Chapter 3 - MARCUSNobody moved.
Marcus Vale stood behind the glass like he had been waiting for us.
Adrian looked like he had seen a ghost.
Maybe he had.
“You're dead,” Adrian whispered.
Marcus smiled.
“That rumor has been very useful.”
The lawyer reached for his phone.
Marcus raised one hand.
“Don't.”
Two security guards entered the room.
Marcus looked at them.
“I wouldn't.”
The guards stopped.
I noticed something.
They weren't looking at Marcus.
They were looking at each other.
Confused.
Then one of them slowly lowered his weapon.
“Why?”
Marcus smiled.
“Because they're already mine.”
My stomach dropped.
The lawyer immediately stepped in front of me.
“Mrs. Vale, stay behind me.”
Marcus laughed softly.
“Always protecting her.”
I stared at him.
“You know my father.”
“I know Julian very well.”
“Who are you?”
He looked at Adrian.
“Tell her.”
Adrian didn't answer.
Marcus walked closer.
“You have questions about your husband.”
I said nothing.
“He lied about his company.”
“He lied about his money.”
“He lied about his family.”
“He lied about how you two met.”
I turned toward Adrian.
“What does he mean?”
“Don't listen to him.”
Marcus laughed.
“That's exactly what he told everyone else.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You have no right to come here.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“No right?”
His voice became colder.
“Your father took everything from me.”
Adrian stared.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
Marcus stepped closer.
“Your father didn't build Vale International.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
“He stole it.”
Adrian's expression fractured.
Marcus continued.
“Your father betrayed his own brother.”
Silence.
“Your father had me arrested.”
Adrian whispered:
“For what?”
“Murder.”
I looked at the lawyer.
He wasn't surprised.
That frightened me more than Marcus himself.
“Who did they say you killed?” I asked.
Marcus looked at me.
“My wife.”
I felt my blood run cold.
“Your wife?”
“Your father's sister.”
I looked at Adrian.
Then at the photograph.
Then back at Marcus.
“This doesn't make sense.”
“It will.”
He reached inside his coat and removed a file.
He tossed it onto the desk.
I opened it.
Birth certificates.
Company registrations.
Police reports.
Death certificates.
Then one final document.
A marriage certificate.
My father's name appeared on it.
But the bride wasn't my mother.
I stared.
“That woman…”
Marcus nodded.
“My sister.”
I felt dizzy.
“My father was married before?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't I know?”
“Because she died before you were born.”
Adrian stepped backward.
“This is insane.”
Marcus looked at him.
“No.”
He pointed toward the documents.
“This is your inheritance.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe some dead uncle appeared from nowhere and now owns my life?”
Marcus smiled.
“I don't own your life.”
He looked at me.
“Your wife does.”
Everyone went silent.
I looked at him.
“What are you talking about?”
Marcus pulled out another document.
A trust agreement.
My name.
My signature.
My father's signature.
And beneath them was a clause I had never seen.
Upon the discovery of criminal misconduct, all controlling interests held by Adrian Vale shall revert to the Ashford Family Trust.
My hands shook.
“When was this signed?”
“Before your wedding.”
I turned to Adrian.
“You knew about this?”
“No.”
Marcus smiled.
“He didn't.”
“Then why marry me?”
“That,” Marcus said, “is the interesting part.”
He glanced at Adrian.
“Because he didn't choose you.”
I stared.
“What?”
Marcus looked directly into my eyes.
“He was instructed to marry you.”
The room became silent.
I slowly turned toward Adrian.
“Who instructed you?”
He said nothing.
“Adrian.”
His eyes filled with fear.
“I can't.”
“You can't what?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because they will kill me.”
A horrible silence followed.
Marcus looked almost amused.
“Now we're getting somewhere.”
I stepped closer to my husband.
“Who?”
Adrian whispered the name.
“Blackwell.”
My heart stopped.
Blackwell.
The name was unfamiliar to me.
But the lawyer's reaction was not.
His face changed.
“Mrs. Vale…”
“You know it?”
He didn't answer.
“Tell me.”
He swallowed.
“Blackwell isn't a person.”
Marcus smiled.
“It is an organization.”
“What do they want?”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“They want the Ashford Trust.”
I frowned.
“My father's company?”
“No.”
Marcus shook his head.
“They want something your father owns that is worth far more.”
“What?”
Before he could answer, every phone in the room rang at once.
The guards looked down.
The lawyer checked his screen.
Adrian's hands began shaking.
My phone displayed a single message.
WE KNOW YOU FOUND THE ROOM.
Then another.
LEAVE THE HOUSE ALONE.
Then a third.
OR YOUR FATHER DIES.
I looked at Marcus.
His expression had disappeared.
For the first time, he looked genuinely worried.
He whispered:
“They found him.”
My blood ran cold.
“Found who?”
May you like
Marcus looked at me.
“Your father.”
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