Chapter 207: How is that possible?

"Then perhaps this will help." Aliya looked at the photograph. Her entire body went cold. It was a picture of the Don’s wife. Sienna’s mother.

The woman whose face she had been pretending to forget. The Don watched Aliya closely.

"This is your mother." Aliya’s fingers trembled.

"Does her face bring anything back?" She stared at the photograph. For a moment, she couldn’t speak.

Then she slowly raised her eyes. The Don was watching her. Not like a father. Like a man interrogating a suspect. Aliya’s stomach dropped.

That was when she understood. He knew. He knew everything. Her mouth opened.

"I..." The Don’s expression hardened. "You are still lying." Aliya’s face went pale.

"Daddy, I’m not lying."

"No." His voice was quiet. That frightened her more than shouting would have.

"I gave you a chance." He stood.

"I gave you every opportunity to tell me the truth." Aliya immediately got to her feet.

"Daddy, please."

"You still chose to lie."

"I didn’t, I have the necklace that belongs to my mother." He stepped closer.

"You thought a piece of jewelry would be enough to convince me that you were Katalia."

Aliya began shaking.

"Where did you get that necklace from?"

"It’s mine, it has always been with me."

The Don’s eyes were cold.

"That belongs to my Katalia, and you are not Katalia." Aliya took a step backward.

"Daddy..."

"Don’t call me that." Her lips parted. He pointed toward the seat.

"Sit down." She obeyed immediately. The Don turned away from her and walked toward the window.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Then he said quietly,

"This is your last chance. Tell me who gave you that necklace." Aliya lowered her head.

"No one, believe me."

"Still lying."

He turned around.

"You thought you could still deceive me." His voice became harder.

"You thought because I was desperate to find my daughter, I would believe anything." Aliya’s eyes filled with tears.

"I am your daughter." The Don stared at her.

"No." She shook her head desperately. "I am Katalia."

"No."

His answer was final. Aliya stopped breathing for a moment. The Don walked toward her. "And now you are going to tell me where my real daughter is."

Aliya looked away. "I don’t know." The Don’s expression darkened. "Wrong answer."

"I swear I don’t know." He slammed his hand against the table beside her. Aliya flinched.

"You know." She shook her head.

"Then you will learn how much I am willing to do to make you remember."

Aliya’s tears finally fell. She knew she was trapped. There was no more pretending. The Don had seen through every lie. Yet even with everything closing around her, one thought remained clear.

She could not tell him where Sienna was. The moment she saw the picture, she knew that Sienna was the real daughter. The Don stepped back.

"Take her to the holding room." Two guards immediately entered. Aliya struggled as they took her arms. "Daddy!" The Don didn’t move.

"Please!" He looked at her one final time. "You had your chance." The guards dragged her toward the rear section of the jet. Aliya turned her head as she was taken away.

She was terrified. She knew what was waiting for her. But beneath the fear was something stronger. She would not tell him. Not where Sienna was. Not who she really was.

Not even if it cost her everything. Because somewhere in that same city, the woman she hates the most was finally living the life that should have belonged to her.

And Aliya had no intention of being the one who handed her over. The Don watched the door close behind her. Then he turned toward the window. His daughter was alive. He knew it now. He only needed to find her.

And once he did, nothing would be able to keep Katalia from him.

—-

Back at the Kessler mansion, Sienna was still peacefully asleep. She had not moved much since Viktor left the bedroom. She was simply sleeping.

Unaware that downstairs, her husband was trying to decide how much of the truth she could handle. Viktor sat behind the large desk in his study. Marcus stood across from him.

The room was quiet except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. Viktor had the photograph Carina had given him lying on the desk. Marcus glanced at it before looking back at his boss.

"So?" Viktor leaned back in his chair. "Nothing." Marcus frowned. "Nothing?"

"We couldn’t trace what Carina meant when she said Sienna was a key to something bigger." He picked up the photograph and studied it again.

"But there’s one thing I know." Marcus waited.

"If Sienna’s blood helped them crack the cure for the virus, then whatever that key is, the answer is probably connected to her blood." Marcus nodded slowly.

"That makes sense."

"The researchers at the hospital are already looking into it," Viktor continued. "They’ll probably find something." He placed the photograph back on the desk.

"But you still have to tell Sienna the truth." Viktor’s eyes hardened.

"I know." Marcus studied him. "You’ve been saying that for the last ten minutes." Viktor didn’t answer. His phone suddenly rang.

He looked at the screen. Dr. Philips. Viktor answered immediately. "Doctor?"

There was a pause. Then Viktor’s expression changed.

"What?" Marcus straightened. Viktor listened without saying anything. "You’re sure?" Another pause. "Don’t let anyone out until it’s fully investigated."

He ended the call. Marcus immediately asked, "What happened?" "Sienna’s blood sample is missing, along with all the analysis that was done." Marcus stared at him.

"Again?" Viktor nodded. "Again."

"How is that possible?"

"That’s what I want to know." Marcus moved closer to the desk. "Who has access to the laboratory?"

"That’s the problem. The security records show nothing unusual."

"Then someone knows how to get around the security." Viktor’s jaw tightened. "It means someone is making sure nobody discovers what is inside Sienna’s blood." Marcus was silent for a moment.

"Do you think it’s Don Konstantin?" Viktor shook his head. "No."

"Why?"

"Because he doesn’t know who Sienna is." Marcus frowned. Viktor leaned forward. "If Carina is telling the truth, the Don has spent years searching for his daughter. If he knew Sienna was Katalia, he wouldn’t be trying to make her blood disappear."

Marcus nodded slowly.

"Then Carina?"

"I’m not sure." Viktor ran a hand over his face. "She could be hiding something, but I don’t think she is the one trying to stop the truth from coming out."

"Then who?" Viktor looked toward the window. "Someone else."

His voice became quieter.

"Someone who has been watching Sienna for a long time." Marcus’s expression changed.

"And someone who doesn’t want her to be found." Viktor nodded.

"Exactly." The room fell silent. That was the part that bothered him most.

The Don was dangerous. Carina was dangerous.

But this was different. Someone had been watching Sienna without her knowing. Someone had been close enough to interfere with her medical records and steal her blood. And Viktor had no idea who that person was.

Marcus broke the silence. "Boss..." Viktor looked at him.

"You have to tell her." Viktor’s eyes dropped to the photograph on the desk. Marcus continued.

"You love her. I can see that. And she loves you."

Marcus shook his head. "If she finds out later that you knew who she was and chose to hide it from her, she won’t see it as protection."

Viktor looked up.

"She’ll see it as betrayal."

The words landed heavily. Viktor leaned back slowly. "You think I don’t know that?"

"I know you do." Marcus sighed.

"But you’re afraid of what happens after you tell her." Viktor stared at the ceiling for a moment. "Of course I am." His voice was quieter now. "What if she wants to confront Don Konstantin?" Marcus said nothing.

"What if she wants answers?" Viktor’s fingers tightened against the arm of the chair. "What if she goes looking for him?" He shook his head. "Then another problem begins." Marcus understood. "The person hiding her."

"Exactly." Viktor stood and walked toward the window. "If someone has spent years making sure Sienna remains hidden, then finding out who she is could force them to act." He stared into the darkness outside. "I don’t know what I’m dealing with."

For perhaps the first time, Viktor sounded genuinely uncertain. He had faced men with guns. He had walked into traps knowing there was a chance he wouldn’t walk back out. He had made decisions that involved millions of dollars, powerful enemies, and people’s lives.

But this was different. This was his wife. And there was no clean answer. He turned back toward Marcus. "Think about it." His voice was low. "Don Konstantin is a monster. He has already tried to destroy her. He nearly killed her."

Viktor’s expression darkened. "He killed her best friend’s parents." He paused. "And now I’m supposed to tell Sienna that the man responsible for all of that is her father?" Marcus had no answer. Viktor looked away.

"What happens to her when she learns that?" His voice cracked slightly before he controlled it. "Does she become angry? Does she blame herself? Does she go looking for him?" He shook his head.

"Or does it break something inside her?" Marcus stepped closer.

"Boss..."

"I don’t know what is best for her." Viktor finally admitted it. "And that’s the problem." He returned to his desk and picked up the photograph again.