Secrets Buried Alive

Bianca pulled the phone away from her ear to make sure the call hadn't dropped as victor remained quiet but the line was still connected.

"Mr. Ashford?"

Victor Ashford's voice finally came through, calm and unreadable. "Are you certain?"

Bianca glanced at the picture on her screen again and the little boy's gray eyes stared back at her. "I've never been more certain."

"You saw him yourself?"

"At St. Catherine Medical Center."

"And Serena?"

"She was with him."

Victor said nothing and Bianca frowned. "I thought you'd be pleased."

"Why would I be pleased?"

"Because you've finally found Adrian's biological heir."

The old man let out a slow breath. "You've made one mistake."

Bianca's eyebrows knitted together. "What mistake?"

"You assumed this conversation should continue."

Before she could respond, the call ended and she stared at her phone in disbelief, her irritation quickly turned into curiosity because his reaction wasn't what she expected.

A man as obsessed with the Ashford bloodline as Victor should have celebrated the news but then he sounded disturbed. "What are you hiding?" Bianca murmured.

She started the car herself instead of waiting for the driver but whatever secret Victor was protecting, she intended to uncover it.

Across the city, inside the Ashford estate, Victor slowly lowered his phone and the library was silent except for the ticking of an antique grandfather clock.

He remained seated for several moments, staring into the fireplace although no fire burned within it.

A knock interrupted his thoughts. "Come in."

A middle-aged man dressed in a dark suit entered. "Sir."

Victor didn't waste time. "I need you to find someone."

"Who?"

"Serena Hayes."

The man's expression remained neutral. "I've already received reports that she returned to the country yesterday."

Victor looked at him sharply. "And Adrian?"

"He knows she's back."

Victor's jaw tightened. "How much?"

"They met yesterday afternoon."

A heavy silence settled over the room then Victor rose from his chair and walked toward the large window overlooking the estate gardens. "Find Serena before Adrian does."

"What should we do once we locate her?"

Victor's eyes grew cold. "Watch her."

"Only watch?"

"For now."

The man nodded. "And the child?"

Victor closed his eyes briefly. "...Especially the child."

Without another question, the man left and Victor remained alone.

He reached into a locked drawer and pulled out an old photograph. It showed a much younger Adrian standing beside his parents.

Victor eyes lingered on the picture before he whispered, "I won't let history repeat itself."

The underground parking garage echoed with the sound of footsteps as Ethan unlocked the SUV while Serena looked over her shoulder for what felt like the hundredth time.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching. Noah climbed into the back seat and buckled himself in proudly. "I'm ready."

Ethan smiled. "Good job."

Once everyone was inside, he pulled out of the hospital and only after several minutes did he speak. "Do you think she knows?"

Serena stared through the windshield. "I don't know."

"She looked at Noah like she'd seen a ghost."

"I noticed."

"You've never told me exactly who she is."

Serena leaned her head against the seat. "Her name is Bianca Sterling."

"I know that much."

"Five years ago, she introduced herself as Adrian's fiancée."

"Were they engaged?"

"No."

"At least... I don't think they were."

Ethan glanced at her. "You think?"

"I never saw a ring."

"Then why did you believe her?"

Serena laughed bitterly. "Because she walked into my apartment with members of the Ashford family."

She swallowed hard. "They treated her like she already belonged."

Ethan's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "What exactly did they do?"

For a moment, Serena didn't answer because she hadn't spoken about that day in years. "They emptied our apartment."

"What?"

"They threw my clothes into the hallway."

Ethan looked at her in shock. "My entire property."

She closed her eyes. "Victor Ashford stood there and watched."

"And Adrian?"

"He never came."

The words hurt just as much now as they had then.."I waited all day."

She smiled sadly. "I actually believed he'd show up."

"But he didn't."

"No."

Back at the apartment, Noah ran straight to the living room. "I'm going to draw dinosaurs!"

"Okay," Serena called after him.

The front door closed behind Ethan.."You should tell Adrian."

She turned sharply.."What?"

"If Noah needs a donor then....."

"No."

"He deserves to know."

"He lost that right."

"You don't know that anymore."

"I do."

"No, Serena."

He faced her fully. "You heard him yesterday."

She looked away.."He sounded just as confused as you."

She didn't want to admit it because if Adrian had truly been telling the truth then someone else had destroyed their lives.."I can't risk it."

"You may not have a choice."

She remained silent but that evening, her phone rang and it was Dr. Brooks.

She answered immediately. "Doctor?"

"I've submitted Noah's information to the international donor registry."

"Thank you."

"It may take time."

"How much time?"

"I honestly can't say."

Serena closed her eyes. "We'll keep searching."

"There is something else."

Her heartbeat quickened. "What is it?"

"If we don't find a compatible donor soon..."

The doctor's hesitation was enough. "The disease will continue progressing."

After ending the call, Serena stood alone in the kitchen and she placed both hands on the counter as her shoulders trembled.

She had promised Noah everything would be alright but she wasn't sure she could keep that promise.

A pair of tiny arms suddenly wrapped around her waist and she looked down at her son as he rested his cheek against her side. "Mama?"

She quickly wiped away the tears on her face. "What are you doing awake?"

"I got thirsty."

He studied her carefully. "Are you crying?"

She forced a smile. "No."

"You always tell me lying is bad."

Her heart squeezed painfully as she knelt until they were eye level. "I just had something in my eye."

Noah reached up with both hands and gently touched her cheeks. "I don't like it when you're sad."

"I'm okay."

He shook his head. "When I'm scared..."

He held out his dinosaur. "...Mr. Rex makes me brave."

She laughed through her tears. "Oh?"

"You can borrow him."

She pulled him into a tight embrace. "I love you so much."

"I know."

"And I'll never leave you."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

The next morning, Adrian sat behind his desk at Ashford Holdings and a thick investigation file rested in front of him.

His assistant stood nearby. "We've confirmed Serena has never been married."

Adrian flipped through the pages. "No marriage license."

"No divorce or engagement."

He turned another page. "Ethan Carter?"

"Business partner and nothing more?"

"We found no evidence of a romantic relationship."

Adrian stared at the report, if Ethan wasn't the reason Serena disappeared then why had she left?

A knock sounded on the office door and before Adrian could answer, it opened.

Victor Ashford walked in and the atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

Adrian looked up slowly. "I wasn't expecting you."

Victor's eyes fell on the investigation file. "I know."

He walked to the desk and without asking permission, he closed the folder, his voice was calm. "Stop looking into Serena Hayes."

Adrian leaned back in his chair. "Why?"

"Because the past belongs where it is."

"I disagree."

Victor's expression hardened. "There are truths that destroy lives."

Adrian held his grandfather's gaze. "I've already lost five years."

Victor remained silent. "I'm not losing the rest because of unanswered questions."

Victor leaned forward, resting both hands on the desk. "If you continue digging..."

His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "...you'll discover that everything you believed about Serena was a lie."