Chapter 9 - THE CHOICE
I turned toward Adrian.
He looked as shocked as I was.
“I didn't submit that.”
The officer showed us the security footage.
A man entered the bank wearing Adrian's coat.
He had Adrian's height.
His face was hidden.
But his voice was captured.
“That's not me,” Adrian said.
My father stared at the screen.
“It's Graham.”
“How?”
“He's been impersonating Adrian.”
I felt dizzy.
Graham had access to everything.
My accounts.
My medical records.
My marriage.
My family.
He had been creating false evidence for years.
The goal was simple.
Make it appear that I had voluntarily transferred the trust.
Then eliminate me before I could challenge it.
But there was one thing Graham hadn't anticipated.
Maren.
She had the original financial files.
And now she had given them to federal investigators.
Graham was cornered.
That made him dangerous.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Graham's voice came through.
“Hello, Hannah.”
I froze.
“How did you get this number?”
“You've always been easy to find.”
“What do you want?”
“The trust.”
“You're not getting it.”
“You're mistaken.”
“What do you mean?”
“You've already signed.”
“No.”
“I have the document.”
“It's forged.”
“Prove it.”
He hung up.
Seconds later, another message appeared.
A photograph.
Maren.
Holding her newborn.
My heart stopped.
Graham had found her.
Adrian grabbed his phone.
“We have to move.”
My father was already calling the police.
Then another message appeared.
Midnight.
Come to the old warehouse.
Bring the original will.
Come alone.
I looked at Adrian.
“No.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“We don't go.”
“We don't.”
But I had an idea.
I called the federal investigator handling the case.
I gave him everything.
The messages.
The forged document.
The photograph.
The location.
Then I did something Graham wouldn't expect.
I agreed to meet him.
At midnight, I entered the warehouse carrying a briefcase.
Inside were copies.
The real documents were safe.
Hidden with the investigators.
Graham appeared from the shadows.
Older than I expected.
Calm.
Almost gentle.
“You look like your mother.”
I stared.
“You killed her.”
“No.”
“You tried.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she was going to destroy everything.”
“You destroyed yourself.”
He smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
He stepped closer.
“Your mother wasn't my only enemy.”
He looked toward the entrance.
“And your father isn't the hero you think he is.”
My father stepped into the warehouse.
I froze.
Graham smiled.
“Ask him who really signed the agreement.”
My father looked at me.
Then lowered his head.
“I did.”
The room went silent.
“I signed it,” he said.
“To save you.”
Graham laughed.
“And that's the truth.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Graham's smile vanished.
Agents entered from every direction.
He tried to run.
He didn't get far.
But before they arrested him, he looked at me.
“You think this ends tonight?”
I said nothing.
He smiled.
“It doesn't.”
Then he looked toward Adrian.
“Ask your husband what he promised me seven years ago.”
Adrian went pale.
May you like
I turned toward him.
And for the first time, I realized there was still one secret left.
