Later that afternoon, his security chief brought him a report.
The hallway camera showed Victoria entering Lily's room.
But there was something else.
A second recording showed Eleanor speaking with Victoria in the garden.
Their conversation was clear.
"Once the girl is gone, Adrian will finally understand that he needs a woman from his own world," Victoria said.
Eleanor replied, "Just make sure she never discovers what Catherine knew."
Adrian froze.
What Catherine knew?
He replayed the recording.
Then he called his mother.
"Mother, I need you to come to my office."
Eleanor arrived twenty minutes later.
Adrian placed the report on the desk.
"Tell me what you know about Lily's mother."
Eleanor's expression changed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Stop lying."
"Adrian—"
"Did Catherine know Margaret Bennett?"
Eleanor went silent.
He leaned forward.
"Did you know them?"
Eleanor finally sat down.
"Yes."
Adrian felt his stomach tighten.
"What happened?"
His mother looked toward the window.
"Your wife made a promise to that woman. A promise she should never have made."
"What promise?"
Eleanor looked at him with cold eyes.
"She promised to protect a child."
Adrian stared.
"What child?"
Eleanor's answer was almost a whisper.
"Lily Bennett."
Adrian spent the entire afternoon trying to understand his mother's words.
Why would Catherine have promised to protect Lily?
What connection could possibly exist between a wealthy woman from the Sterling family and the daughter of a modest working woman?
And why had Eleanor tried so desperately to keep the truth hidden?
He called the family lawyer again.
This time, the elderly man answered immediately.
"Mr. Sterling, I've found something."
Adrian stood up.
"What is it?"
"An old legal document. It was prepared shortly before your marriage."
"What kind of document?"
"A private guardianship arrangement."
Adrian frowned.
"Guardianship?"
"Yes. Catherine and Margaret Bennett signed it together. But the document was never officially activated."
"Why?"
"I don't know. However, it mentions a child who was supposed to be protected if something happened to either family."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Send me a copy."
While he was reading the document, a storm began outside.
Heavy rain struck the windows of the mansion.
Emily had been unusually restless all afternoon.
Without Lily, she refused to settle down.
Sarah did everything she could, but the baby continued crying.
At around nine o'clock, Emily developed a high fever.
Sarah immediately called Adrian.
"Sir, we need to take her to the hospital."
Adrian rushed upstairs.
He touched his daughter's forehead.
It was burning.
"Call the doctor!"
"The doctor is already on his way."
But Emily's breathing became irregular.
Adrian felt panic rising inside him.
He picked her up and held her close.
"Stay with me, sweetheart."
The doctor arrived and examined her.
"We need to take her to the hospital immediately."
Adrian grabbed his car keys.
But as he rushed toward the entrance, the doctor stopped him.
"Sir, the storm is severe. We should wait for the ambulance."
Adrian looked at Emily.
She was crying weakly.
He had never felt so helpless.
Then Sarah said something.
"Sir, perhaps you should call Lily."
Adrian looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because Emily always calmed down with her."
Adrian hesitated.
Then he called.
Lily answered after several rings.
"Hello?"
"Lily, it's Adrian."
There was silence.
"What happened?"
"It's Emily. She's sick. She has a high fever, and we're taking her to the hospital."
Lily's heart dropped.
"How high?"
Adrian told her.
"I'm coming," she said immediately.
Within twenty minutes, she arrived at the mansion.
Her hair was wet from the rain, and she was still wearing the clothes she had worn earlier that evening.
She ran upstairs.
"Emily!"
The baby turned toward her voice.
Lily gently took her into her arms.
"Shhh... I'm here, sweetheart."
Emily's crying slowly softened.
Adrian watched, his eyes filled with relief.
The ambulance arrived shortly afterward.
At the hospital, the doctors treated Emily for a respiratory infection and dehydration.
The next few hours were terrifying.
Adrian sat in the waiting room, unable to stop looking at the closed treatment-room doors.
Lily sat beside him.
Neither spoke for a long time.
Finally, Adrian whispered, "I'm sorry."
Lily looked at him.
"For what?"
"For not trusting you."
She looked down at her hands.
"I understand why you were suspicious."
"No. You don't have to make excuses for me."
He turned toward her.
"I should have believed you."
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
"Adrian, I never wanted anything from you."
"I know that now."
He reached for her hand.
She didn't pull away.
"I was afraid of losing Emily," he said. "And somehow, I nearly lost the person who made her feel safe."
Lily looked at him.
"She's not mine."
Adrian's voice softened.
"Maybe not by blood. But you love her."
Before Lily could respond, the doctor approached.
"Mr. Sterling?"
Adrian immediately stood.
"How is my daughter?"
"She's stable. The fever is coming down, and we expect her to recover well."
Adrian closed his eyes in relief.
"Can we see her?"
"One person at a time."
He looked at Lily.
"Go first."
She shook her head.
"She's your daughter."
"And you're the person she's looking for."
Lily entered the room.
Emily was lying in a small hospital bed, connected to monitoring equipment.
When she saw Lily, she moved her tiny fingers.
Lily kissed her forehead.
"You frightened me, little angel."
A nurse smiled.
"She seems very attached to you."
Lily nodded.
But as she turned to leave, the nurse noticed something unusual.
She looked at Lily's face.
Then at the name on the patient's chart.
"Miss Bennett?"
"Yes?"
"May I ask you something?"
"Of course."
The nurse lowered her voice.
"Are you related to the baby's mother?"
Lily frowned.
"No. Why?"
The nurse looked uncertain.