Elara stepped closer to Lucian.

“There’s something else. I can feel it. Just tell me the truth.”

Lucian opened his mouth…

But a sudden vibration rattled on the kitchen counter.

Selene’s phone.

She checked the screen.

A single message:

“She’s in the building.”

— A.H.

Elara’s heart stopped.

“Is that…?”

“Yes,” Selene whispered. “Adrian.”

Lucian tensed. “He’s here?”

Selene dropped the phone onto the counter as if it burned.

“He must’ve tracked my movements. He always did know how to follow me.”

Elara looked between them, terrified.

“What do we do?”

Lucian didn’t hesitate.

“We leave. Now.”

Selene snorted. “You won’t get far.”

“We don’t need far,” Lucian said. “Just a head start.”

Selene stepped toward him.

“They want her alive. But they’ll remove you the second you get in the way.”

Lucian didn’t blink.

“Then I won’t get in the way. I’ll be in front of it.”

Elara reached for his hand.

“Lucian… what if he gets inside?”

Lucian pulled her close.

“He won’t. I’ll get you out before he tries.”

A loud thump echoed from the hallway.

They all froze.

Selene whispered, “That wasn’t the elevator.”

Lucian’s eyes sharpened.

“No. That was a door.”

Elara’s voice trembled.

“Lucian… he’s already here.”

Lucian positioned himself in front of her.

“Selene, help Marek get up.”

Selene hesitated.

“He’s injured.”

“Then drag him if you have to.”

Marek’s voice drifted weakly from the bedroom.

“I can… walk. Just slow.”

Elara turned as Marek limped out, bandages around his arm.

“Marek, are you okay?”

He nodded. “I’m breathing. That’s enough.”

Another thump vibrated through the penthouse walls.

Lucian cursed under his breath.

“He’s checking rooms.”

Selene whispered, “We don’t have long.”

Elara grabbed Lucian’s sleeve.

“Lucian… look at me.”

He turned.

Her eyes glistened with fear.

“If something happens to you…”

“It won’t,” he whispered back. “I’m not leaving you again.”

Marek suddenly froze mid-step.

“Wait.”

“What?” Lucian asked.

Marek pointed at the security camera feed.

“Someone else is outside the penthouse door.”

Elara’s breath hitched. “Adrian?”

Marek squinted.

“No… it’s a woman.”

Selene narrowed her eyes.

“A woman? The Hales don’t use women in extraction teams.”

Lucian frowned.

“Zoom in.”

The camera grainily focused on the figure.

Black jacket.

Hood up.

Head down.

Elara whispered, “Do you recognize her?”

Lucian didn’t react for a long moment.

Then he stepped closer, staring hard.

“No. But she’s not with the Hales.”

Selene shook her head.

“Then who is she?”

Lucian murmured, almost to himself:

“I know that stance. I’ve seen it before…”

The woman lifted her head.

Elara gasped.

Marek leaned forward.

“No way…”

Selene’s jaw dropped.

Lucian took a step back as if struck.

His voice came out barely above a whisper.

“…Mother?”

Elara’s eyes flew open.

“Your mother? But you said she died when you were a child.”

Selene whispered, stunned, “She did. I…Lucian, I was at the funeral. We all were.”

Lucian stared at the screen, frozen.

“That’s… that’s her. I’d know her face anywhere.”

Selene stepped closer.

“If that’s really her, then everything the Hale family told us was a lie.”

Elara’s heart hammered.

“What does that mean?”

Lucian swallowed hard.

“It means someone faked her death.”

Selene stared hard at him.

“And if the Hales lied about your mother… then they lied about everything else too.”

The woman outside reached slowly into her pocket

Elara covered her mouth.

“What is she doing?”

Marek whispered, “Sending a message.”

Lucian’s phone buzzed on the counter.

He hesitated. Picked it up.

The message read:

“Lucian.

I’m here for Elara.

Open the door.”

Elara’s breath left her bod

y.

“Why… why would your mother want me?”

Lucian whispered, pale:

“She never worked for the Hales.”

He looked at the door.

“She controlled them.”

Selene stiffened.

“Lucian, are you saying…”

He nodded slowly.

“My mother was the real leader.

Not Damien’s father.

Not Adrian.

Not anyone else.”

Elara felt the ground tilt beneath her.

Lucian exhaled, voice shaking:

“Elara… the most dangerous Hale of all…

is my mother.”