Chapter 6 - The Letter in the Pink Dress
Adrien drove back to the estate.
He ignored every call from Daniel.
He didn't go alone.
Instead, he activated the estate's emergency security system and ordered every entrance sealed.
Daniel wanted him frightened.
Adrien refused.
He entered the mansion.
Elena was waiting in the hallway.
She was shaking.
"Where is Lily?"
"I don't know."
Adrien looked around.
"Tell me everything."
Elena began crying.
"I saw Daniel take her."
"Where?"
"Toward the old nursery."
Adrien's eyes narrowed.
"The nursery?"
"Yes."
Adrien ran upstairs.
The old nursery had been closed since his childhood.
He opened the door.
Nothing.
No Lily.
No Daniel.
Only an old wooden crib.
Adrien stepped inside.
He noticed something pink on the floor.
A ribbon.
Lily's ribbon.
He picked it up.
Then he saw a small envelope underneath.
His name was written on it.
Adrien opened it.
Inside was a note.
"Adrien, if Daniel has Lily, he will try to make you believe she was never part of this family."
Adrien read the next sentence.
"Do not believe him."
He turned the paper over.
Nothing.
Then he noticed a faint line written in pencil.
"Look beneath the crib."
Adrien moved the crib.
A loose floorboard was underneath.
He lifted it.
A hidden compartment appeared.
Inside was a bundle of letters.
One letter was addressed to Lily.
Adrien opened it.
"My little girl,
If you ever read this, I want you to know that I loved you every day."
Adrien stopped.
Sophia's handwriting.
He continued.
"You were never a mistake."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I had to hide you because Daniel discovered your existence."
Adrien's hands tightened.
"He believed you could destroy the family."
Another line.
"Your brother Adrien was the only person I trusted."
Adrien stared.
He had been a teenager.
His mother had trusted him.
Yet he had known nothing.
"I wanted to tell him."
"But your father was afraid Daniel would hurt him."
Adrien lowered the letter.
His father had not simply hidden Lily.
He had hidden the truth from Adrien to protect him.
But there was more.
Sophia wrote:
"If I disappear, take Lily to Adrien."
Adrien closed his eyes.
Elena entered.
"Mr. Moretti."
Adrien looked up.
"Why did you help Sophia?"
Elena sat down.
"Because she saved my life."
Adrien waited.
"Years ago, Daniel threatened my family."
Elena wiped her tears.
"He told me that if I ever spoke about Lily, my daughter would disappear."
Adrien stared.
"You have another daughter?"
Elena nodded.
"She is seventeen now."
"Where is she?"
"Safe."
Adrien looked at the letter.
"What does Daniel want?"
"Control."
"Control of what?"
"The Moretti family."
Adrien laughed bitterly.
"He's already old."
"He doesn't want money."
Adrien looked at her.
"What does he want?"
"Your name."
Silence.
Elena continued.
"Your father left everything under your control. Daniel knows he cannot take it while you are alive and independent."
Adrien looked down.
The twenty-million-dollar agreement suddenly seemed insignificant.
This wasn't about money.
It was about the entire family.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel.
Adrien answered.
"Where is Lily?"
Daniel laughed.
"You've become protective."
"If you touch her—"
"I won't."
Daniel's voice remained calm.
"Because she is family."
Adrien's heart stopped.
Daniel continued:
"You finally understand."
"Where are you?"
"The place where your mother spent her last night."
Adrien froze.
"Where?"
Daniel gave him an address.
Then the call ended.
Adrien looked at Elena.
"Get everyone out of the house."
"What about you?"
Adrien picked up the letter.
"I'm bringing Lily home."
He walked toward the door.
Before he could leave, he heard a child's voice behind him.
"Adrien."
He turned.
Lily stood in the hallway.
Alive.
Unharmed.
Adrien stared.
She smiled.
Then someone behind her placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
Adrien's heart stopped.
The woman stepped into the light.
Older.
Pale.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
May you like
Adrien whispered:
"Mom?"
