Chapter 6 - Grace's SecretAdrian stared at the photograph.
His sister, Clara, had died eleven years earlier.
Car accident.
At least, that was the official story.
Yet here she was in the photograph.
Alive.
Standing beside Grace.
“When was this taken?”
Grace's face turned pale.
“I didn't know…”
Malcolm interrupted.
“You never asked the right questions, Adrian.”
Adrian looked at Grace.
“What is your connection to my sister?”
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
“I was sixteen.”
“What happened?”
Grace shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Tell me.”
“I promised her.”
“She's dead!”
The words exploded through the room.
Grace flinched.
Adrian took a breath.
Malcolm smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Adrian turned toward him.
“Understand what?”
“That your sister wasn't killed in an accident.”
Silence.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Grace whispered:
“She knew.”
Adrian stared at Evelyn.
“You knew?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“I knew something was wrong.”
“How long?”
“Eleven years.”
Adrian felt something inside him collapse.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because they threatened your life.”
“Who?”
Evelyn looked toward Malcolm.
“Not just him.”
Adrian slowly turned.
“Who else?”
Malcolm laughed.
“You're still asking the wrong question.”
He stepped backward.
“You think I'm trying to take Whitmore Global.”
“You are.”
“No.”
Malcolm lowered the gun.
“I’m protecting the people who actually control it.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“Who?”
Malcolm's phone rang.
He answered.
“She's ready.”
A voice spoke.
Adrian heard only one sentence.
Then Malcolm smiled.
“Yes. He knows.”
The call ended.
Adrian whispered:
“Who was that?”
Malcolm looked at him.
“Your father.”
Adrian went completely still.
“My father is dead.”
Malcolm smiled.
“That's what you were told.”
The mansion seemed to tilt beneath Adrian.
His father, Nathan Whitmore, had died fifteen years earlier.
At least according to every record Adrian possessed.
Every funeral photograph.
Every medical document.
Every legal certificate.
Dead.
Malcolm walked toward the door.
“Come with me and you'll meet him.”
Adrian raised his voice.
“Malcolm!”
Malcolm turned.
“Or stay here and watch Grace die.”
He pulled out another photograph.
It showed Grace's mother.
Tied to a chair.
Adrian's blood turned cold.
Grace whispered:
“No.”
May you like
Malcolm smiled.
“Now choose.”
