Chapter 5 - THE ADVISER WHO LIED FOR NINETEEN YEARS
Samuel Bishop didn't deny knowing about the letter.
That was what frightened me.
He stared at the paper in Adrian's hands.
Then slowly lowered himself into a chair.
"I wrote it."
Adrian's face went cold.
"What?"
Samuel looked exhausted.
"Your father ordered me to."
I felt Mom's hand tighten around mine.
Adrian didn't move.
For several seconds, the entire room seemed to wait for him to explode.
Instead, he spoke quietly.
"Explain."
Samuel swallowed.
"Vincent believed Julian had copied records from the foundation."
"He had."
"Yes."
"Then why threaten him?"
"Because those records implicated people inside the family."
Adrian stared.
"Including my father?"
Samuel nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian took a slow breath.
"And you helped conceal it."
Samuel lowered his eyes.
"I did."
The silence was terrible.
Finally, I spoke.
"Did you help those men find our apartment?"
Samuel looked at me.
"No."
"Then how did Coraline know about Mom?"
His expression changed.
"That's what I don't understand."
I studied him.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely frightened.
Mom spoke next.
"Samuel, who else knew Julian survived?"
He hesitated.
"Only Vincent, me, and one other person."
"Who?"
Samuel looked toward Adrian.
"Coraline's father."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Sebastian Vane."
The name meant little to me.
But Mom reacted immediately.
She closed her eyes.
"Of course."
I turned.
"Who is he?"
Adrian answered.
"A private equity investor. He manages several old shipping interests."
Samuel added, "And for years, his companies received payments from the Cain Foundation."
I felt sick.
"Money intended for patients?"
Samuel nodded.
"Some of it."
Adrian looked at him.
"You knew."
Samuel's eyes filled.
"I suspected more than I admitted."
"That's not good enough."
"I know."
Adrian stood.
"You're relieved of financial and security authority effective immediately."
Samuel lowered his head.
"I understand."
"And you'll provide the records to independent investigators."
"Yes."
I watched the exchange.
For years, I'd imagined mafia bosses solved every betrayal with violence.
Adrian looked furious enough to destroy the room.
But he simply made a decision.
And forced the truth into the open.
After the meeting, he approached me.
"Hannah."
I looked up.
"I'm sorry."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"Your job. The threats. My family's involvement."
I shrugged.
"You didn't fire me."
"No."
"And you didn't force me to buy bread."
His mouth twitched.
"No."
"Then don't apologize for every bad thing people around you do."
Adrian studied me.
"You're very different from the people I know."
I smiled faintly.
"That isn't always a compliment."
"It was meant as one."
Before I could answer, my phone rang.
Mom's doctor.
I answered.
After a few seconds, my stomach dropped.
"What do you mean her treatment authorization was canceled?"
The nurse sounded apologetic.
"The payment guarantee was withdrawn this morning."
I stared at Adrian.
Then at Mom.
The clinic's records showed the sponsoring organization.
May you like
VANE MEDICAL CHARITIES.
And suddenly, Coraline's threat about one phone call made horrifying sense.
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