Chapter 9 - For the first time since the night began, I wanted to believe Adrian.That terrified me.
Because believing him would mean forgiving nothing.
It would only mean accepting that I had not understood the game.
I sat alone in the underground study, staring at the key my father had left.
The words repeated in my head.
The person you call your husband was never your enemy.
Then who was?
Adrian had cheated.
He had lied.
He had participated in the manipulation.
He had stood beside Vanessa.
He had watched me being punished.
A man who loved me would never do that.
Unless he wasn't acting freely.
The door opened.
Dominic entered.
“You trust Evelyn?”
“No.”
“Adrian?”
“No.”
“Mother?”
I looked at him.
“No.”
Dominic sat across from me.
“Good.”
I smiled faintly.
“You?”
He considered it.
“I trust evidence.”
That was why he was my brother.
No blind loyalty.
No comforting lies.
Just facts.
I handed him the envelope.
He read it.
“Your father wanted this opened now.”
“Why?”
“Maybe because he knew you wouldn't survive knowing the truth too early.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Before he could answer, Nico entered.
“We found Adrian.”
I stood.
“Where?”
“Harbor warehouse.”
“Evelyn?”
“Gone.”
We left immediately.
The warehouse smelled of salt and oil.
Adrian sat alone on the floor.
No guards.
No chains.
Just him.
He looked exhausted.
I stopped a few feet away.
“Where is Victor?”
“I don't know.”
“Evelyn?”
“Gone.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
He looked at me.
“I was recruited when I was twenty-two.”
“By whom?”
“Margaret.”
“For what?”
“To watch you.”
The answer hurt.
“What did you report?”
“Everything.”
My movements.
Your friends.
Your finances.
Your family.
I looked away.
“Then you knew.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about my trust?”
“Yes.”
“You married me for it.”
“I was supposed to.”
“Supposed to?”
He nodded.
“Then I met you.”
Silence.
“I didn't expect to love you.”
I almost laughed.
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
“I know.”
He lowered his eyes.
“I made the worst choices possible.”
“That doesn't explain Vanessa.”
“She was part of the plan.”
“To destroy me.”
“At first.”
“At first?”
He looked up.
“I started sabotaging the plan.”
“How?”
“I moved money away from the shell accounts.”
“The fourteen million.”
“Yes.”
“That's why the money disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Where did it go?”
“To your father’s old security vault.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“To keep it from Margaret.”
Gabriel stepped closer.
“Do you have proof?”
Adrian nodded.
“A file.”
He reached into his jacket.
Handed it to me.
Inside were photographs of Margaret meeting Evelyn.
Not fighting.
Not threatening.
Working together.
My blood ran cold.
“You two were allies.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Not allies.”
“Then what?”
“Rivals.”
He showed me another page.
Margaret had been transferring money to Evelyn for years.
“Why?”
“To keep her quiet.”
“What did Evelyn know?”
Adrian whispered,
“Who killed your father.”
I froze.
“Who?”
He looked toward Dominic.
“Victor wasn't alone.”
“Who else?”
Adrian swallowed.
“Your mother.”
My chest tightened.
“My mother didn't kill him.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“She gave the order.”
The words seemed impossible.
I turned to Dominic.
He said nothing.
“Dominic?”
He looked at me.
“We need evidence.”
Adrian nodded.
“I have it.”
He handed me a small recorder.
My mother's voice.
Clear.
Cold.
“Richard cannot be allowed to expose Victor.”
Another voice.
Margaret.
“He’ll never stop.”
My mother answered,
“Then stop him.”
The recording ended.
My legs weakened.
I sat on the concrete floor.
“No.”
Adrian crouched nearby.
“I’m sorry.”
I pushed him away.
“Don't.”
He stood.
“I deserve that.”
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“You deserve more.”
He nodded.
Then Nico rushed inside.
“Elena.”
“What?”
He looked at Adrian.
“Someone just accessed the trust.”
Again?
Nico handed me the tablet.
The transfer was enormous.
Twenty million dollars.
Destination:
VOSS MERCANTILE TRUST
I stared.
“Evelyn.”
Gabriel checked.
“No.”
“What?”
“This account existed before Evelyn was born.”
I frowned.
“Then whose is it?”
He zoomed in.
Beneficiary field.
My heart stopped.
The name was mine.
ELENA MORETTI.
I looked up.
“What does that mean?”
Luca answered slowly.
“It means the money is not being stolen.”
“It’s being moved.”
“By someone using your identity.”
My mind raced.
“Who has access?”
Gabriel's face turned pale.
“One person.”
“Who?”
He looked at Adrian.
Then at me.
“Your mother.”
Silence.
The warehouse doors slammed shut.
Everyone turned.
A voice came over the speaker.
My mother's.
“Elena.”
I stopped breathing.
“You were always too curious.”
Dominic raised his weapon.
“Where are you?”
She laughed.
“Home.”
The warehouse screens lit up.
A live feed of the Moretti estate appeared.
My mother stood in the underground study.
Behind her was Evelyn.
And between them...
Samuel.
My mother looked directly into the camera.
“You have spent the entire night asking who betrayed you.”
She smiled.
“You haven't asked why I let you marry Adrian.”
I stared.
She continued.
“Because Adrian was never your husband.”
May you like
A pause.
“He was your brother.”
Related Stories
