Chapter 5 - The Mastermind Revealed
The blinding headlights cut through the darkness of the warehouse, trapping Julian and Elena in the center of the room.
Julian pulled Elena behind a stack of wooden crates, shielding her pregnant body with his own.
A dozen armed men stepped out of the luxury vehicles, forming a perimeter around the exit.
Then, a familiar figure stepped out of the lead car, holding an expensive umbrella to block the rain.
It was Stefano Rossi, Julian's ruthless billionaire uncle and the chief financial officer of the family empire.
"You always were too sentimental for your own good, Julian," Stefano called out, his voice echoing loudly.
Julian felt his blood run entirely cold as the final puzzle piece fell into place.
Stefano had orchestrated this entire nightmare to seize absolute control of the Rossi family trust.
According to the grandfather's strict will, Julian's first biological heir would inherit the majority voting shares.
"You forced her away because my child threatened your power," Julian yelled from behind the barricade.
Stefano chuckled warmly, as if they were discussing a simple corporate merger over dinner.
"She was a nobody, Julian," Stefano replied calmly.
"I forged medical documents stating the child had a genetic defect, and I threatened to commit her to an asylum if she stayed."
Elena trembled against Julian's chest, tears mixing with the rain on her pale face.
"I left to protect our baby," she whispered to him.
Julian kissed her forehead, promising her that nobody would ever hurt them again.
He scanned the dark warehouse, searching for any possible route of escape.
He remembered reviewing the architectural blueprints of this specific industrial district years ago when considering a real estate purchase.
There was an old, forgotten subterranean drainage tunnel located beneath the floorboards of the main office.
"Follow me closely," Julian whispered to Elena.
He threw a heavy wooden pallet into the line of sight, drawing a hail of automatic gunfire from Stefano's men.
Under the cover of the deafening noise, Julian and Elena crawled quickly toward the glass-enclosed office structure in the corner.
They managed to slip inside the office just as the mercenaries began to advance across the warehouse floor.
Julian ripped the rotten carpet away and pulled desperately at a rusted metal floor grate.
May you like
The grate finally gave way, revealing a dark, terrifying drop into the city's ancient sewer system.
Just as he helped Elena climb down into the tunnel, a sharp, agonizing cramp hit her abdomen.
