The hospital room was filled with an overwhelming sense of relief and joy. Alessia lay peacefully in her crib, surrounded by state-of-the-art medical equipment. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor and the occasional hiss of the oxygen machine provided a strange comfort—it was proof that she was alive and safe.
Victoria sat by the crib, her hands trembling as she stroked Alessia’s tiny hand. Tears streamed down her face, but for the first time in days, they weren’t tears of despair. They were tears of gratitude and joy.
“She’s safe,” Victoria whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She looked up at Zaiden, who stood on the other side of the crib, his arms crossed as he watched Alessia with a mixture of protectiveness and relief. “I thought… I thought we’d lost her forever.”
Zaiden nodded, his throat tight. “Me too,” he admitted, his voice low. “But she’s here now. That’s all that matters.”
Victoria reached for his hand, gripping it tightly. “Thank you for not giving up on her. On us.”
He squeezed her hand in return. “I’d move heaven and earth for both of you. You know that.”
Meanwhile, just down the hall, Elena paced outside the hospital’s security room, her phone pressed to her ear. Tobias and Jonathan were inside, coordinating with the hospital’s security team to ensure that Alessia was protected. Guards stood at every entrance, and no one was allowed near the ICU without clearance.
“Elena,” Tobias called from the room. “You need to hear this.”
She stepped inside, where Tobias had pulled up a detailed report on a tablet. He handed it to her, his expression grim. “It’s about Fidel Ashton.”
Elena scanned the report, her brows furrowing. “He’s not Fidel Ashton,” she murmured, piecing the information together. “He’s Xanos. His real name is Konstantinos Ashton, but he’s been using aliases for years. And…” Her voice trailed off as she read further.
Jonathan leaned in, his tone curious but cautious. “What is it?”
Elena looked up, her face pale. “He’s the godson of Victoria’s grandmother. This goes deeper than we thought.”
Tobias folded his arms. “That explains the obsession with Alessia. He wasn’t just trying to settle Damian’s debts—he had personal stakes in this.”
Elena nodded slowly. “It gets worse. He’s after shares in Victoria’s family company. The company’s inheritance structure must make Alessia a key player. If he could control her, he could control a significant portion of their holdings.”
Jonathan shook his head, incredulous. “So this wasn’t just about money or revenge. It’s corporate warfare.”
Back in Alessia’s hospital room, Victoria was holding her baby close, humming a soft lullaby. Zaiden stood nearby, his phone buzzing with a call from Elena.
“What is it?” Zaiden asked, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Alessia.
“It’s about Fidel,” Elena said. “He’s not just some associate of Xanos. He is Xanos. His real name is Konstantinos Ashton, and… he’s connected to Victoria’s family.”
Zaiden’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, connected?”
Elena sighed. “He’s the godson of her grandmother. And we’ve uncovered evidence that he’s been scheming to gain shares in the family company. Alessia is his way in.”
Zaiden felt a cold rage rising within him. He turned to Victoria, who had noticed his change in demeanor. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
“Fidel Ashton,” Zaiden began, choosing his words carefully, “isn’t who we thought he was. He’s Xanos. And he’s family.”
Victoria’s face went pale. “What are you talking about?”
Zaiden handed her his phone, where Elena had texted the report. Victoria read it, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. “No,” she whispered. “This can’t be true.”
“It is,” Zaiden said firmly. “And he wanted Alessia to leverage control over your family’s company. He wasn’t just after her—he was after everything.”
Victoria’s tears started anew, but this time they were tears of betrayal. “I can’t believe this. My grandmother trusted him. He’s… he’s practically family.”
“Family or not,” Zaiden said, his voice hard, “he’s going to pay for what he’s done. No one threatens my daughter.”