CHAPTER 6 — THE CONTRACT JULIAN FORGOT
CHAPTER 6 — THE CONTRACT JULIAN FORGOT
The lights went out.
For three seconds, Elena heard nothing except her own breathing.
Then Julian grabbed her arm.
“Don't move.”
A metallic click echoed somewhere in the darkness.
Elena froze.
Marcus whispered from across the room.
“It's all right.”
A small emergency lamp flickered on.
Its weak light revealed the underground vault.
Stone walls.
Rows of old filing cabinets.
Wooden crates.
And at the center of the room, a long table covered with documents.
Julian released Elena's arm.
She turned toward Marcus.
“My brother.”
Marcus nodded.
“You had a brother.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You just said he disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Then how do you know he existed?”
Marcus placed another photograph on the table.
“This.”
Elena picked it up.
The photograph showed her mother holding a baby.
Beside her stood a little boy of about four years old.
Elena stared at him.
There was something familiar about his face.
The eyes.
The shape of his mouth.
The expression.
She looked at Marcus.
“What's his name?”
“Gabriel.”
Her breath caught.
“Gabriel Villeneuve.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Marcus said nothing.
“My father told me I was an only child.”
“He lied.”
Elena looked at Julian.
He seemed equally stunned.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Your family knew?”
Marcus answered.
“Some did.”
“Who?”
“Your grandfather.”
“Your father?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Yes.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Another lie.
Another piece of her life that had been stolen.
She opened them again.
“Why was Gabriel taken?”
Marcus looked at the documents on the table.
“Because of a contract.”
THE CONTRACT
Marcus pulled out a sealed envelope.
The paper was old.
The seal had almost completely faded.
He placed it in front of Elena.
“Your grandfather signed this twenty-six years ago.”
Elena opened it.
The first page carried an unfamiliar company name.
ROSSI-VILLENEUVE CONSOLIDATED HOLDINGS.
Below it were two signatures.
Alejandro Villeneuve.
And—
Victor Rossi.
Elena's stomach tightened.
“What is this?”
“The agreement that created the empire you inherited.”
She scanned the pages.
“Joint ownership.”
Marcus nodded.
“Your family owned the land.”
“The Rossi family provided capital.”
“Then why did my family control everything?”
“Because your grandfather broke the agreement.”
Elena looked up.
“How?”
Marcus pointed to a paragraph.
“Read Article Seven.”
She did.
Her face changed.
“If either family violates the terms of this agreement…”
She continued.
“…all controlling assets will transfer to the designated heir of the opposite family.”
Julian stepped closer.
“Who was the designated heir?”
Marcus looked at him.
“You.”
Julian stared.
“What?”
Marcus pointed to the signature.
JULIAN ALEXANDER ROSSI.
Julian's face went white.
“That can't be right.”
“It is.”
“But I was a child.”
“You were eighteen months old.”
Elena looked at him.
“So that's why.”
“Why what?”
“Why my father chose you.”
Marcus nodded.
“He didn't choose you because he wanted a son-in-law.”
He paused.
“He chose you because the contract required you.”
THE MARRIAGE CLAUSE
Julian picked up the contract.
His hands trembled as he turned the pages.
Then he stopped.
“What is this?”
Elena leaned closer.
A handwritten amendment appeared near the bottom.
Marcus looked away.
Julian read it aloud.
“In the event that the designated Rossi heir marries the designated Villeneuve heir, all disputed holdings shall remain under joint family protection…”
His voice faded.
Elena finished the sentence.
“…until the birth of a legitimate child.”
Silence.
Julian looked at Elena.
She understood immediately.
“The child would inherit.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
Julian's face hardened.
“So my marriage to Elena wasn't about the company.”
“No.”
“It was about producing an heir.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Exactly.”
Elena stepped backward.
“No.”
Marcus didn't respond.
“My father didn't arrange my marriage just to control the company.”
“No.”
“He wanted a child.”
“Yes.”
“An heir who would unite both families.”
“Yes.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“And if we divorced?”
Marcus pointed toward another clause.
“The trust would remain frozen.”
“And if we never had children?”
“The controlling assets would revert to the Rossi family.”
Julian stared at the document.
“So everyone was waiting for us to have a child.”
Marcus nodded.
“Your pregnancy was never a surprise to them.”
Elena felt sick.
“My father knew.”
“Yes.”
“My grandfather knew.”
“Yes.”
“Julian's family knew.”
“Yes.”
“And Camila?”
Marcus's expression darkened.
“She was brought into the marriage to prevent the birth of that child.”
Elena looked at Julian.
He looked devastated.
“She was supposed to make me leave you,” he whispered.
“Why?”
“So the trust would fail.”
THE WOMAN WHO WASN'T SUPPOSED TO EXIST
Elena sat down.
For years, she had believed her marriage had collapsed because Julian betrayed her.
Now she discovered that the betrayal had been part of a legal strategy.
She had never been a wife.
She had been an asset.
Julian sat opposite her.
“I didn't know about the child clause.”
“You knew about the marriage.”
“Yes.”
“You knew my father wanted you.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn't know why.”
“No.”
Elena looked at him.
“Did you ever love me?”
Julian didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Yes.”
She looked away.
“I know that doesn't fix anything.”
“No.”
“But it's true.”
Elena stared at the contract.
“What happened when I became pregnant?”
Julian's expression changed.
“Your father panicked.”
“Why?”
“Because the trust would become permanent.”
Marcus nodded.
“The moment your daughter was born, the empire would belong to her.”
Elena looked up.
“Daughter?”
Marcus smiled faintly.
“I'm talking about the child you were carrying.”
Elena's heart stopped.
She had never been pregnant.
At least—
not that she remembered.
“What child?”
Marcus's expression became grim.
“That's what your father never told you.”
THE NIGHT SHE FORGOT
Julian suddenly stood.
“Wait.”
He looked at Marcus.
“Elena was pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Marcus looked at him.
“Nine years ago.”
Julian's face drained of color.
“That isn't possible.”
“It is.”
“I would remember.”
“You were told she miscarried.”
Julian turned toward Elena.
“Elena…”
She was staring at Marcus.
“I was never pregnant.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You were.”
“Who told me I lost the baby?”
“Your father.”
Elena felt the room spin.
“I don't remember.”
“Because you were drugged.”
Silence.
Julian's face hardened.
“What did he do?”
Marcus's voice became quiet.
“He took you to a private clinic.”
Elena's hands began trembling.
“He told the doctors you had suffered a miscarriage.”
“But…”
“The child was born alive.”
Elena stopped breathing.
Julian whispered:
“Where is the child?”
Marcus looked at them.
“That's the question.”
THE CHILD
A folder appeared on the table.
Marcus pushed it toward Elena.
She opened it.
Inside was a birth certificate.
A photograph.
A medical record.
And one name.
LUCIA ELENA ROSSI.
Elena stared at the photograph.
A newborn baby.
Tiny.
Wrapped in white.
A handwritten note was attached.
Female. Healthy. Born 7:43 p.m.
Elena's hands began shaking violently.
“No.”
Julian came closer.
“Let me see.”
She handed him the photograph.
His face changed.
“That's my daughter.”
Elena looked at him.
“She was born?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
Marcus answered.
“Two days after Elena was taken to the clinic.”
Julian stared at the birth certificate.
“Where is she?”
Marcus looked away.
“We don't know.”
Elena stood abruptly.
“What do you mean you don't know?”
“Someone took her.”
“Who?”
“We believe your father arranged it.”
Elena's voice broke.
“Why?”
“Because the moment that child existed, the trust belonged to her.”
Julian slammed his fist onto the table.
“My daughter was stolen?”
“Yes.”
“For money?”
Marcus looked at him.
“For power.”
THE CONTRACT JULIAN FORGOT
Julian turned back to the old agreement.
There was another page.
One he hadn't noticed.
Marcus pointed toward it.
“Read the final clause.”
Julian did.
His expression changed.
He read slowly.
“In the event of the birth of a legitimate descendant…”
He swallowed.
“…all assets, land, companies, trusts, and controlling interests shall be transferred irrevocably to said descendant upon reaching the age of eighteen.”
Julian stared at the document.
“So whoever has my daughter…”
“Controls the empire.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Yes.”
“The empire isn't about me.”
“No.”
“It isn't about Julian.”
“No.”
“It's about her.”
Marcus nodded.
“Always.”
THE MISTRESS RETURNS
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the corridor.
Marcus looked toward the door.
“We have to leave.”
Julian frowned.
“Why?”
“Because we're not alone.”
The door opened.
Camila stood there.
She was breathless.
“Julian.”
He turned.
“What are you doing here?”
“I followed you.”
Elena's expression hardened.
“You weren't supposed to know where we were.”
“I found the car.”
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Who sent you?”
Camila shook her head.
“No one.”
“Don't lie.”
“I swear.”
She looked at Elena.
“I came because I found something.”
“What?”
Camila held up a photograph.
A little girl.
About eight years old.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
A small birthmark beneath her left eye.
Elena's heart stopped.
“Who is that?”
Camila's lips trembled.
“Her name is Lucia.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Where did you get that?”
“Vanessa.”
“Where is she?”
Camila looked at Elena.
“She lives in Switzerland.”
Marcus froze.
“What?”
Camila nodded.
“She's been there for years.”
Elena's voice broke.
“Who has her?”
Camila whispered:
“The Rossi Foundation.”
Julian stared.
“My family?”
“Yes.”
“But my family doesn't know about her.”
Camila shook her head.
“They do.”
“Who?”
She looked at Elena.
“Your father.”
THE PHONE CALL
Elena's phone rang.
Alejandro.
She answered.
“Dad.”
His voice was tense.
“Where are you?”
“At the first resort.”
Silence.
Then:
“You need to come home.”
“No.”
“Elena, listen to me.”
“I know about Lucia.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then Alejandro whispered:
“Who told you?”
“Was she born?”
He didn't answer.
“Dad!”
“Yes.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“Is she alive?”
Another silence.
“Yes.”
Her knees nearly gave out.
“Where is she?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because if you find her, they will kill her.”
“Who?”
“Everyone who wants the trust.”
Elena's voice broke.
“She is my daughter.”
“I know.”
“She is Julian's daughter.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me where she is.”
“I can't.”
Elena's voice became cold.
“You have ten minutes.”
“For what?”
“To tell me the truth.”
“And if I don't?”
“I will destroy everything you built.”
Alejandro exhaled.
“You sound like your great-grandmother.”
“Good.”
She ended the call.
Julian stared at her.
“What are you going to do?”
Elena looked at the contract.
Then at the photograph of Lucia.
Then at the black key.
“I'm going to find my daughter.”
THE SAFE
Marcus stopped her.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
He pointed toward a small metal box beneath the table.
“Your grandmother left this for you.”
Elena opened it.
Inside was a cassette tape.
A handwritten label read:
FOR ELENA — WHEN SHE LEARNS ABOUT LUCIA.
Elena stared.
“There's a player?”
Marcus nodded.
He placed an old device on the table.
Elena inserted the tape.
Static filled the room.
Then her grandmother's voice.
Weak.
Older.
But unmistakable.
“Elena, if you are hearing this, then they failed to keep you ignorant.”
Elena covered her mouth.
“Your daughter is alive.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“But she is not where they told you.”
Elena looked at Marcus.
The recording continued.
“Lucia was never taken to Switzerland.”
Elena's blood froze.
“That story was created to hide her true location.”
Julian opened his eyes.
“Then where is she?”
The tape continued.
“She is closer than you think.”
A pause.
“Much closer.”
Elena felt her heart pounding.
Then came the final words.
“She has been living under another name.”
The tape clicked.
Silence.
Elena stared at the machine.
“What name?”
Marcus looked at her.
“I don't know.”
But then Camila whispered:
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
Camila slowly pulled another document from her bag.
“I saw her.”
Elena stepped toward her.
“Where?”
Camila's eyes filled with tears.
“Three months ago.”
“Where?”
“At one of Julian's resorts.”
Julian froze.
“Which one?”
Camila looked at him.
“The Azure Crown.”
Elena's heart stopped.
“That's impossible.”
Camila shook her head.
“I didn't know who she was then.”
She pointed toward the photograph.
“But I remember the girl.”
Julian's voice trembled.
“What was she doing?”
“She was carrying towels.”
Elena stared.
“A child?”
Camila nodded.
“She was working there.”
Elena's face went pale.
“How old?”
“About eight.”
“Her name?”
Camila swallowed.
“They called her…”
She looked at Elena.
“…Lily.”
THE NAME ON THE CONTRACT
Elena looked at the photograph again.
Lucia.
Eight years old.
Living under another name.
Working inside one of the family's own resorts.
The truth was becoming impossible to comprehend.
Julian stepped toward her.
“Lily.”
Elena nodded.
“Lucia.”
Marcus looked disturbed.
“Then the question isn't where she is.”
“What is it?”
“Who placed her there?”
Elena looked at the contract.
At the birth certificate.
At the photograph.
Then at the signature beneath the original agreement.
Her father's.
Alejandro Villeneuve.
She whispered:
“My father.”
Julian shook his head.
“He wouldn't.”
Elena looked at him.
“You still defend him?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Julian didn't answer.
Because another possibility had entered his mind.
A possibility so terrible that neither of them wanted to say it aloud.
What if Alejandro hadn't hidden Lucia from the enemy?
What if he had hidden her from Elena and Julian themselves?
The vault suddenly filled with the sound of a ringing telephone.
Everyone froze.
The phone on the wall had not worked in decades.
Yet it was ringing.
Marcus slowly approached it.
He picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a little girl's voice.
Soft.
Frightened.
“Mr. Marcus?”
His face went white.
“Lucia?”
A pause.
Then:
“Please…”
Her voice trembled.
“Please don't tell my grandfather where I am.”
Marcus's eyes widened.
“Who is your grandfather?”
The little girl whispered:
“Alejandro.”
The line went dead.
Elena couldn't breathe.
Julian stared at her.
“My daughter is afraid of her grandfather.”
Marcus slowly lowered the receiver.
And Elena finally understood that the contract wasn't the darkest secret hidden beneath the empire.
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The darkest secret was that her daughter had spent eight years hiding from the very family that claimed to love her.
And somewhere above them, someone was already moving to make sure Lucia would never have the chance to tell them why.
