Chapter 12: The Truth About Adrian Vale
I wanted to believe Eleanor was lying.
I needed to.
Because the alternative meant the foundation of my entire life was another illusion.
“You expect me to believe that?””
Eleanor crossed her arms.
“I expect you to investigate.””
That answer surprised me.
Because liars usually want you to believe.
Truth tellers want you to look.
“What happened?””
She walked toward an old table covered in dust.
“My mother was the real founder of Sterling Holdings.””
Richard had said the same thing.
“She invested everything.””
“And then?””
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“Then Adrian and Richard pushed her out.””
Daniel frowned.
“Dad said she disappeared.””
“She left because she had nothing.””
“That’s not true.””
Eleanor looked at him.
“You really think your father tells you everything?””
Daniel went quiet.
I hated that I understood her point.
Because everyone in this story had been hiding something.
Everyone had a version of the truth.
“I have proof,” Eleanor said.
She opened a drawer.
Inside was a folder.
She handed it to me.
I didn’t take it immediately.
“Why give this to me?””
“Because you deserve to know who your father really was.””
I took the folder.
Inside were financial records.
Old contracts.
Letters.
My hands moved quickly.
Then I found something.
A signature.
Adrian Vale.
Approving a transfer.
A transfer that removed Margaret’s ownership.
I looked at Eleanor.
“Did he do this?””
She didn’t answer.
That scared me.
Daniel looked over my shoulder.
“Vivienne…”
I continued reading.
The documents showed Adrian and Richard gaining control of the company.
But something was missing.
The final approval.
The document was incomplete.
“You forged this.””
Eleanor’s face changed.
“No.””
“Yes.””
I held up the paper.
“This signature is real.””
She smiled slightly.
“But the document isn’t complete.””
I looked closer.
And she was right.
The final page was missing.
The page that contained the actual ownership transfer.
Someone had removed it.
“Where is it?””
Eleanor looked at me.
“Safe.””
“Whose safe?””
She didn’t answer.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Mom’s.””
Everyone turned.
Daniel looked at his mother.
“You had it.””
Eleanor’s expression softened.
“My son.””
“No.””
His voice was firm.
“You knew.””
She looked hurt.
“I was protecting you.””
There it was again.
The same excuse.
I almost laughed.
“You really believe that?””
Eleanor looked at me.
“You think I’m evil because I fought back.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I think you’re dangerous because you convinced yourself everything you do is justified.””
For the first time, Eleanor looked angry.
Real anger.
“You know nothing about what I lost.””
“You’re right.””
I stepped closer.
“But you don’t know what I lost either.””
The room went silent.
Because maybe that was the difference.
Everyone in this family had suffered.
But suffering did not excuse cruelty.
Then the lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the building.
Daniel immediately grabbed my hand.
“Stay close.””
A sound echoed.
Footsteps.
Someone else was inside.
Not Eleanor.
Not Richard.
Someone we hadn’t expected.
A flashlight turned on.
A figure stood at the entrance.
Eleanor looked shocked.
“No.””
The person stepped forward.
And I recognized him.
Marcus Vale.
But his expression was different.
Not friendly.
Not helpful.
Cold.
“I warned you, Vivienne.””
My heart tightened.
“About what?””
Marcus looked at the folder in my hand.
“About digging into a story that was never yours to uncover.””
Daniel stepped in front of me.
Marcus smiled.
“Still protecting her?””
“Yes.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Then you really don’t know.””
Daniel frowned.
“Know what?””
Marcus looked at him.
“The truth about why your father married Claire Bennett.””
My blood froze.
“What?””
Marcus looked directly at me.
“Your mother wasn’t a victim.””
Silence.
“She was the reason Adrian Vale died.””
The world stopped.
I stared at him.
“No.””
Marcus’s voice became colder.
“She knows exactly what happened that night.””
I looked at the man who had claimed to know my past.
The man who had brought me answers.
And suddenly I wondered…
Was he another person using my pain for his own revenge?
May you like
Because everyone had a secret.
And now I was running out of people I could trust.
