CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE BABY'S NAME
The gunshot had not killed anyone.
But it had changed everything.
When the emergency lights flickered back on, Julian was still holding Luca.
Elena stood beside him, one hand pressed protectively against her stomach.
Matteo was nowhere to be seen.
Camila had vanished.
And Adrian Voss—
was gone.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Luca whispered:
“Dad?”
Julian looked down.
“Yes?”
“Why was that man looking at Mom like he knew her?”
Julian glanced at Elena.
She looked terrified.
Not because Voss had escaped.
Because there was something else she hadn't told him.
Something written all over her face.
Julian gently placed Luca behind him.
“Elena.”
She didn't answer.
“What aren't you telling me?”
“I don't know how to explain it.”
“Try.”
Elena lowered her eyes.
“The baby has to be born before we can know.”
Julian frowned.
“Know what?”
She touched her stomach.
“Who the baby really is.”
Julian stared.
“What does that mean?”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“It means the baby's name was chosen long before you and I ever met.”
They escaped through an underground passage beneath the resort.
The corridor eventually led to a private residence hidden beneath the western wing.
It looked nothing like a hotel room.
It was a fortress.
Steel doors.
Reinforced windows.
Medical equipment.
Emergency generators.
And shelves filled with documents.
Julian carried Luca inside.
The boy was quiet.
Too quiet.
He watched everything with the careful eyes of a child who had spent years learning not to ask questions.
Julian hated that.
He wanted to give him back his childhood.
He wanted to erase every night the boy had spent hiding.
But first, there was Elena.
She sat on the edge of a bed.
A doctor examined her.
“The baby is fine.”
Julian finally breathed.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
The doctor looked at Elena.
“But she needs to rest.”
Julian caught the word.
“She?”
The doctor smiled.
“Yes.”
Julian looked at Elena.
“A girl?”
Elena nodded.
A strange warmth filled his chest.
A daughter.
His daughter.
He reached for Elena's hand.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because knowing the sex wasn't the dangerous part.”
“Then what is?”
Elena looked toward the locked door.
“The name.”
Matteo entered the room.
His face was grim.
Julian stood.
“You knew.”
Matteo didn't deny it.
“Yes.”
“About the baby?”
“Yes.”
“About the name?”
“Yes.”
Julian's jaw tightened.
“Then tell me.”
Matteo looked at Elena.
She nodded.
Matteo finally said:
“Her name is Aurelia.”
Julian frowned.
“Aurelia.”
“Yes.”
“What does it mean?”
Matteo sat down.
“It was your grandmother's name.”
Julian froze.
“My grandmother was named Sofia.”
“Publicly.”
Julian stared.
“What?”
Matteo leaned forward.
“Your grandmother's real name was Aurelia.”
Silence.
Julian looked at Elena.
“Why was it hidden?”
“Because Aurelia wasn't just your grandmother's name,” Matteo said.
“It was the name of the first heir.”
Julian didn't understand.
Matteo continued.
“Every generation of the Rossi family has had one designated heir.”
“I thought it was the eldest child.”
“It wasn't.”
“Then what determines it?”
Matteo looked toward Elena's stomach.
“The name.”
Julian's expression changed.
“You're telling me the inheritance depends on what the child is called?”
“Not exactly.”
Matteo opened an old leather book.
Inside were handwritten genealogical records.
Julian recognized the Rossi family crest.
But beneath each generation was a name circled in red.
Aurelia.
Matteo.
Then Aurelia again.
Julian frowned.
“Why does the same name keep appearing?”
“Because the Rossi trust was created around a bloodline.”
“What bloodline?”
“The Aurelia line.”
Julian stared.
“Your grandmother was the last legal holder.”
“Then why wasn't my father the heir?”
“Because he wasn't eligible.”
Julian looked at Matteo.
“Why?”
Matteo's face became cold.
“Because Richard wasn't the child the trust recognized.”
Julian felt his stomach drop.
“My father isn't your biological son.”
Silence.
Matteo nodded.
“No.”
Julian sat down.
Everything he knew about his family was collapsing again.
“Then who is Richard?”
“Your grandmother's adopted son.”
“And my real grandfather?”
Matteo looked away.
“You have never met him.”
Julian whispered:
“Who is he?”
Matteo answered:
“Lucien Voss.”
Julian's blood ran cold.
Adrian Voss's father.
The same man whose fortune had supposedly been stolen.
The same family that had spent decades hunting the Rossi bloodline.
Julian finally understood why the two families were connected.
They weren't merely enemies.
They were branches of the same family.
Elena suddenly spoke.
“That's why the baby matters.”
Julian turned.
Elena looked at him.
“The trust recognizes descendants of Aurelia.”
“So our daughter…”
“Could inherit everything.”
Julian stared.
“How much?”
Matteo answered:
“Everything.”
“Rossi Holdings?”
“Yes.”
“The hotels?”
“Yes.”
“The shipping company?”
“Yes.”
“The private trust?”
“Yes.”
“And the Grand Alcazar?”
Matteo nodded.
“All of it.”
Julian looked at Elena's stomach.
“But why?”
“Because she carries Aurelia's blood.”
Julian shook his head.
“That doesn't explain why everyone is trying to kill her.”
Matteo looked at him.
“It does if she is the final heir.”
Silence.
Julian's heart pounded.
“What happens if she is born?”
“The trust becomes irrevocable.”
“And Voss loses his claim?”
“Yes.”
“And Richard?”
“Nothing.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“That's why Richard wanted the divorce.”
“Yes.”
“He wanted Elena legally removed.”
“Yes.”
“And he wanted me to sign away the children.”
“Yes.”
“Because then the trust would have no recognized heir.”
Matteo nodded.
“And Voss could take control.”
Julian looked at Elena.
“You knew this.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Your grandmother told me.”
“When?”
“The night she helped me escape.”
Julian's expression softened.
“She saved you.”
“She saved our children.”
Then Elena paused.
“There was something else she told me.”
“What?”
“She said the name Aurelia must never appear on any legal document.”
Julian frowned.
“Why?”
“Because the moment Voss saw it, he would know the baby was the final heir.”
Julian stared at her.
“But the name is already known.”
“Yes.”
“Who knows?”
“Richard.”
“Matteo.”
“Camila.”
“Voss.”
Elena nodded.
“And now you.”
Julian looked toward Luca.
“Does Luca know?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he is protected by another clause.”
“What clause?”
Elena hesitated.
“The firstborn son can inherit only if there is no Aurelia heir.”
Julian understood.
Luca had been protected as a contingency.
Aurelia was the true heir.
His daughter was the final piece.
Then Julian noticed something.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“You said the name must never appear on legal documents.”
“Yes.”
“Then why was it written in that book?”
Matteo's face changed.
Julian grabbed the book.
There was something hidden between two pages.
A small envelope.
Sealed.
His name was written across it.
JULIAN ROSSI.
He opened it.
Inside was a single page.
The handwriting belonged to his grandfather.
If you are reading this, the child has been named Aurelia.
Julian's heart raced.
Do not trust anyone who tells you the child must be protected.
He read the next line.
The child is not merely the heir.
Julian stopped.
Elena whispered:
“What?”
Julian continued.
She is the key to exposing the original crime.
He looked at Matteo.
“What crime?”
Matteo didn't answer.
Julian read the final sentence.
And the person who committed it is still alive.
Silence.
Julian slowly lowered the letter.
“Who?”
Matteo's face was expressionless.
“The person who stole the original fortune.”
“Who?”
Matteo looked toward Elena.
Then toward Luca.
Finally, he said:
“Your grandmother.”
Julian stared.
“My grandmother?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It does.”
Matteo stood.
“She didn't steal the money from Voss.”
“She stole it from the Rossi family.”
Julian shook his head.
“She was Rossi.”
“No.”
Matteo's voice was quiet.
“She wasn't.”
Julian felt a chill run through him.
“What was she?”
Matteo answered:
“A Voss.”
That night, Julian couldn't sleep.
Luca was sleeping in the next room.
Elena was resting beside him.
Her hand remained over her stomach.
Julian watched her.
“Aurelia,” he whispered.
Elena opened her eyes.
“You like the name?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it sounds strong.”
Elena smiled.
“She'll need to be.”
Julian reached for her hand.
“I won't let anyone hurt her.”
Elena looked at him.
“You can't protect her from everyone.”
“I can try.”
“You tried before.”
Julian looked away.
“I know.”
Elena squeezed his hand.
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
“No.”
She moved closer.
“Someone spent years making sure you didn't.”
Julian looked at her.
“I thought you left me.”
“I know.”
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“I blamed you.”
“I know.”
His voice broke.
“I was wrong.”
Elena touched his cheek.
“You were lied to.”
For the first time, Julian allowed himself to cry.
Not because Elena had betrayed him.
Because she hadn't.
Because she had spent eight months carrying his child while believing he might never understand why she had disappeared.
He kissed her forehead.
“I won't lose you again.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Then don't trust blood.”
Julian frowned.
“What?”
“Trust actions.”
She looked toward the door.
“Because someone inside this room is still working for Voss.”
Julian's eyes immediately went to Matteo.
But Matteo was gone.
The door was open.
Julian stood.
“Where is he?”
Elena shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then they heard footsteps.
Someone entered.
Julian reached for the gun.
It was Camila.
Her dress was torn.
Blood covered one side of her face.
She closed the door behind her.
Julian aimed the gun.
“Don't move.”
Camila raised her hands.
“I came to warn you.”
“Where were you?”
“Running.”
“From whom?”
“My father.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows the baby's name.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“How?”
Camila looked at Elena.
“Someone told him.”
Elena's face went pale.
“Who?”
Camila swallowed.
“Richard.”
Julian's blood froze.
“But Richard doesn't know the name.”
Camila shook her head.
“He does now.”
“How?”
“He found the birth records.”
Julian stared.
“What birth records?”
Camila answered:
“The records from eight months ago.”
Elena suddenly stood.
“That's impossible.”
“No.”
Camila looked at her.
“It's real.”
“The baby wasn't born.”
Camila shook her head.
“Not this baby.”
Silence.
Julian slowly understood.
Camila continued:
“Your previous child.”
“Elena's first pregnancy.”
Julian stared.
“I don't understand.”
Camila looked at Luca.
“He wasn't the first baby.”
Julian's face went pale.
“What?”
Elena began trembling.
Camila whispered:
“Luca was the second.”
Julian looked at Elena.
Her expression told him everything.
“You never told me.”
Elena began crying.
“I couldn't.”
Julian stepped backward.
“How many children have we had?”
Elena whispered:
“Three.”
Julian's heart stopped.
“Our daughter.”
“Aurelia.”
“Luca.”
“Yes.”
“And the first?”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Is dead.”
Julian couldn't breathe.
Camila looked at him.
“But that's not the worst part.”
Julian stared.
“What?”
“The first child wasn't supposed to die.”
Silence.
“He was killed.”
Elena broke down.
Julian's face became cold.
“Who killed him?”
Camila looked at him.
“That's the secret Aurelia was born to expose.”
Julian's hands clenched.
“Who?”
Camila whispered:
“Your father.”
Richard.
The man who had spent years claiming he was protecting the Rossi family.
The man who had helped forge the divorce.
The man who had hidden the truth about the children.
The man Julian had once trusted.
Julian turned toward the door.
His face had changed.
There was no confusion anymore.
No grief.
Only determination.
He was going to find Richard.
And this time, he wasn't going to ask for the truth.
He was going to make him give it.
Because the baby inside Elena was no longer simply an unborn child.
She was Aurelia.
The final Rossi heir.
The key to a fortune worth billions.
And possibly—
May you like
the only person capable of proving that the first child Julian and Elena had ever loved had been murdered.
The war for the Rossi inheritance had officially begun.
