Chapter 15 - THE BETRAYAL INSIDE THE HOUSE
The traitor was Maria.
The head housekeeper.
She had raised Adrian after his mother died.
He had trusted her more than almost anyone.
When Daniel brought her into the library, Adrian didn't speak.
Maria looked at him.
“I didn't want anyone hurt.”
“You gave Vincent access.”
“I had no choice.”
“Everyone has a choice.”
Maria's eyes filled with tears.
“He has my granddaughter.”
Claire stepped forward.
“How long?”
Maria looked at her.
“Six months.”
Adrian's voice became colder.
“And what did he make you do?”
“Photographs. Schedules. Security changes.”
“Did you give him the ledger?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Maria looked toward Claire.
“Because your mother trusted me.”
Claire froze.
“You knew my mother?”
Maria nodded.
“She saved my life once.”
She explained everything.
Margaret had discovered Vincent's scheme.
Maria had helped her hide the ledger.
But Vincent eventually found out.
He threatened Maria's family.
Then came the final revelation.
“Your mother didn't die in the fire,” Maria whispered.
Claire's knees nearly gave way.
“What?”
“She survived.”
Adrian stared at her.
“Where is she?”
Maria shook her head.
“I don't know.”
The room went silent.
Then the door opened.
Lily stood there.
Behind her was an elderly woman.
Claire turned.
Her world stopped.
The woman looked older.
Thinner.
Her hair completely gray.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
“Mom?”
Margaret began crying.
Claire ran into her arms.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Adrian watched them.
Then Margaret looked at him.
“Adrian.”
He nodded.
“You grew up.”
“You were alive.”
“I had to disappear.”
“Why?”
“To keep Vincent from finding you.”
Margaret explained that Vincent had staged the fire and forced her into hiding.
She had watched Claire from a distance.
She had even visited Lily's school once.
But she never approached.
Because Vincent had threatened to kill Claire.
Claire was furious.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I thought it was the only way.”
“No.”
Claire stepped back.
“You don't get to decide what pain I can survive.”
Margaret cried.
“I know.”
The words hung between them.
Then Adrian heard something outside.
A car.
He looked toward Daniel.
“Who is that?”
Daniel checked the security cameras.
His face went pale.
“Vincent.”
The gates opened.
A convoy entered.
Adrian immediately ordered lockdown.
But Vincent wasn't attacking.
He walked into the courtyard alone.
Then he raised his hands.
“I came to negotiate.”
Adrian stepped outside.
“You've killed people.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to kill me.”
“Yes.”
“You threatened Claire.”
Vincent smiled.
“And yet you still came outside.”
Adrian stopped.
Vincent's expression changed.
“Because you want to know what your father did.”
Adrian froze.
“My father?”
Vincent nodded.
“Ask him.”
Adrian stared.
“My father is dead.”
Vincent smiled.
“Exactly.”
Then he threw a photograph onto the ground.
It showed Adrian's father meeting Margaret.
And beside them stood another man.
Adrian recognized him immediately.
His own father had not been meeting Vincent.
He had been meeting someone else.
The man was Adrian's grandfather.
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And in his hand was a birth certificate.
With Claire's name on it.
