Chapter 7 - The Betrayal
Walter survived.
The bullet had passed through his shoulder.
At the hospital, he refused pain medication until Adrian arrived.
"You have to listen to me."
Adrian stood beside his bed.
"Caroline says you're the traitor."
Walter closed his eyes.
"She's wrong."
"Then prove it."
Walter reached beneath his pillow.
He pulled out an old photograph.
Adrian recognized the people immediately.
His father.
Caroline.
And another man.
A man Adrian had seen many times growing up.
Thomas Mercer.
His father's closest business partner.
Walter pointed at him.
"He's the mastermind."
Adrian stared.
Thomas had been with Whitmore Infrastructure for twenty-five years.
He had attended family holidays.
Birthday parties.
Company celebrations.
He had even been present when Adrian's mother died.
"Why would he do this?"
"Because your father was weak."
Walter explained.
"Thomas discovered Richard's greed and used it. He convinced him to steal small amounts at first."
"Then millions."
"Yes."
"What about Caroline?"
"She discovered the truth."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Then why did she sign the documents?"
"Thomas threatened her."
"With what?"
Walter hesitated.
"Evan."
Adrian's blood ran cold.
"Thomas knew where Evan was?"
"He found him years ago."
"Then why is Evan alive?"
"Because Caroline made a deal."
Adrian sat down.
"What deal?"
"She agreed to take the blame for certain transactions if Thomas left Evan alone."
Everything suddenly made sense.
Caroline hadn't been protecting their father.
She had been protecting Adrian's missing brother.
The next morning, Adrian confronted Caroline.
She was waiting in the family home.
Her eyes were red.
"I knew you'd come."
Adrian stared at her.
"You should have told me."
"I was scared."
"People died."
"I know."
"Our mother."
"Yes."
"Daniel."
"I know."
"You let me believe our family was normal."
Caroline began crying.
"Because I wanted you to have one thing that wasn't broken."
Adrian's anger weakened.
She continued.
"After Mom died, Dad told us she had cancer."
"You knew she was murdered?"
"I found out years later."
"How?"
"Thomas told me."
Adrian froze.
"Why would he?"
"To control me."
Caroline handed him a flash drive.
"Everything is here."
Adrian looked at it.
"Why now?"
"Because Thomas knows Evan is alive."
Evan stepped into the room.
Caroline looked at him.
Her face crumpled.
"I'm sorry."
Evan stared at her.
"You knew where I was?"
"I knew you were alive."
"Why didn't you find me?"
"Because Thomas would have killed you."
Evan looked away.
Then Adrian noticed something on the flash drive.
A recording.
He played it.
Thomas's voice filled the room.
"Richard, if Daniel talks, we all go down."
Adrian's father answered:
"I can't kill him."
Thomas laughed.
"Then I'll handle it."
The recording ended.
Adrian felt sick.
His father had known.
He hadn't ordered Daniel's disappearance.
But he had allowed it.
That distinction no longer mattered.
Then another recording played.
This one was from the night Adrian's mother died.
Her voice was weak.
"If Adrian ever learns about Evan, tell him I loved both my sons."
Adrian covered his mouth.
His mother had known he might one day discover everything.
The final recording contained Thomas.
"Take the boy away."
A younger Walter asked:
"What about the mother?"
Thomas answered:
"Make it look natural."
Adrian stopped the recording.
Silence.
Then Evan whispered:
"He killed her."
Walter nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian stood.
"Where is Thomas?"
Caroline looked at him.
"He's coming to the Whitmore Foundation gala tonight."
May you like
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"Then tonight, we end this."
