Chapter 14: The Daughter Who Hated Her Father
Chapter 14: The Daughter Who Hated Her Father
The message remained on Dominic's phone.
MAKE HER BELIEVE YOU.
OR LOSE HER FOREVER.
He read it again.
And again.
Not because he didn't understand.
Because he couldn't accept it.
For twelve years, he had lived with one unbearable truth.
Victoria was gone.
Now he had discovered she was alive.
And he had a daughter.
But the daughter he never knew existed believed he was the reason her life was destroyed.
Dominic placed the phone on the desk.
For the first time in years...
He didn't know what move to make.
Daniel entered the office.
He immediately noticed Dominic's expression.
"Something happened."
Dominic handed him the phone.
Daniel watched the video.
His face became serious.
"She doesn't know the truth."
Dominic looked out the window.
"No."
"She knows exactly what someone wanted her to know."
Daniel nodded.
"Helena."
Dominic remained silent.
Because he knew something worse.
Helena wasn't trying to kill him.
She was trying to break him.
A dead enemy was easy.
A broken man was controllable.
Victoria entered the room slowly.
Dr. Ellis had warned her not to move too much.
But she ignored him.
She always had.
Dominic looked at her.
"You should be resting."
Victoria smiled faintly.
"You sound exactly the same."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Then his expression became serious.
"Elena hates me."
Victoria looked down.
"She doesn't hate you."
"She hates the story she was told."
Dominic walked toward her.
"She grew up without me."
"I wasn't there."
Victoria's eyes filled with pain.
"Neither was I."
He looked at her.
"What?"
"I was alive."
"But I wasn't her mother."
"I couldn't hold her."
"I couldn't watch her grow."
"I couldn't protect her."
Victoria's voice broke.
"Every day I wondered if she remembered me."
Dominic lowered his eyes.
The strongest man in the world could face enemies.
But not the pain of losing a child.
"Where is she?"
Victoria looked worried.
"Dominic..."
"Where?"
She hesitated.
Then answered.
"Chicago."
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
"We can have a team there within an hour."
Dominic shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because Helena wants that."
Daniel understood.
"She wants you to arrive like an enemy."
Dominic nodded.
"She wants Elena to see me as the monster."
Victoria looked at him.
"Then what will you do?"
Dominic looked at the picture of Elena.
"I'm going as her father."
Meanwhile...
Chicago.
A private apartment overlooking the city.
Elena stood near the window.
She held the old photograph.
The one showing Dominic and Victoria.
Her hands trembled.
Everything she believed was changing.
Her entire identity.
Her entire childhood.
A man entered behind her.
The same woman who had brought her the file stood nearby.
"You shouldn't have shown me this."
Elena's voice was cold.
The woman remained calm.
"Why?"
"Because now I have questions."
"That's the point."
Elena turned.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled.
"My name is Sofia."
"And I worked for your mother."
Elena frowned.
"My mother is dead."
Sofia shook her head.
"No."
"She was hidden."
"Just like you."
Elena looked away.
"I don't believe you."
Sofia placed another file on the table.
Inside were documents.
Birth records.
Medical reports.
Photographs.
Proof.
Elena stared at the papers.
"Why now?"
"Why tell me now?"
Sofia answered:
"Because your father finally knows you exist."
Elena laughed bitterly.
"My father."
"That man."
"He destroyed everything."
Sofia studied her.
"Do you know that for yourself?"
"Or did someone tell you?"
Elena didn't answer.
Because deep down...
She knew.
She had never met Dominic.
She had only known stories.
Stories from people who wanted her to hate him.
Later that night...
Dominic arrived in Chicago.
No guards.
No weapons.
No army.
Only himself.
Daniel watched from a distance.
"You sure about this?"
Dominic nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel looked concerned.
"If something happens..."
Dominic interrupted.
"Don't save me."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
"Save her."
Daniel understood.
This wasn't about Dominic anymore.
It was about Elena.
Dominic entered the apartment building.
The elevator climbed slowly.
Every floor felt heavier.
When the doors opened...
Elena was waiting.
The first thing Dominic noticed was her eyes.
Victoria's eyes.
The same ones he remembered.
Elena looked at him coldly.
"So."
"You came."
Dominic stopped.
For years, enemies had pointed guns at him.
Threatened him.
Begged him.
None of that compared to seeing his own daughter look at him like a stranger.
"Elena."
She flinched at her name.
"You don't get to say that like you know me."
Dominic swallowed.
"I know I don't."
"That's the truth."
She looked surprised.
Most people lied to her.
Dominic didn't.
"I don't know your favorite food."
"I don't know what makes you laugh."
"I don't know what you were afraid of when you were little."
His voice became quieter.
"And I should have."
Elena looked away.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Act like you care."
Dominic stared at her.
"I don't have to act."
"You're my daughter."
She laughed.
A painful laugh.
"You weren't there."
"No."
"I wasn't."
"You were supposed to protect me."
"I know."
"You failed."
Dominic nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The answer surprised her.
No excuses.
No anger.
Just acceptance.
"I failed you."
A tear appeared in Elena's eyes.
But she wiped it away quickly.
"Why?"
Dominic looked at her.
"Because someone made sure I never knew you existed."
"Who?"
Before he could answer...
The apartment lights went out.
Elena stepped back.
A familiar voice filled the room.
"Careful, Dominic."
"She doesn't know you yet."
Helena.
Dominic looked around.
"You."
A screen turned on.
Helena appeared.
"One final test."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"I'm done playing."
"No."
"You just started."
A door behind Elena opened.
A man entered.
Dominic recognized him instantly.
Nathan.
But Nathan looked different.
Broken.
Blood on his shirt.
Fear in his eyes.
Helena spoke:
"Choose."
"Save your daughter."
"Or save the man who destroyed your life."
Dominic stared.
Because Nathan was holding a gun.
May you like
Pointed directly at Elena.
And Nathan's hand was shaking.
