Chapter 9: The Truth About My Birth

Elena couldn't sleep after Adrian's confession. The ashes of their revenge contract were still on the bedroom floor, black flakes on white marble. She stared at them until sunrise.

The fire that burned the paper didn't burn the questions in her mind. If the contract was gone, what were they now? Lovers? Husband and wife? Or two broken people who had no reason to stay together?

Morning came too fast. The other side of the bed was cold. Adrian was gone.

On his pillow, a handwritten note in his sharp, cold handwriting: "Emergency board meeting. Margaret sold 30% shares at 6am to James Lee. Don't leave house. My men are outside. Love you. A."

Love you. Two words he never wrote before.

Elena clutched the note to her chest and ran downstairs. The mansion was too quiet. The bodyguard who took the hospital call last night stood in the kitchen, his face still pale, holding two coffees he hadn't drunk.

"Mrs. Knight," he said quickly. "You shouldn't be down here."

"Where is Adrian? Is he okay?"

"He went to Knight Tower. Mr. Lee called an emergency shareholders meeting. If Margaret really sold her shares, Mr. Adrian could lose CEO position today." He hesitated. "And... hospital called again at 5am. Your mother woke up again. She said she must see you alone, before anyone else finds her. She sounded scared."

Elena's heart stopped. Her mother, Lisa Hart, had been in coma for three months after failed kidney surgery. She was the reason Elena signed the billionaire's contract in Chapter 1.

Now she was awake?

"Take me there. Now."

St. Mary's Hospital smelled like disinfectant and fear. Elena ran to room 302, pushing the door.

Lisa Hart sat up for the first time in months. Oxygen mask off. Eyes open. Thin, but alive.

"Mom? Mom!"

"Elena, my baby," Lisa cried, tears streaming. She grabbed Elena's hands with cold, shaking hands. "I heard everything. Margaret's men came here last night. They threatened the nurse. They want me to lie. But I must tell you truth before they silence me again."

"Mom, what truth? What lie?"

Lisa looked at the closed door, then whispered so low Elena had to bend close.

"Your father... Robert Hart is not your real father. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I hid it for 23 years."

Elena felt the floor disappear. "What?"

"Twenty-four years ago, I was a maid in Knight Mansion. For Richard Knight. Adrian's father. I was 19. Richard was lonely, his wife Margaret always traveling. One night... one mistake... I got pregnant. Richard paid me $50,000 to leave city, marry Robert, and never tell anyone. Robert knew, but he loved me. He raised you as his own."

Elena was shaking violently. "That means... that means Richard Knight is my biological father? Then Adrian... Adrian is my brother? Oh my God, Mom, we... last night we..."

"No!" Lisa shook her head fast, grabbing Elena's face. "Listen to me! Richard Knight adopted Adrian! Don't you remember story? Margaret's first husband, Thomas Knight, died in car crash when Adrian was 2 years old. Richard married Margaret and adopted Adrian. Adrian is NOT Richard's blood! You and Adrian share NO blood! Zero!"

Elena couldn't breathe. "Are you sure? You are 100% sure Adrian is adopted?"

"I cleaned Richard's safe for five years. I saw adoption papers. Adrian Knight is son of Thomas Knight and Margaret. Not Richard. Margaret doesn't know I know this. She thinks you and Adrian share blood, so she will use this secret to separate you both and destroy Adrian. She will tell board that CEO is sleeping with his own sister! But it's a lie! It's Margaret's biggest lie!"

Elena dropped to her knees. So they were NOT brother and sister. Margaret's plan would fail. But only if she could prove it.

She had to warn Adrian before the board meeting.

She stood up, wiping tears. "I have to go, Mom. Adrian is in danger right now at Knight Tower."

But outside the hospital window, across the street, a black Mercedes was parked. Vanessa, Margaret's niece, stood there with a long camera lens pointed directly at Room 302.

Click. Click. Click.

Vanessa smiled and sent the photo to Margaret with a text: "Got you, Elena Hart. Photo of you with your 'dying' mother who is suddenly healthy and conspiring. Perfect proof you married Adrian for money and faked your mother's illness. Let's see if billionaire still loves you when board sees this."

Elena's phone buzzed. Unknown number: "Leave hospital now if you want your mother to live."

Season 2 was just beginning.