CHAPTER 7 — THE SECRET UNDER THE BABY’S SKIN
My heart stopped.
I looked down at the baby in my arms.
He stared back at me with wide, innocent eyes.
I wanted to believe Adrian.
I wanted to believe this tiny boy was mine.
But fear had already poisoned every certainty I had.
Adrian stood at the end of the corridor, holding the photograph.
Daniel stepped in front of me.
“You're lying.”
Adrian smiled.
“You always were slow.”
Daniel raised his weapon.
“Say it again.”
“Daniel.”
My voice stopped him.
I stepped forward.
“If he's lying, prove it.”
Adrian's smile widened.
“That is exactly what Victoria was afraid you'd ask.”
He walked closer.
Alejandro immediately raised his gun.
“Stop.”
Adrian did.
He looked at me.
“The baby in your arms is your son.”
My breath caught.
“But…”
He glanced at Daniel.
“Your husband already knew.”
I turned toward Daniel.
His expression was devastated.
“Daniel?”
He looked down.
“I suspected.”
“You suspected?”
“I wasn't certain.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because if I was wrong—”
“You let me believe my own child might be someone else's.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
I shook my head.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
My voice cracked.
“Everyone says they're protecting me while they destroy my life.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Adrian laughed.
“That is the Castillo family specialty.”
Alejandro stepped forward.
“What does Victoria want?”
Adrian looked at him.
“Control.”
“Of what?”
“The company.”
Alejandro frowned.
“That's all?”
“No.”
Adrian's expression became colder.
“The inheritance isn't just money.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Then what is it?”
“Ownership.”
“Of Castillo Holdings?”
“Of everything.”
Adrian lifted the photograph.
“Your father didn't leave the family a fortune.”
He paused.
“He left them a secret.”
I stared at him.
“What secret?”
Adrian looked directly at me.
“The Castillo bloodline owns the controlling interest in six companies through a private trust.”
Alejandro's face changed.
“Six?”
“Six.”
Daniel asked:
“Where is the trust?”
Adrian smiled.
“That's what Victoria has been searching for.”
“And she needs the baby?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the trust cannot be activated without the biological heir.”
My stomach tightened.
“So she needs my son.”
“She needs his blood.”
I instinctively pulled him closer.
Adrian continued.
“Your son is the only person alive who can unlock the trust.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“And if he dies?”
“The trust goes to the next eligible descendant.”
Alejandro looked at Adrian.
“You.”
Adrian nodded.
“Exactly.”
Silence.
I finally understood.
Victoria wasn't simply trying to make her family rich.
She was deciding who would control the entire dynasty.
My son stood between Adrian and everything.
Then I noticed something.
Adrian wasn't looking at the baby.
He was looking at me.
“Why did you tell me he's my son?”
His smile disappeared.
“Because I need you alive.”
“For what?”
“To open the trust.”
I frowned.
“I can't open anything.”
“You can.”
“How?”
“You are the child's mother.”
He stepped closer.
“Your genetic signature is part of the authentication.”
I stared at him.
“This is insane.”
“No.”
He looked at Daniel.
“This is what our father planned.”
Daniel shook his head.
“My father never told me.”
“Because he didn't trust you.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Why would he trust you?”
Adrian smiled.
“He didn't.”
That answer frightened me more than anything else.
Adrian turned toward the elevator.
“Go to the island.”
Alejandro frowned.
“You just told us not to.”
“I told you your son isn't there.”
“Then why go?”
“Because Victoria is.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“What does she have?”
Adrian stopped.
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That your marriage was never accidental.”
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
He looked at me.
“Ask Daniel.”
Daniel went completely still.
I turned toward my husband.
“Daniel?”
He said nothing.
“What's he talking about?”
“Emily…”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Your father knew mine.”
I froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“You knew this?”
“I found out after we married.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't want you involved.”
“Again?”
My voice rose.
“Everyone keeps making decisions about my life!”
Daniel looked at me helplessly.
“I loved you.”
“That isn't an excuse.”
“I know.”
I stepped back.
“Then what was the marriage?”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“The only real thing in my life.”
I wanted to believe him.
But I couldn't.
Not yet.
Adrian smiled.
“That's what Victoria wants you to believe.”
Daniel turned toward him.
“You've said enough.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Then let's see what she knows.”
He fired.
The bullet struck the wall.
Everyone ducked.
Adrian disappeared into the corridor.
Alejandro shouted:
“Go!”
We ran.
We reached the elevator.
The doors closed.
Nobody spoke.
I stood holding the baby.
Daniel stood opposite me.
Alejandro stared at the floor.
Finally, I asked:
“What did he mean?”
Daniel didn't answer.
“Daniel.”
He looked at me.
“My father and your father made a deal.”
“What deal?”
“Our marriage.”
My blood ran cold.
“What?”
“Before we ever met.”
I stared at him.
“You're saying our marriage was arranged?”
“No.”
“You just said—”
“The deal was about our families.”
“What kind of deal?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“My father wanted access to your family's land.”
“What land?”
“The Rivera estate.”
I laughed bitterly.
“My family lost that land before I was born.”
“Exactly.”
I stopped.
Daniel continued.
“Your father was bankrupt.”
“And yours?”
“Powerful.”
I shook my head.
“Why would my father agree?”
“Because he needed money.”
“And what did your father want?”
Daniel hesitated.
“You.”
My stomach dropped.
“Me?”
“Not you as a wife.”
“Then what?”
“Your bloodline.”
I stared at him.
“The Rivera family carries a genetic trait.”
“The half-moon mark?”
Daniel nodded.
“Your father had it.”
I touched my son's foot.
“So did my husband.”
“So do I.”
My eyes widened.
“You?”
Daniel showed me his ankle.
The same half-moon.
My breath caught.
“You never told me.”
“I didn't know what it meant.”
“Who did?”
“My father.”
I stared at him.
“And Victoria?”
“She knew.”
Alejandro suddenly spoke.
“My mother knew too.”
We all looked at him.
“She knew the mark meant something.”
Daniel nodded.
“That's why she was watching the baby.”
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
We stepped into the lobby.
Every security guard was gone.
The front doors were wide open.
A black SUV waited outside.
Alejandro frowned.
“That's mine.”
“Who has the keys?”
“No one.”
Daniel looked toward the building.
“We've been followed.”
Then a phone rang.
Alejandro answered.
Victoria's voice came through.
“You have ten minutes.”
Alejandro's face hardened.
“Where is my son?”
“He's with you.”
I looked down.
Victoria laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“Tell me where Emily's baby is.”
A pause.
Then:
“Ask her father.”
My heart stopped.
“My father is dead.”
Victoria's voice became softer.
“Are you sure?”
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
“My father…”
Daniel took my hand.
“Emily.”
“No.”
I pulled away.
“I need to know.”
Alejandro looked at us.
“We go to the island.”
Daniel nodded.
“Agreed.”
We climbed into the SUV.
The baby slept peacefully.
As we drove toward the harbor, I couldn't stop thinking about Victoria's words.
Ask her father.
My father had died when I was twelve.
I had attended his funeral.
I had seen his coffin.
Or so I believed.
Everything I had known about my family was suddenly questionable.
When we reached the harbor, a helicopter waited.
Alejandro climbed in.
Daniel followed.
I sat with the baby.
The helicopter lifted into the sky.
The coastline disappeared beneath us.
For the first time, I saw Castillo Island.
A massive estate sat on the cliffs.
Stone walls.
Private docks.
A lighthouse.
And a mansion surrounded by forest.
Alejandro pointed.
“There.”
Daniel looked at the island.
“That's where Father kept the archives.”
“Archives?”
“Everything.”
We landed near the lighthouse.
The doors opened.
Wind rushed around us.
Then I saw something.
A white blanket lying on the ground.
I walked toward it.
There was a tiny bloodstain.
And a hospital bracelet.
I picked it up.
My son's name was printed on it.
ELIAS RIVERA.
My hands shook.
“He was here.”
Daniel knelt beside me.
“Yes.”
Alejandro looked around.
“Then where is he?”
A cry came from the mansion.
A baby's cry.
I ran.
Daniel shouted:
“Emily, wait!”
I didn't stop.
I pushed open the front door.
Inside, the mansion was empty.
Except for one room.
A nursery.
I rushed inside.
A crib stood in the center.
Empty.
But beside it was a video monitor.
I pressed the button.
The screen flickered.
Victoria appeared.
She was holding a baby.
My baby.
She smiled into the camera.
“Hello, Emily.”
I froze.
Victoria lifted the infant.
“You wanted your son.”
She kissed his forehead.
“Come get him.”
Then the camera turned.
Another crib appeared.
Inside was another baby.
Alejandro whispered:
“My son.”
Victoria smiled.
“Two babies.”
She looked into the camera.
“One empire.”
Then she leaned closer.
“But only one of you gets to leave this island.”
The screen went black.
Daniel looked at me.
“She's setting a trap.”
“I don't care.”
I turned toward the stairs.
“I'm getting my son.”
A voice came from behind us.
“Which one?”
We turned.
Victoria stood in the doorway.
She wasn't holding a baby.
She was holding a gun.
And behind her stood Adrian.
Then another man stepped from the shadows.
My blood turned to ice.
I knew him.
I had seen him once before.
In the photograph.
At the hospital.
The man standing beside Victoria the night my son was born.
He removed his hat.
His face was older.
But unmistakable.
My father's face.
I couldn't breathe.
“Dad?”
He smiled.
“Hello, Emily.”
Daniel grabbed my arm.
Victoria smiled.
“Now…”
She raised the gun.
May you like
“…we can finally have the family reunion we've been waiting for.”
And I realized my father's death had been the first lie of all.
