Chapter 11 - Adrian's StoryAdrian didn't attack us.
He simply stood beneath the cemetery light.
"I waited fourteen years for this moment."
Daniel stepped forward.
"You've been watching us."
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Because you stole everything from me."
Daniel looked genuinely confused.
"I was a child."
"So was I."
Adrian's eyes moved toward Eleanor.
"You believed I died."
Eleanor started crying.
"I searched for you."
"No."
"You were taken from me."
"By your husband."
She covered her mouth.
Adrian continued.
"He put me into a private institution under another name."
"My God."
"He told everyone I was dead."
Daniel stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because he needed one perfect son."
Adrian smiled bitterly.
"And he chose you."
I asked:
"Then why are you targeting me?"
"I'm not."
He looked at Daniel.
"He's the one targeting you."
Daniel shook his head.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
Adrian pulled out a folder.
Inside were surveillance photographs.
Daniel following me.
Daniel meeting unknown men.
Daniel entering the house late at night.
There was even a photograph of Daniel placing the brass key on the sheet.
My heart stopped.
"You planted the key."
Daniel looked at me.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"To make you investigate."
I couldn't believe it.
"You wanted me to discover everything."
"Because I needed you to distrust everyone."
"Why?"
"Because someone inside my company was working for Adrian."
Adrian laughed.
"No."
Daniel turned.
"You're lying."
Adrian looked at me.
"Claire, your father didn't leave you the ledger."
He pointed toward me.
"He left you something much more valuable."
"What?"
"Evidence."
I felt my hand instinctively touch the wedding ring.
Adrian noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"Where did you get that?"
"My grandmother's."
Daniel suddenly looked terrified.
"Take it off."
I froze.
"Why?"
"Take it off."
The ring had never seemed special.
A simple gold band.
My grandmother had given it to me before she died.
Adrian stared at it.
"Your father hid it."
I removed the ring.
Inside the band, almost invisible, was a tiny seam.
Daniel took a pocketknife.
He carefully opened it.
A microfilm strip fell onto his palm.
Everyone stared.
Mara whispered:
"The evidence."
Adrian's expression changed.
"That's not possible."
Daniel looked at me.
"There are records on this."
"Of what?"
He didn't answer.
Adrian did.
"The names of everyone involved."
Then his eyes locked onto mine.
"Your mother."
"My father."
"Daniel's father."
"Eleanor."
"And..."
He paused.
"...Daniel."
May you like
I stared at my husband.
Daniel looked away.
