Chapter 7 - CLAIRE WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR
The mansion doors opened.
Everyone turned.
A woman stood outside.
She was thin.
Pale.
Her hair longer than Adrian remembered.
But there was no mistaking her.
Claire.
Adrian couldn't move.
Sophie whispered:
“Mommy?”
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
“Sophie.”
The little girl ran.
Adrian expected someone to stop her.
No one did.
Sophie threw herself into Claire's arms.
Claire collapsed to her knees.
For several seconds, mother and daughter simply held each other.
“I knew you'd come back,” Sophie cried.
Claire kissed her forehead.
“I promised.”
Adrian stood frozen.
Claire looked at him.
Their eyes met.
Seven years disappeared.
Adrian whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Claire shook her head.
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
“You were drugged.”
“I should have protected you.”
“You tried.”
Adrian's eyes filled with tears.
“I failed.”
Claire stepped closer.
“You survived.”
Then she looked at Vanessa.
The room went silent.
Vanessa lowered her head.
Claire walked toward her.
“You took seven years from me.”
Vanessa cried.
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
“I thought Thomas would kill my family.”
“He did.”
Vanessa looked at Adrian.
“I loved you.”
Adrian shook his head.
“You loved what I gave you.”
Vanessa broke down.
“I loved you.”
Claire replied:
“Love doesn't require destroying another woman.”
Thomas interrupted.
“Enough.”
Claire turned.
“You.”
Thomas smiled.
“You survived.”
“Because someone helped me.”
Elena stepped forward.
Claire looked at her sister.
“Thank you.”
Adrian looked between them.
“You two planned this?”
Claire nodded.
“For years.”
“Why didn't you come sooner?”
“Because Thomas still had power.”
She held up a small flash drive.
“Until now.”
Thomas's expression changed.
“What is that?”
“The complete ledger.”
Marcus moved forward.
Thomas shouted:
“Don't!”
Marcus stopped.
Claire smiled.
“The FBI has copies.”
Thomas stared.
“You wouldn't.”
“I already did.”
Sirens sounded outside.
Police vehicles surrounded the mansion.
Thomas looked at Adrian.
“You're destroying your own family.”
Adrian answered:
“No.”
He looked at Sophie.
“I'm saving it.”
Thomas was arrested.
Marcus was arrested.
Vanessa was taken into custody for her role in the conspiracy.
But before she left, she stopped beside Sophie.
“I am sorry.”
Sophie looked at her.
“You aren't my mom.”
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.”
She walked away.
Claire held Sophie tightly.
Adrian watched them.
For the first time, the mansion felt different.
Not colder.
Not haunted.
Alive.
Then Ethan approached Adrian.
“There is one more thing.”
Adrian looked at him.
“What?”
Ethan handed him an envelope.
“It's from Thomas.”
Adrian opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a woman Adrian had never seen.
On the back were six words.
YOUR REAL MOTHER IS STILL ALIVE.
Adrian looked at Ethan.
“What does this mean?”
Ethan shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Neither do I.”
Then Adrian noticed the photograph.
The woman was wearing a necklace.
A small silver key.
The same key Sophie had been carrying.
Adrian's blood ran cold.
May you like
There was another secret.
One Thomas had never revealed.
