Chapter 8 — The Baby in the Photograph

Lena stared at the photograph.

A newborn baby.

Tiny fingers. Closed eyes. A white hospital blanket wrapped around her.

And on the back, six words that had just shattered everything she thought she knew.

This is not Adrian's daughter.

“What does this mean?” Lena whispered.

Nobody answered.

Adrian stood completely still.

Victor watched him carefully.

“Tell her,” Victor said.

Adrian's eyes remained on the photograph.

“I don't know.”

Lena looked at him.

“You don't know?”

“No.”

“But you said my mother was pregnant with your child.”

“I believed she was.”

“Then why would she write this?”

Adrian didn't answer.

Lena's hands trembled.

“Was she lying to you?”

Victor stepped closer.

“She wasn't.”

Lena looked at him.

“Then who is the baby's father?”

Victor's eyes moved toward Adrian.

“That's the question you should be asking.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“Enough games.”

Victor shook his head.

“Twenty years ago, you were told that your mother disappeared because she betrayed you.”

He pointed at the photograph.

“But the truth was much worse.”

Adrian clenched his fists.

“What happened that night?”

Victor took a breath.

“Your father found out your mother was pregnant.”

“We know that.”

“No. You don't.”

Victor looked at Lena.

“He didn't know the baby was yours.”

Lena's heart pounded.

“Then whose baby was it?”

Victor remained silent.

“Tell me!”

Victor's eyes softened.

“Your mother's.”

Lena frowned.

“What?”

“The baby wasn't yours to begin with.”

Adrian stared at him.

Victor continued.

“Your mother had already given birth once before she met Adrian.”

Lena's face went pale.

“That's impossible.”

“She gave birth to a daughter.”

Lena looked down at the photograph again.

The baby.

Her.

Or someone else?

Victor nodded toward the picture.

“This is the child.”

Lena's breathing became uneven.

“If that's not me…”

She looked at Adrian.

“Then who am I?”

Adrian's face showed the same confusion she felt.

Victor didn't answer.

Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out another envelope.

“This one contains the records.”

He handed it to Lena.

She hesitated before taking it.

“What records?”

“Your birth records.”

Lena opened the envelope.

Her eyes moved over the first page.

Her name.

Her date of birth.

Her mother's name.

Then she saw the father's name.

Her fingers went numb.

Father: Unknown.

Lena looked up.

“My father…”

Victor nodded.

“Daniel Carter was never your biological father.”

The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet.

“But he raised me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To protect you.”

“From who?”

Victor looked at Adrian.

“From the Blackwoods.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“My family?”

Victor nodded.

“Your father wanted the child gone. Daniel took Lena and disappeared with her.”

Lena could barely breathe.

“So my mother gave me to Daniel?”

“She trusted him.”

“Then where was she?”

Victor looked away.

“She stayed behind.”

Lena's eyes filled with tears.

“Why?”

“Because someone had to make your disappearance believable.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Where is she now?”

Victor's expression became serious.

“She has been running from the same people for twenty years.”

Lena wiped her tears.

“She's alive?”

“Yes.”

Her heart jumped.

“Where?”

Victor hesitated.

Before he could answer, headlights appeared outside the warehouse.

Several black vehicles stopped near the entrance.

Victor's face changed.

“They found us.”

Adrian immediately grabbed Lena's hand.

“Move.”

“What about Victor?”

“Forget him.”

“No!”

Victor shouted after them.

“Go!”

Adrian pulled Lena toward the side exit.

They ran through the narrow corridor.

Behind them, doors slammed open.

Men shouted.

Lena looked back.

“Who are they?”

“I don't know.”

“You're lying.”

Adrian stopped.

“I swear to you, Lena, I don't know.”

A gunshot rang out.

Adrian pulled her against the wall.

“Stay here.”

“No.”

“Lena.”

“I am not letting you go alone again.”

He looked at her.

For a second, his anger disappeared.

“Fine. Stay close.”

They continued running.

They reached a small storage room.

Adrian locked the door behind them.

Lena was breathing hard.

“Are we trapped?”

“For now.”

She looked at him.

Blood was still spreading across his shirt.

“You need a doctor.”

“I'll survive.”

“You always say that.”

“Because it's usually true.”

Lena gave him a frustrated look.

Then she noticed something.

The key in her pocket.

B-17.

She pulled it out.

Adrian stared at it.

“Where did you get that?”

“Your box.”

His expression changed.

“That key belongs to a safe.”

“Where?”

Adrian didn't answer.

Lena stepped closer.

“Adrian.”

He looked at her.

“Blackwood Manor.”

Her heart skipped.

“What is inside?”

He stared at the key.

“Everything my father didn't want me to find.”

Before Lena could respond, Adrian's phone vibrated.

A message appeared.

Unknown Number: If you want your mother alive, open Safe B-17.

Lena stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

And Adrian must never know what is inside.

She slowly looked at Adrian.

He was already looking at her.

Neither of them spoke.

Because they both knew the same thing.

Someone was still controlling the game.

And now—

they wanted Lena to betray Adrian.