Ariana's heartbeat thundered in her ears as those words echoed—
"Hand over the girl."
But…
Not Ariana?
Then who?
Adrian stepped forward instantly, placing himself slightly in front of Ariana.
His eyes were locked on the woman who had just entered.
Cold. Calculating.
"Mother," he said.
The word felt heavier than anything else in the room.
Ariana's breath caught.
So it was true…
The elegant woman standing there—graceful, untouchable—
Was Adrian's mother.
The real mastermind.
She smiled faintly, as if this entire chaos was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"You've grown careless, Adrian," she said calmly.
"Letting things spiral like this."
Victoria lowered her gun slightly, her confidence gone.
"Ma'am… I had it under control—"
"Silence."
One word.
Sharp enough to cut through steel.
Victoria immediately went quiet.
Ariana felt it then—
The power.
This woman didn't need to raise her voice.
She controlled everything… everyone.
Ariana stepped out from behind Adrian.
"You took my child," she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.
The older woman's gaze shifted to her.
For a moment—
She simply observed.
As if Ariana was nothing more than an object.
Then she smiled slightly.
"Your child?" she repeated.
"What makes you think it was ever yours to keep?"
Those words—
They shattered something deep inside Ariana.
Adrian's expression darkened instantly.
"Enough," he snapped.
"You've done more than enough."
But his mother didn't even look at him.
Instead, she raised her hand slightly.
And her men moved forward.
Adrian reacted instantly—his gun raised.
"No one moves!" he warned, his voice deadly.
The tension exploded.
One wrong move—
And blood would spill.
But the woman remained calm.
Unbothered.
"I didn't come here for a fight," she said softly.
"I came for what belongs to me."
Ariana's chest tightened.
"Say it clearly," she demanded.
"Who is 'the girl'?"
The woman's lips curved slowly.
Then—
She pointed.
Not at Ariana.
Not at Victoria.
But at—
Dr. Rahman.
Everyone froze.
The doctor's face went pale.
"N-no…" he stuttered, stepping back.
Ariana's confusion deepened.
"Him?" she whispered.
Adrian frowned.
"What game are you playing now?"
But his mother's eyes remained fixed on the doctor.
"He's the key," she said calmly.
"The only one who knows where the child is."
Ariana's world tilted.
Her breath stopped.
"Then…" her voice trembled, "my baby is really—"
"Alive," the woman confirmed.
One word.
And everything changed.
Tears filled Ariana's eyes—but this time, they carried hope.
Dangerous hope.
She turned sharply toward the doctor.
"Where is my child?!" she demanded.
Dr. Rahman shook his head frantically.
"I can't… I can't tell—"
A gun was suddenly pressed to his forehead.
Victoria.
"You should," she said coldly.
"Before things get worse."
The doctor was trembling now.
Sweat dripping down his face.
"I was paid to keep it secret!" he cried.
"If I talk, I'm dead!"
Ariana stepped closer, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper.
"If you don't… you're dead anyway."
Silence.
Heavy. Crushing.
The doctor's eyes darted between them all—
Then finally—
He broke.
"Okay!" he shouted.
"I'll tell! I'll tell everything!"
Everyone stilled.
Ariana's heart pounded so hard it hurt.
"Three years ago…" the doctor began, his voice shaking,
"The child was taken right after birth—"
Ariana's breath hitched.
"—and handed over to a private facility… under a different identity."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"Where?"
The doctor hesitated.
Just for a second.
But that second—
Was enough.
BANG!
The gunshot echoed loudly.
Ariana screamed.
The doctor's body collapsed to the floor.
Blood spreading beneath him.
Dead.
Victoria froze.
"I didn't—"
But it wasn't her.
Everyone turned—
Adrian's mother slowly lowered the gun in her hand.
Completely calm.
Completely emotionless.
"No loose ends," she said softly.
Ariana's entire body went cold.
"He was the only one who knew!" she shouted, her voice breaking.
The woman looked at her—almost amused.
"Not the only one."
Ariana froze.
"What…?"
A faint smile appeared on the woman's lips.
Then she said—
"The child is with someone you trust."
Those words hit harder than any bullet.
Ariana's mind spun.
Someone she trusts?
Who…?
Her hands started trembling.
Because deep down—
A horrifying thought was forming.
And when she slowly turned her head—
Her eyes landed on Adrian.
Cliffhanger:
👉 Ariana whispers, her voice filled with fear and disbelief—
"Adrian… what aren't you telling me?" 😈
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