Surprise Marriage to a Billionaire-Chapter 379: Cerberus Syndicate

Brandon nodded grimly. "Yeah, but the situation was out of everyone’s hands. Lydia couldn’t be saved, she was already too far gone. The doctors had no choice but to focus on the baby, who still had a chance to survive. It’s... haunting, to think about."

William leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly on the desk as he processed the information. "And Vania’s mother is certain about this? She saw it herself?"

"She was there," Brandon confirmed. "Not in the operating room, of course, but she overheard the commotion outside and saw the aftermath. She said Tim looked like a man possessed, shouting at the doctors for failing to save Lydia and ignoring the fact that the baby was alive."

William ran a hand over his face, feeling the gravity of what he’d just learned. "So the baby... it survived?"

Brandon nodded. "That’s what she said. The baby was taken to the neonatal unit immediately. But here’s the thing, there’s no mention of a surviving child in any public record. If there’s no record, then..."

"Then Tim might have covered it up," William finished grimly. "If the child posed a threat to his legacy or exposed something about Lydia’s relationship with Arlan, he’d do whatever it took to keep it hidden."

Brandon hesitated before adding, "Or worse. What if Tim didn’t want the baby to survive at all? If the child was Arlan’s..."

William’s stomach turned at the implication. "But wait... Tim had a relationship with Lydia too so that baby could be his as well..."

Brandon nodded. "I’ll dig into this further. I’ll see if there are any hidden records or if anyone else from the hospital staff back then remembers more."

William met Brandon’s gaze, his tone resolute. "Be discreet. If Tim finds out we’re looking into this, he won’t hesitate to make it disappear again, just like he did before."

Brandon gave a curt nod. "Understood. I’ll report back as soon as I have anything concrete."

As Brandon left the office, William leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. The story was far darker and more tangled than he had imagined. If this child truly existed and survived, they could be a key to unraveling the web of secrets surrounding the Claytons, Lydia, and even Rain herself as well as Cartiers...

William’s fingers tapped rhythmically on his desk as his thoughts spiraled. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the secrets he was uncovering about the Claytons could somehow connect to the mystery of his sister-in-law’s real parents. Perhaps the past wasn’t as unrelated as it seemed.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Come in," he called, straightening in his chair.

The door opened, and Larry stepped inside, carrying a slim, sealed file. Larry was GIS’s best hacker, an expert in uncovering information no one else could. His talent came with a quiet intensity, and William always trusted him with the most delicate tasks.

"Here’s the information you requested," Larry said, placing the file on William’s desk. "I figured this wasn’t the kind of thing to send electronically. Too risky, leaving a trail isn’t an option with something this sensitive."

William nodded, appreciating the discretion. He opened the file carefully and scanned the documents inside. It was the background information he had asked for regarding Sanya’s biological father. According to Sanya, her father had ties to a mafia ring, and William had been determined to dig deeper into that claim.

"Anything notable?" William asked, glancing up at Larry.

Larry leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "More than notable. Sanya wasn’t wrong about the mafia connection. Her father, Rico Alvarez, is a known associate of the Cerberus Syndicate, one of the most notorious crime organizations in the region. They deal in everything from arms trafficking to black-market dealings. What’s more, there’s evidence suggesting he’s still active, even under the radar."

William’s jaw tightened as he absorbed the information. "And his connection to Sanya?"

Larry nodded. "It’s confirmed, that Rico Alvarez is her biological father."

William closed the file and leaned back in his chair. "And no sign of him now?"

"Not directly," Larry admitted. "But I’m still digging. If he’s active with the Cerberus Syndicate, he’s likely keeping a low profile. These guys don’t just disappear, though they leave breadcrumbs. We just have to find them."

"Alright, get someone from our team to dig deeper into this discreetly," William said to Larry, his tone weighted with concern. "I’m just worried this man might cause problems for my wife in the future. Prevention is always better than cure." He sighed, rubbing his temples as the gravity of the situation sank in.

The story Sanya had shared about her biological mother still lingered in his mind. She had told him how her mother had gone to great lengths to protect her, hiding her and eventually abandoning her to keep her safe from a dangerous man. That man, her father, was deeply involved in the mafia, a figure cloaked in power and menace.

The more William thought about it, the wearier he became. He had already seen what ruthless and twisted people were capable of. His brother, Alexander, and sister-in-law, Rain, had endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of such individuals. The thought of Sanya going through something similar was intolerable.

It was clear to William that Sanya’s father was no ordinary man, he was dangerous and likely as twisted as the stories suggested.

William couldn’t afford to be complacent. Protecting Sanya wasn’t just about shielding her from her past but also about ensuring their future together remained untainted by the shadows of her father’s actions.

"Leave no stone unturned, Larry," William added after a pause. "I need to know everything about this man, his movements, his connections, and if he poses any immediate threat to Sanya or us."

Larry nodded firmly. "Understood, sir. I’ll make sure it’s handled discreetly and efficiently."

As Larry left the room, William leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. He couldn’t shake the sense of foreboding.

Rico Alvarez, the man Sanya’s mother had feared so much, might not know of her existence, or might not care, but William wasn’t willing to take any chances.

He had vowed to keep Sanya safe, no matter what. And he intended to keep that promise, even if it meant confronting the shadows of her past head-on.