Chapter 7 - THE MAFIA BOSS WHO STOLE HIS OWN NAME
Adrian Voss had built an empire around one thing.
His father's name.
Now a single document threatened to destroy everything he believed about himself.
He stared at the record in silence.
"That's impossible."
Rebecca spoke gently.
"We haven't verified its authenticity."
Adrian looked up.
"Then verify it."
His voice was controlled.
But I noticed his hands.
They were trembling.
I knew that feeling.
The moment your entire childhood became a question mark.
The moment every memory suddenly needed an explanation.
"Adrian," I said softly.
He turned.
"You don't have to figure everything out tonight."
A bitter smile crossed his face.
"Coming from the woman who stormed into my office demanding twenty-eight years of answers?"
I almost laughed.
"Fair point."
For the first time that evening, his expression softened.
Rebecca explained that the records listed Adrian as Thomas Reed, born to a nineteen-year-old woman named Laura Reed.
According to the file, Laura had been told her baby died shortly after birth.
Instead, the child was transferred into the Voss household.
Adrian stood.
"My mother never told me."
Mrs. Ellis looked sad.
"Your adoptive mother may not have known."
Adrian's mother, Evelyn Voss, had died when he was twelve.
He rarely spoke about her.
But I knew from his expression that he'd loved her deeply.
"What happened to Laura Reed?" he asked.
Rebecca hesitated.
"She's alive."
The room went silent.
Adrian looked at her.
"Where?"
"Indiana."
He turned toward the window.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then he asked, "Does she know?"
Rebecca nodded.
"She's been looking for her son for thirty-four years."
I stepped closer.
"Adrian."
He didn't turn.
"I spent my entire life trying to become the man Victor Voss expected me to be."
His voice was barely audible.
"Now I'm discovering he may have stolen me from someone who actually wanted me."
I didn't know what to say.
So I stood beside him.
Sometimes silence was kinder than answers.
An hour later, Marcus returned with additional information.
"We located Richard Carter's old investigation files."
I turned sharply.
"Where?"
"In a storage facility registered under a false company name."
Rebecca leaned forward.
"What did you find?"
"Financial records, medical documents, and a collection of recorded interviews."
Marcus opened his laptop.
A grainy video appeared.
Richard Carter sat behind a desk.
He looked exhausted.
His face was thinner than in the photographs Helen had shown me.
But his voice was clear.
"If anything happens to me, the Harbor records must be preserved."
He paused.
"Victor Voss is being manipulated by someone inside the foundation."
Adrian leaned forward.
Richard continued.
"The person responsible has access to every adoption file, every financial transfer, and every family involved."
I watched him take a shaky breath.
Then he looked directly into the camera.
"The person running Project Harbor is Margaret Whitcomb Ellis."
The room went completely silent.
I turned toward Mrs. Ellis.
May you like
She stared at the screen.
And for the first time since meeting her, she looked truly afraid.
