Chapter 9: Adrian’s Confession
Nobody spoke after Adrian’s words.
The phone remained against my ear.
The world around me disappeared.
“You put it there?””
My voice sounded unfamiliar.
Adrian exhaled.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
A long silence followed.
The kind of silence people use when they are deciding how much truth they can survive.
“I needed you to know.””
I laughed quietly.
“After everything you did?””
“Emily—”
“You tied me up.””
“I know.””
“You humiliated me.””
“I know.””
“You destroyed my life.””
His voice cracked.
“I know.””
That stopped me.
Because Adrian Cole never admitted anything.
Not once.
Not when he hurt me.
Not when he lied.
Not when he made me question myself.
“Where are you?””
I asked.
“I’m outside.””
Alexander immediately shook his head.
“No.””
I covered the phone.
“He knows something.””
Alexander looked at me.
“So does everyone who wants something from you.””
I looked back at the window.
Black vehicles.
Dark figures.
A husband who had become my enemy.
A past that was destroying everything I believed.
I returned the phone to my ear.
“Talk.””
Adrian was quiet.
“Daniel Voss is planning something bigger than stealing money.””
I frowned.
“You worked with him.””
“I did.””
The honesty shocked me.
“Why?””
Another pause.
“Because I thought he was going to make me powerful.””
My stomach twisted.
“And what happened?””
“He lied.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
A man who built his life on manipulation had finally discovered what it felt like to be manipulated.
“You used me.””
“Yes.””
The answer came instantly.
No excuses.
No denial.
“Yes, I did.””
I felt tears forming.
“Why me?””
Adrian’s voice lowered.
“Because your father trusted me.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“Before I met you, I worked for your father.””
Alexander looked at me.
I put the phone on speaker.
Adrian continued.
“Richard Sinclair discovered what Daniel was doing. He planned to expose him.””
Thomas whispered:
“Keep listening.””
Adrian continued.
“Daniel knew your father was going to destroy him.””
“So he killed him.””
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
The room went cold.
“And you helped?””
Adrian’s voice broke.
“I helped Daniel get close.””
I stared at the phone.
“You were part of it.””
“I was.””
Alexander clenched his fists.
“Why tell her now?””
Adrian answered immediately.
“Because Daniel is going to kill me next.””
Nobody moved.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“Why should I believe you?””
“Because he has the account.””
Thomas looked up.
“What account?””
Adrian continued.
“The one Richard Sinclair hid.””
My breathing stopped.
“Where is it?””
“I don’t know.””
A pause.
“But Daniel does.””
Alexander stepped closer.
“Then why did you send the photograph?””
Adrian was silent.
Then he said:
“Because I found out the truth.””
“What truth?””
His answer came softly.
“The reason Daniel wanted Emily married to me.””
I waited.
Every instinct told me I didn’t want to hear it.
But I needed to.
Adrian whispered:
“Emily was never just a target.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Then what was I?””
A pause.
Then the words that changed everything.
“He needed you because your father left the account locked with one final key.””
I swallowed.
“What key?””
Adrian’s voice dropped.
“Your wedding ring.””
I looked down at my hand.
The ring Adrian placed there seven years ago.
The symbol of a love I thought was real.
The symbol I had never taken off.
Until that moment.
Because suddenly I understood.
May you like
Adrian had never been trying to marry me.
He had been trying to unlock me.
