Chapter 15: The Last Lie
The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor.
Adrian stepped out first.
I followed.
Every office was dark except the conference room at the end of the hall.
A single lamp burned above the table.
Adrian walked inside.
“You're wondering why your father had to die.””
I said nothing.
He poured himself a drink with shaking hands.
“You think Richard ordered everything.””
“Didn't he?””
Adrian laughed.
“You still don't understand.””
I stepped closer.
“Then explain it.””
He looked at me.
“Your father discovered that Samuel was alive.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Richard wanted Samuel eliminated.””
“And you helped him.””
“Yes.””
The answer was so casual that it almost hurt more than the confession.
“You planned to marry me.””
“Yes.””
“You stole my inheritance.””
“Yes.””
“You isolated me from my family.””
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.””
“And my father?””
Adrian looked down.
“I didn't kill him.””
I stared at him.
“Then who did?””
“Richard.””
“Why?””
“Because your father refused to give him Northbridge.””
Adrian's voice lowered.
“Your father had evidence against him.””
“And you?””
“I was supposed to find it.””
I looked at him.
“You never did.””
“No.””
“Why?””
His eyes met mine.
“Because I found something else.””
“What?””
“You.””
I almost laughed.
“That's supposed to make me feel better?””
“No.””
He looked exhausted.
“I fell in love with you.””
I shook my head.
“You don't get to call that love.””
“I know.””
“Love doesn't look like this.””
“I know.””
“Love doesn't make someone afraid of their own home.””
He lowered his eyes.
“I know.””
For the first time, Adrian didn't defend himself.
That made me angrier.
“Why didn't you leave me when you realized you loved me?””
He swallowed.
“Because Richard threatened to kill you.””
I stared at him.
“And you believed him?””
“Yes.””
“You could have told me.””
“He would have killed you.””
“You could have told my brothers.””
“They would have come after him.””
“And you?””
“I thought I could handle it.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You couldn't even handle your own lies.””
His face tightened.
Then he reached into his jacket.
I froze.
He pulled out a folded document.
“Sign this.””
I didn't move.
“It transfers Northbridge back to me.””
“No.””
“You sign, and everything ends.””
“You're still trying to control me.””
His hand trembled.
“I don't know how to do anything else.””
A voice came from the doorway.
“You're about to learn.””
Marcus stepped inside.
Julian and Caleb followed.
Samuel came last.
Adrian stared at him.
“Dad?””
Samuel's face was hard.
“Don't call me that.””
Adrian's knees nearly buckled.
“You're alive.””
“Yes.””
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“You let Claire believe her family hated her.””
Adrian looked at me.
“I was protecting her.””
Samuel shook his head.
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“You were protecting yourself.””
Detective Bennett entered behind them.
“Adrian Cole, you're under arrest.””
Adrian looked at me.
Then at the document.
Then suddenly laughed.
“You think this is over?””
Bennett moved closer.
“What do you mean?””
Adrian looked at me.
“Ask Samuel who really ordered the first attack.””
Samuel's expression changed.
“Adrian.””
“You know.””
“What are you talking about?””
Adrian smiled.
“Tell her.””
Samuel said nothing.
I looked at him.
“Tell me.””
He closed his eyes.
“Richard wasn't acting alone.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who helped him?””
Samuel opened his eyes.
“Your mother.””
The room disappeared.
I couldn't hear anything.
My mother.
The woman whose photograph I'd carried for years.
The woman my father had loved.
The woman I believed had died heartbroken after losing him.
“No.””
Samuel continued.
“She and Richard had been involved before your father met her.””
Marcus whispered, “Dad…”
“Your mother helped Richard hide the money.””
My head spun.
“Why?””
“Because she believed Richard would protect you.””
I shook my head.
“And Dad?””
“He found out.””
“Then why did he stay with her?””
Samuel's eyes filled.
“Because he loved you.””
I began crying.
All those years.
All those secrets.
All those people making decisions about my life while I was never allowed to know the truth.
I looked at Adrian.
“You knew about my mother.””
“Yes.””
“You used it against me.””
“I did.””
“You knew my father protected me.””
“Yes.””
“And you still married me.””
“Yes.””
I nodded slowly.
Then I took the transfer document from his hand.
For one second, he looked hopeful.
I tore it in half.
Then again.
Then again.
The pieces fell onto the marble floor.
“I spent eight years believing I had no one,” I said.
Adrian stared at me.
“But I was never alone.””
Marcus stepped beside me.
Julian took my other hand.
Caleb stood behind us.
Samuel remained a few feet away, tears running silently down his face.
Detective Bennett placed handcuffs around Adrian's wrists.
As she led him away, he looked back.
“Claire.””
I didn't answer.
“You really think you're free?””
I finally looked at him.
“Yes.””
He shook his head.
“You'll always be the daughter of people who lied to you.””
I wiped my tears.
“Maybe.””
Then I smiled for the first time that night.
“But I'm also the woman who survived them.””
Adrian disappeared behind the elevator doors.
The building became quiet.
Outside, Chicago was beginning to lighten.
Dawn was coming.
Samuel approached slowly.
“I don't expect you to forgive me.””
“I don't know if I can.””
“I understand.””
I looked at him.
“But I want to know you.””
He nodded, crying openly now.
“I'd like that.””
Marcus put an arm around my shoulder.
Julian laughed softly through his tears.
Caleb looked toward the windows.
The first sunlight spilled across the city.
For eight years, Adrian had convinced me that my family had abandoned me.
The truth was almost the opposite.
They had been waiting.
And when I finally called for them, they came.
Not because I was wealthy.
Not because I owned Northbridge.
Not because I was Adrian Cole's wife.
May you like
They came because I was their sister.
And when everything else had been taken from me, that was the one thing no one could steal.
