Chapter 9 - The Mother Who Came Back from the Dead
Adrian Moretti had spent eighteen years mourning a mother who was still alive.
I watched the realization change his face.
He looked suddenly younger.
Lost.
"That's impossible," he whispered.
I moved closer.
"Adrian..."
He played the footage again.
The silver-haired woman stepped into view.
Her face turned toward the security camera.
Adrian's hands began shaking.
"That's her."
I touched his arm.
"Are you certain?"
He nodded.
"I remember the scar near her eyebrow. She got it when Isabella fell off a swing and Mom caught her."
His voice broke.
"I was there."
I wanted to hold him.
But he looked as though touching him might shatter something.
Then he called Evelyn.
"Find everything you can about my mother's death certificate."
Evelyn hesitated.
"Sir..."
"What?"
"There's something else."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"Tell me."
"The hospital that issued the certificate was owned by a Sterling-affiliated company."
Silence.
I felt sick.
Charles Sterling.
Again.
Every road seemed to lead back to him.
"Where is Marcus?" Adrian asked.
"Still outside the conference room."
"Don't alert him."
Adrian ended the call.
Then he looked at me.
"I need you to leave."
My heart sank.
"What?"
"This is too dangerous."
"Adrian—"
"Victoria threatened Ethan. Marcus may have betrayed my sister. My mother is alive. I don't know who I can trust."
I folded my arms.
"You can trust me."
He looked at me.
"I know."
"Then stop trying to make decisions for me."
His expression softened.
"Mara..."
"I have spent my whole life being told what I can't do. What I shouldn't wear. Who I shouldn't date. How much space I'm allowed to take up."
My voice trembled.
"I'm done shrinking myself to make other people comfortable."
Adrian stared.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
"You're extraordinary."
I laughed nervously.
"I'm currently terrified."
"So am I."
That surprised me.
"You?"
He nodded.
"More than I've been in years."
I took his hand.
"Then let's be terrified together."
For a moment, something warm passed between us.
Then he pulled me gently into his arms.
His embrace was careful.
Protective.
Not possessive.
And when he kissed my forehead, I felt something I hadn't felt in years.
Safe.
But our moment ended when the conference room door opened.
Marcus stood there.
His expression was unreadable.
"Boss," he said. "We have a problem."
Adrian released me.
"What problem?"
"Charles Sterling wants to speak with you."
"About?"
Marcus looked at me.
Then back at Adrian.
"Your mother."
I felt Adrian's entire body go rigid.
Marcus continued.
"Sterling says he'll tell you where she is."
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
"In exchange for what?"
Marcus swallowed.
"Miss Bellamy."
My stomach dropped.
"He wants Mara delivered to him tonight."
Adrian took one step forward.
"Why?"
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Because Mara's father wasn't the man she believed he was."
I stared.
My father had died when I was fourteen.
Or at least, that was what I'd been told.
Marcus looked directly at me.
"Your father worked for Charles Sterling."
May you like
Then he added the words that made my knees weaken.
"And he's the reason Adrian's mother disappeared."
