Chapter 18 - THE MAN BEHIND THE FAMILYFinding Adrian was easier than expected.
Finding Adrian was easier than expected.
Almost like he wanted to be found.
That scared me more.
People who hide are afraid.
People who reveal themselves usually want something.
We met him in an abandoned office building downtown.
No guards.
No weapons.
No threats.
Just Adrian sitting alone.
Waiting.
“You knew we would come.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel was right about you.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“He said you would keep digging.”
I hated hearing Daniel’s name from him.
“You used my mother.”
Adrian looked away.
“Yes.”
“You manipulated my family.”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed lives.”
A pause.
“Yes.”
The honesty was disturbing.
“Why admit everything?”
Adrian looked at me.
“Because I am tired of being the villain in someone else’s story.”
I almost laughed.
“You are.”
He accepted that.
“I deserve that.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Then tell us the truth.”
Adrian looked at the floor.
“Your grandfather created a machine.”
“A machine?”
“A system.”
He explained.
Robert Bennett did not simply steal money.
He collected loyalty.
He found people with weaknesses.
Debt.
Fear.
Ambition.
Then he helped them.
But every favor created a debt.
Every debt created control.
My father was not his son anymore.
He was his investment.
My mother was not his daughter-in-law.
She was a liability.
Vanessa was not his granddaughter.
She was a useful person who could be manipulated.
“He built your family like a business.”
I felt sick.
“And Daniel?”
Adrian looked at me.
“Daniel was the first person who refused to play.”
That sounded exactly like him.
“He told Robert he would expose him.”
“What happened?”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Robert panicked.”
“Did he kill Daniel?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Silence.
Then Adrian said:
“The person who loved Daniel.”
My heart stopped.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Claire.”
I stepped back.
“No.”
“There was one person Daniel trusted completely.”
“Stop.”
“One person who had access.”
“Stop.”
“One person who knew where he kept evidence.”
“Stop!”
The room went silent.
Because I knew.
I knew before he said it.
My mother.
Again.
But Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
I froze.
“What?”
“The person was not your mother.”
My breath caught.
“Then who?”
Adrian looked at me.
“Someone Daniel considered family.”
The answer came slowly.
May you like
Like a blade.
“Your father.”
