Chapter 12 - THE MOTHER WHO DISAPPEAREDAdrian couldn't move.
For twenty years, he had believed his mother was dead.
He had mourned her.
Hated the people he believed had killed her.
Built an empire from nothing.
And now she stood before him.
Alive.
He finally walked toward her.
Then stopped.
"Why?"
His mother cried.
"Because I had to protect Elena."
"From my uncle?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
His mother looked toward the photograph.
"She is closer than you think."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Victor."
His mother nodded.
"Victor Hale is Elena."
The truth struck him.
His sister had spent years disguised as a man.
Why?
Because she had been hiding.
From the people who wanted her dead.
Adrian looked at Valeria.
She had already understood.
"Victor was never trying to steal the archive."
Adrian looked at her.
"What?"
"He wanted to find the evidence that could prove your uncle's crimes."
His mother nodded.
"Elena has spent twenty years searching for proof."
"And she found it?"
"Some of it."
"Why didn't she come to me?"
His mother lowered her eyes.
"Because she believed you were working for the enemy."
Adrian froze.
"What?"
"Your uncle convinced her that you had joined him."
Adrian looked toward Rodrigo's father.
The older man began crying.
"I was forced."
Adrian turned.
"Forced to do what?"
"To tell Elena that you had chosen your uncle."
"Why?"
"Because he threatened my family."
Rodrigo stared at his father.
"You lied to a child?"
The old man had no defense.
Adrian closed his eyes.
Twenty years.
Twenty years of believing his family had abandoned him.
And all because of a lie.
Then his mother stepped closer.
"There is one more thing."
Adrian opened his eyes.
"What?"
She looked at Valeria.
"Your sister was not the only person your uncle tried to destroy."
Valeria frowned.
Her mother continued.
"Your family has been connected to hers for decades."
Valeria felt a chill.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian's mother looked at her.
"Your father knew my husband."
Valeria froze.
"How?"
The older woman whispered:
"Your father was the man who helped my husband hide the evidence."
Valeria's entire world shifted.
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Her family was connected to Adrian's.
And the secret had been buried for decades.
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