Chapter 8 - THE CHILD JULIAN NEVER KNEW
Julian read the medical file three times.
Each reading made the plan more horrifying.
After Elena gave birth, the infant’s records would have been altered.
A false stillbirth certificate would have been issued under Elena’s assumed identity.
The living child would be transferred through a private clinic in Switzerland.
Weeks later, Camila would announce the birth of Julian’s heir.
The trust would recognize the child.
Sofia would control the trust through Camila until the boy reached adulthood.
Matteo would control the company.
Elena would be erased.
Julian would never know his son had survived.
“How far did they get?” Julian asked.
Marcus pointed toward several unsigned forms.
“They needed blood samples from you and Elena.”
“They obtained mine during my annual medical examination.”
Elena touched her stomach.
“They took blood from me at the clinic.”
Julian looked at Reeves.
“Shut the clinic down.”
“We are obtaining warrants.”
“Obtain them faster.”
Reeves did not react to the command.
“This conspiracy crosses multiple countries.”
“If we move without coordination, the people responsible will destroy records.”
“They already tried to abduct my wife.”
“I understand.”
“No.”
Julian’s voice hardened.
“You understand documents.”
“I understand what it feels like to nearly lose her.”
Elena stepped between them.
“Arguing will not protect the baby.”
Julian looked at her.
She appeared calm, but her hands were trembling.
Reeves left to coordinate with European authorities.
Marcus secured a federal safe house outside the city.
Elena agreed to go only after Clara confirmed the location was not connected to the Rossi family.
The property was a modest lakeside home surrounded by pine trees.
It had no chandeliers.
No marble.
No staff.
Julian found the simplicity painful.
Elena had once asked him to buy a small house near a lake.
Somewhere they could spend weekends without assistants or security teams.
Julian had promised they would discuss it after the next acquisition.
They never had.
Marcus remained outside with federal protection.
Clara worked from a nearby room.
For the first time since the hotel lobby, Julian and Elena were alone.
Elena stood near the kitchen counter.
“Do you know how to make tea?” she asked.
Julian looked at the kettle.
“I own restaurants.”
“That was not my question.”
“I can learn.”
She almost smiled.
The expression disappeared quickly, but Julian saw it.
He filled the kettle and placed it on the stove.
“You are supposed to switch it on,” Elena said.
Julian looked at the electric base.
“I knew that.”
“You did not.”
“No.”
He switched it on.
For several minutes, the only sound was heating water.
Julian leaned against the counter.
“What will you name him?”
Elena looked down.
“I had not decided.”
“You must have considered names.”
“I did.”
“Tell me.”
She hesitated.
“Luca.”
Julian repeated it softly.
“My grandfather’s name.”
“You told me he was the only Rossi who never lied to you.”
“That may have been an exaggeration.”
“He taught you to sail.”
“And to cheat at cards.”
Elena placed a hand over the place where the baby moved.
“Luca Julian Rossi.”
Julian looked at her.
“You included my name.”
“I chose it before I believed you abandoned us.”
He lowered his eyes.
“You may change it.”
“I may.”
The kettle clicked.
Julian poured the water.
His hand shook slightly.
Elena noticed.
“You are afraid.”
“Yes.”
“Of Matteo?”
“No.”
“Your mother?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“That you will survive all of this and still leave.”
Elena’s expression softened, but only slightly.
“You have spent your entire life believing survival entitles you to possession.”
“That is not what I meant.”
“I know.”
She accepted the tea.
“You cannot ask me to promise what happens after this.”
“I am not asking.”
“You are thinking it.”
“Yes.”
Elena sat at the small kitchen table.
Julian sat across from her.
“When did you stop loving me?” he asked.
Elena looked at the steam rising from her cup.
“I did not.”
The answer hurt more than rejection.
“Then why did you pretend not to know me?”
“Because Sloane was watching.”
“Only because of him?”
“No.”
She raised her eyes.
“Because I saw you with Camila.”
Julian said nothing.
“I knew you believed I had left,” Elena continued.
“But seeing her beside you made everything final.”
“It was not final.”
“It looked final.”
“I never loved her.”
“You still brought her to a luxury resort.”
Julian accepted the accusation.
“Yes.”
“Did you plan to marry her?”
“No.”
“Did she believe you might?”
“Probably.”
“You allowed that belief.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked away.
Julian did not defend himself.
He had spent four months using Camila’s company to avoid the silence of his mansion.
He had mistaken distraction for recovery.
Camila had mistaken his emptiness for opportunity.
“I am sorry,” he said.
“I know.”
“That does not mean you forgive me.”
“No.”
“I understand.”
Elena’s eyes returned to him.
“Do you?”
“I am beginning to.”
A vehicle approached outside.
Marcus entered immediately.
“It is Reeves.”
The federal investigator brought new evidence.
The Swiss clinic had already begun deleting records.
However, investigators recovered a scheduled transfer date.
Three weeks from then.
Elena’s expected delivery date.
“They planned everything,” Julian said.
Reeves nodded.
“There is one complication.”
“What?”
“The clinic’s legal documents were prepared by Rossi Group’s chief counsel.”
Julian knew the name before Reeves spoke.
“Adrian Bell.”
“Yes.”
Adrian had served the family for thirty years.
He had written Julian’s first employment contract.
He had stood beside Julian at his wedding.
He had also introduced Camila to him four months earlier.
“Where is he?” Julian asked.
“Missing.”
Marcus received a call from the safe house perimeter.
A vehicle had been found abandoned near the eastern road.
Inside was Adrian Bell.
Alive.
His hands were tied.
A message had been carved into the dashboard.
HE TALKED.
Federal medics brought Adrian inside.
He had been beaten but remained conscious.
Julian stood over him.
“Who did this?”
Adrian coughed.
“Matteo.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That I was going to confess.”
“Then confess now.”
Adrian looked toward Elena.
“I forged the separation documents.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“I intercepted the letters.”
“I prepared the false financial account.”
Elena remained silent.
Adrian began to cry.
“I told myself no one would be hurt.”
“You helped them plan to steal my child,” Elena said.
“I did not know that part until later.”
“But you continued.”
“Yes.”
Julian leaned closer.
“Who ordered Elena’s disappearance?”
Adrian looked toward the window as if expecting someone to appear.
“Your mother authorized it.”
“And Matteo?”
“He organized it.”
“Camila?”
“She provided the altered photographs.”
Julian’s voice became colder.
“Who ordered the false stillbirth?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“No one in your family.”
“Then who?”
“Victor Laurent.”
Camila’s father.
Adrian struggled to breathe.
“He does not want control of the Rossi Group.”
“What does he want?”
Adrian looked directly at Julian.
“He wants every person carrying the Rossi name to disappear.”
A gunshot shattered the window.
Adrian’s body jerked.
Marcus dragged Elena to the floor.
Julian dropped beside her.
Outside, federal agents returned fire toward the trees.
Adrian stared up at Julian.
Blood spread across his shirt.
May you like
With his final breath, he whispered two words.
“Camila knows.”
