Chapter 184

Miss Adams lay quietly on the hospital bed, staring at the beautiful patterns carved into the ceiling of the VIP room.

The designs were elegant and expensive, but she did not see beauty in them. Her chest rose and fell too fast, her breath uneven, as her thoughts stayed on one thing only.

Her son. Desmond.

Was he safe? Was he scared? Did he think she had abandoned him? All these things occupied her mind.

The door to the room opened softly, and ker heart jumped.

She turned her head immediately, her eyes locking on the entrance. Two men walked in. She recognized one of them at once.

Gabriel Wyndham, her boss’s husband.

The man who looked so much like her son that it had always scared her.

The other man beside him was tall, firm, and carried a dangerous calm around him. His eyes were sharp, cold, and observant. She did not know him, but everything about him screamed authority.

Fear rushed through her body.

Her hands began to shake as they stepped closer. Isla was not with them. That alone made her heart race faster.”You’re awake?” Gabriel said gently.

He didn’t know what else to say. Seeing her awake was a relief, but standing there without Isla made the situation feel strange and awkward.

“Yes, Mr Wyndham,” she replied quietly. “And… thank you for saving my life.”

She couldn’t bring herself to look directly at him.

Stone watched her closely. He noticed the way her fingers trembled, the way her shoulders stiffened. Fear was written all over her body.

“Ishould be thanking you,” Gabriel continued. “You saved my wife. You didn’t even hesitate before taking a bullet meant for her.”

Miss Adams swallowed.

“It was nothing,” she whispered. “I didn’t think about it. I just moved.”

The room fell into silence.

Gabriel and Stone both studied her carefully. She looked weak and pale in the hospital gown, her strength drained by pain and fear. Yet something about her unease stood out to Stone. She was not just nervous. She was afraid of something much bigger.

Stone’s eyes moved slowly over her, trained and sharp.

Then he noticed the locket resting against her chest.As a security expert, his instincts immediately warned him.

That locket meant something.

“Miss Adams,” Stone said calmly, stepping a little closer. “I have a few questions, if you don’t mind.”

Her eyes widened.

“Questions?” she asked suddenly, panic flashing across her face. “Why?”

“Relax,” Gabriel said quickly. “It’s nothing bad.”

She looked at him sharply. “Is my son okay?”

Her voice trembled.

“Desmond is in school,” Gabriel replied.

“In school?” she repeated, stunned.

“Yes,” he nodded. “He needs to go. He told us he hasn’t been attending school for a while. Can you tell us why?”

Her shoulders dropped slightly, some tension easing.

“I couldn’t afford it,” she said softly. “I planned to enroll him as soon as I received my first salary.”

Gabriel hummed quietly in response.

Then his expression changed. His voice became serious.”Miss Adams,” he said, “I need you to be honest with me

Why does your son look exactly like me?”

She froze.

“Please don’t lie,” he added. “We already know you might not be who you wanted us to believe.”

Her eyes closed for two long seconds. When she opened them, she let out a slow, shaky breath.

“My son’s father looks exactly like you,” she said. “That’s why.”

Stone’s eyes sharpened.

“What is his name?” he asked.

She looked at him defensively. “Am I under interrogation?”

“No,” Stone replied calmly. “We just want to understand.

Who is the father of your child? And if possible… Who is your son’s grandfather?”

She flinched just by hearing him say that. Fear returned to her eyes.

“I am not married to him,” she said quickly. “We are not together. But… he comes to me sometimes.”

She turned her face away, clearly struggling.

“Miss Adams,” Stone said firmly, “you need to tell us everything. We found a camera inside Desmond’swristwatch. He said it was a gift from his grandfather. Is that true?”

Her breath hitched.

Her fear grew visible, raw and uncontrollable.

“He will find us,” she whispered. “That man will find us…. and he will take my son away from me.”

She wasn’t speaking to them anymore. She was speaking to herself.

“Who are you talking about?” Gabriel asked softly.

He reached out and held her trembling hands.

She flinched at first, then slowly relaxed. Her eyes met his. Something about him felt familiar. Safe. But fear still held her back.

“I want to help you,” Gabriel said sincerely. “Tell me everything. Anything you think I should know. I promise, l will help you.”

It was a powerful promise. She studied his face for a long moment. Then she nodded.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I will tell you everything.”

She paused, her fingers brushing the locket on her chest.

“But first,” she added, “you need to get rid of this locket.” Gabriel and Stone exchanged a look.they both knew.

The truth was finally about to come out.

Stone took the locket from Miss Adams the moment she handed it over. His face stayed calm, but his movements were fast and careful, like a man who already expected anything.

“If my son’s wristwatch had a camera inside,” she said softly, “then this locket must have something too. The same man gave us both on the same day. I thought they were gifts… but now I know they were never gifts.”

Stone gave a short nod and walked out of the room immediately. He needed privacy to examine it.

Now, only Gabriel and Miss Adams were left in the quiet room.

The silence felt heavy.

She took a deep breath, then spoke again.

“I used to be d local actress,” she said. “I also worked as a stunt double.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened slightly.

Now he understood why she had looked familiar from the beginning. He had searched his memory many times, trying to place her face.

“So that’s where I’ve seen you,” he thought.

“A man came into my life,” she continued. “And he stolemy breath away. I fell deeply in love with him.”

She closed her eyes as if the memories hurt too much.

“He came to me one day and asked for a loan. He promised to return it quickly. I gave him everything I had. Then he left… and he never came back.”

Her voice cracked.

“Not long after, I fell sick. That was when I found out I was pregnant. I couldn’t get rid of the baby. I waited for him… but he never returned.”

She swallowed hard before continuing.

“Later, I found out he was in prison. He was into Gambling.

That was what people said.”

She shook her head slowly.

“How foolish I was,” she whispered. “He ruined my career. I struggled alone to raise our son.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks now.

“I don’t even know how it happened,” she said. “But one day, a middle-aged man approached me. He introduced himself as my ex’s father.”

Gabriel remained silent, listening closely.

“He saw my son,” she continued. “After that, he started helping us. Bringing food. Paying small bills. I thought hewas a good man.”

Her tears fell faster.

“At first, he brought fruits. Then he offered to take care of my son. Then one day..” she paused, her breath shaking, ” he said my son was the heir to a great empire.”

Gabriel’s face stayed unreadable.

“He said I should give him my son so he could claim what rightfully belonged to him.”

Her voice trembled.

“It’ didn’t make sense to me,” she said. “If he was truly my son’s grandfather, why would he need my child to claim anything?”

“When did he say this?” Gabriel asked quietly.

“Just a few weeks ago.”

Gabriel nodded slowly.

“That was when 1 ran away,” she continued.

“I saw a job

advertisement and applied. I didn’t plan anything. But when I first saw you…” she paused and looked at him, ” was shocked. You looked exactly like Desmond’s father.”

“So you didn’t approach my wife on purpose?” Gabriel asked.

“No,” she replied quickly. “I don’t even know her.”