Chapter 13: The Man Behind the Secret

I didn't sleep after Reed's confession.

The baby wasn't his.

The thought kept circling through my mind.

If Reed had known the truth for three weeks, why had he stayed silent?

And why was he afraid of the child's biological father?

The next morning, Daniel arrived with another file.

“We traced the laboratory reference code.”

I looked up.

“And?”

He placed a photograph on my desk.

“The DNA sample was submitted under the name Adrian Cole.”

I stared at the photograph.

I knew that face.

Adrian Cole was a former Ferraro executive.

He had disappeared from Manhattan several years ago.

My father had mentioned him once.

At the time, I had thought nothing of it.

Now I remembered his words.

“Some people become dangerous when they have something to lose.”

I looked at Daniel.

“Where is Adrian now?”

“London.”

I stood.

“Book the flight.”

That afternoon, I flew to London.

Adrian agreed to meet me in a quiet private club.

When he saw me, he immediately recognized my name.

“You're Fernanda Alvarez.”

I nodded.

“My parents knew you.”

His expression changed.

“They did.”

“And they knew about Pilar's child.”

Adrian looked away.

“They knew too much.”

I sat across from him.

“Was the child yours?”

He was silent for several seconds.

Then he nodded.

“Yes.”

My heart sank.

“Why did Pilar tell everyone it was Reed's?”

Adrian gave a bitter laugh.

“Because Reed was useful.”

“Useful?”

“He had money. Power. Influence.”

“And Pilar knew exactly how to manipulate him.”

I stared at him.

“Did you love her?”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“I thought I did.”

“Until I discovered what she was capable of.”

He leaned forward.

“Pilar didn't become involved with Reed by accident.”

My stomach tightened.

“What do you mean?”

“She approached him because she wanted access to Ferraro Holdings.”

“The relationship came later.”

I thought about everything Pilar had done.

The lies.

The pregnancy.

The money.

The secrets.

It had all been calculated.

“What did my parents discover?” I asked.

Adrian looked at me carefully.

“They discovered that Pilar and Reed were planning to take control of several family-owned properties.”

“Including yours.”

I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Why mine?”

“Because your father had placed those properties into a trust for you.”

“After his death, you would inherit them.”

I finally understood why Reed had been so determined to control my life.

My parents' estate.

My career.

My marriage.

Everything had been connected.

Adrian continued.

“Your father refused to sign the transfer documents.”

“That's why he became a problem.”

I stared at him.

“Are you saying Reed wanted my inheritance?”

Adrian shook his head.

“Reed wanted control.”

“Pilar wanted money.”

“And together, they thought they could take both.”

My hands trembled.

Then Adrian said something that changed everything.

“But there's one thing you don't know.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

“Your father didn't trust Reed.”

“He trusted me.”

Adrian reached into his coat and removed a small envelope.

My name was written across the front.

I recognized the handwriting immediately.

My father's.

“Where did you get this?” I whispered.

“He gave it to me the night before the accident.”

I opened the envelope.

Inside was a single key.

And beneath it, a note.

“Fernanda, the truth is hidden where our family began.”

“When you are ready, use this key.”

I stared at the words.

My parents had left me one final secret.

A secret Reed and Pilar had failed to find.

And now I knew exactly where I needed to go.