Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN ADRIAN NEVER STOPPED LOVING
Adrian couldn't breathe.
Claire was alive.
For seven years, he had mourned a woman who had never died.
For seven years, he had raised her daughter beside the woman who had helped destroy her life.
He looked at Elena.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“I need to see her.”
“You're not ready.”
“I've waited seven years.”
“No.”
Elena's voice was firm.
“You've waited seven years without knowing the truth.”
She showed him another photograph.
Claire looked directly into the camera.
Beside her was a doctor.
Dr. Samuel Bennett.
Adrian recognized the name.
Claire's brother.
Elena's husband.
“Claire has been recovering from a brain injury,” Elena explained.
“Why didn't she contact me?”
“She tried.”
“How?”
“Letters. Calls. Messages.”
Adrian stared.
“I never received anything.”
“Vanessa intercepted them.”
Adrian turned toward his wife.
Vanessa was crying.
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
“You nearly lost everything.”
Vanessa sank into a chair.
“I thought Claire would take Sophie.”
“She was her mother.”
“She was going to destroy us.”
“No.”
Adrian's voice became cold.
“You destroyed us.”
Suddenly the front doors opened.
Security guards rushed in.
A man in a dark suit entered.
Adrian recognized him.
Marcus Vale.
His father's former attorney.
Marcus smiled.
“Adrian.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to protect the family.”
Adrian laughed.
“There is no family left.”
Marcus looked at Elena.
“She's the problem.”
Two guards moved toward her.
Adrian stepped between them.
“Don't touch her.”
Marcus frowned.
“You have no idea what she's done.”
“She saved my daughter.”
“She stole your daughter.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“Leave.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Your father would be disappointed.”
“My father is dead.”
Marcus smiled.
“Is he?”
Silence.
Adrian's face changed.
“What did you say?”
Marcus turned toward the monitor.
The old recording had started playing again.
This time, a hidden section appeared.
Thomas Whitmore was sitting in the music room.
Alive.
Older.
Speaking directly to the camera.
“If you're watching this, Adrian, then Elena has finally betrayed us.”
Adrian stared.
Thomas continued.
“You think Claire was the victim.”
A pause.
“She wasn't.”
Adrian looked confused.
Thomas leaned closer.
“Claire knew about the money.”
“Yes.”
“She tried to expose us.”
“Yes.”
“But she wasn't innocent.”
Adrian's heart stopped.
“She was working with the FBI.”
Elena's face changed.
Thomas smiled.
“And she wasn't trying to save Sophie.”
“She was using Sophie as leverage.”
Sophie began crying.
“No!”
Adrian immediately covered her ears.
“Don't listen.”
Thomas continued.
“She wanted to take my empire.”
Adrian stared at the screen.
He didn't know what to believe anymore.
Then Thomas said something that changed everything.
“Ask Elena what happened to Claire's first child.”
Elena froze.
Adrian slowly turned.
“What first child?”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Adrian…”
“What first child?”
She couldn't answer.
Sophie looked at her.
“Aunt Elena?”
Elena whispered:
“Claire had another baby.”
Adrian's heart pounded.
“Where is that child?”
Elena looked toward Sophie.
May you like
Then toward the door.
“The child never left this house.”
