The limousine sped through the silent midnight streets.
Inside, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.
Elena still held the DNA report in her trembling hands.
Her eyes moved across the page again and again, as if afraid the words might suddenly change.
But they didn’t.
Result: No biological relationship detected.
She exhaled shakily.
For the past hour, she had lived inside a nightmare.
A nightmare where the man she loved had suddenly become her brother.
Now the truth was different.
But the fear hadn’t disappeared.
Because if Victor had forged the evidence…
Then the gala scandal had only been the beginning.
A Dangerous Game
Adrian sat across from her, his expression colder than Elena had ever seen before.
Not the calm coldness he showed to business rivals.
This was something darker.
Personal.
He was replaying every moment of the evening in his mind.
Victor revealing the files.
The staged screen.
The perfectly timed press coverage.
None of it was spontaneous.
Victor had orchestrated the entire humiliation.
“Elena,” Adrian said quietly.
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“We need to move carefully.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“You think Victor has more planned?”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at the city skyline passing outside the window.
His empire was out there.
Skyscrapers carrying his name.
Companies worth billions.
Thousands of employees.
Victor hadn’t attacked Adrian’s wealth.
He had attacked something much more fragile.
Reputation.
And reputation was the true currency of power.
“Yes,” Adrian finally said.
“This is only the first move.”
The Secret Victor Was Hiding
The limousine arrived at Hawthorne Estate.
The iron gates opened slowly.
Security guards stood everywhere tonight.
Adrian had already doubled protection.
When they entered the mansion, Elena noticed something unusual.
Marcus was waiting.
Adrian’s most trusted strategist.
His face looked grim.
“You saw the broadcast?” Adrian asked.
Marcus nodded.
“The entire world saw it.”
He handed Adrian a tablet.
News headlines filled the screen.
“Billionaire Marriage Scandal Explodes.”
“Adrian Hawthorne Accused of Marrying His Half-Sister.”
“Hawthorne Empire Facing Public Backlash.”
Elena felt her stomach twist.
Even if the accusation was false…
The damage had already begun.
Marcus continued quietly.
“The market will react in the morning.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“How bad?”
Marcus didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Potential stock drop.”
“How much?”
“Ten percent.”
Elena gasped softly.
Ten percent of Adrian’s company meant billions.
Victor had just launched a financial missile.
Elena’s Guilt
Elena lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Adrian looked at her immediately.
“For what?”
“For causing this.”
Her voice cracked.
“If I never entered your life—”
Adrian cut her off instantly.
“Stop.”
She looked up.
His gaze was sharp.
“This has nothing to do with you.”
Elena shook her head.
“But Victor targeted me.”
“Yes.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
“And that’s exactly why he made a mistake.”
Marcus crossed his arms.
“You think this was reckless?”
Adrian nodded slowly.
“Victor is many things.”
“Careless isn’t one of them.”
Elena frowned.
“Then why risk such an obvious lie?”
The room fell silent.
Because that was the real mystery.
Victor knew Adrian would investigate.
He knew the truth would eventually surface.
So why stage such a public scandal?
Marcus suddenly said something unexpected.
“What if the DNA lie wasn’t the real attack?”
Elena blinked.
“What do you mean?”
Marcus tapped the tablet screen.
“You’re looking at the wrong battlefield.”
The Real Target
Marcus pulled up another report.
This one wasn’t news.
It was financial data.
Adrian’s company stock chart.
And something terrifying appeared.
While the scandal headlines spread…
Someone had started quietly buying Hawthorne shares.
Massive purchases.
Through dozens of hidden accounts.
Elena stared at the numbers.
“Who would buy now?”
Marcus answered quietly.
“Someone who wants control.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
Victor.
Of course.
The scandal was only smoke.
The real goal was a hostile takeover.
Elena whispered:
“He’s trying to steal your empire.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Marcus pointed to another detail.
“The buyer used offshore accounts.”
“But I traced the transaction chain.”
He paused.
“The final ownership leads to a shell corporation.”
Adrian’s voice turned dangerously calm.
“Whose corporation?”
Marcus met his eyes.
“Victor Hawthorne.”
Elena Realizes the Truth
Everything clicked into place.
Victor didn’t care if people believed the DNA lie.
He only needed one thing.
Chaos.
If Adrian’s reputation collapsed…
Investors would panic.
Stocks would drop.
Victor could buy controlling shares cheaply.
By the time the truth came out—
It would be too late.
Elena whispered:
“He planned everything.”
Marcus nodded.
“For months.”
Adrian turned toward the window.
Moonlight reflected in his cold eyes.
Victor thought he had trapped him.
But Victor had forgotten one thing.
Adrian didn’t lose wars.
He ended them.
The Plan
Adrian turned back to Marcus.
“How much has he bought?”
Marcus checked the data.
“Eight percent so far.”
Elena frowned.
“That doesn’t sound like control.”
“It’s not,” Marcus said.
“But if the market crashes tomorrow…”
He paused.
“…he could reach twenty percent within days.”
Twenty percent meant influence.
Thirty percent meant power.
Forty percent meant domination.
Victor was racing against time.
Adrian spoke calmly.
“Then we stop the crash.”
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“How?”
Adrian looked toward Elena.
And for the first time since the scandal…
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“With the truth.”
Elena’s Role
Elena blinked.
“My role?”
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.”
Marcus suddenly understood.
“That might actually work.”
Elena looked between them.
“I don’t understand.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Victor used you as a weapon.”
“So now…”
His voice softened.
“…you become the shield.”
Elena felt nervous.
“What do you want me to do?”
Adrian handed her the DNA report.
“The real one.”
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
“You want me to show this?”
“Yes.”
Marcus added:
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Live broadcast.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“To the entire world?”
Adrian nodded.
“We expose Victor’s lie before the market opens.”
Silence filled the room.
It was risky.
Very risky.
If the public believed them…
Victor’s plan would collapse.
But if they didn’t…
The scandal would become even bigger.
Elena looked at Adrian.
“Do you trust me?”
Adrian answered without hesitation.
“With everything.”
The Unexpected Call
Suddenly Marcus’s phone rang.
He frowned when he saw the caller ID.
“Unknown number.”
Adrian gestured.
“Answer it.”
Marcus turned on speaker.
A familiar voice filled the room.
Victor Hawthorne.
“Good evening, Adrian.”
Elena felt chills.
Victor sounded amused.
“Did you enjoy the gala?”
Adrian’s tone remained calm.
“You exposed fake DNA.”
Victor chuckled.
“Oh?”
“Are you sure it’s fake?”
Adrian didn’t respond.
Victor continued smoothly.
“The world loves scandals.”
“Especially when they involve forbidden love.”
Elena clenched her fists.
Victor’s voice softened slightly.
“You have two choices now.”
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
“I’m listening.”
Victor spoke slowly.
“Divorce Elena tomorrow.”
Silence fell across the room.
Victor continued:
“Publicly admit the relationship was a mistake.”
“Apologize to the public.”
Elena’s heart pounded.
Victor added:
“If you don’t…”
His voice turned colder.
“…the next secret will be revealed.”
Adrian’s voice lowered.
“What secret?”
Victor laughed quietly.
“Oh, Adrian.”
“You still don’t know?”
The line went silent.
Then Victor said four chilling words.
“Ask Elena’s mother.”
The call disconnected.
The New Mystery
The room remained frozen.
Elena’s breathing became uneven.
“My mother?”
Adrian’s gaze sharpened.
“Yes.”
Marcus frowned.
“What could she possibly have to do with this?”
Elena suddenly remembered something.
A conversation from years ago.
Her mother had once warned her about the Hawthorne family.
She had said only one sentence.
A sentence Elena never understood.
Until now.
“Elena,” Adrian said quietly.
“What are you thinking?”
Her voice trembled.
“My mother always said…”
She hesitated.
“…that the Hawthorne family destroyed her life.”
Marcus frowned.
“That sounds like resentment.”
Elena shook her head slowly.
“No.”
Her eyes filled with fear.
“It sounded like a warning.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
Victor had mentioned Elena’s mother deliberately.
Which meant she knew something.
Something dangerous.
Something powerful enough to threaten Adrian’s empire.
Adrian spoke quietly.
“We need to see her.”
Elena whispered:
“She lives outside the city.”
Marcus checked the time.
“It’s almost three in the morning.”
Adrian grabbed his coat.
“Then we leave now.”
Elena stared at him.
“You think she knows the truth?”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“Yes.”
“And if Victor is afraid of that truth…”
He opened the mansion door.
“…then it’s exactly what we need.”
The Storm Approaches
Outside, thunder rolled across the dark sky.
Rain began falling over the Hawthorne estate.
Elena stepped into the car beside Adrian.
Her heart pounded with fear.
Tonight had already destroyed her world once.
Now they were heading toward a truth that might destroy it again.
Adrian started the engine.
Lightning flashed across the horizon.
And somewhere in the city…
Victor Hawthorne watched the storm with a satisfied smile.
Because the next revelation—
The one hidden by Elena’s mother—
Was far more dangerous than anyone realized.
To Be Continued…
Next chapter will reveal:
-
The shocking truth Elena’s mother has hidden for decades
-
Victor’s true reason for destroying Adrian’s reputation
-
And a secret that could bring down the entire Hawthorne empire.