Chapter 11: The Man Who Begged for My Help
I almost laughed when Adrian said it.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
The man who had humiliated me.
The man who had betrayed me.
The man who had stood beside another woman and told me to apologize.
Was now asking me to believe he had been betrayed.
"You expect me to feel sorry for you?""
My voice was colder than I intended.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
And somehow, that made me more uncomfortable.
The old Adrian would have argued.
He would have blamed me.
He would have found a way to make himself the victim.
But this time, he sounded broken.
"I know I don't deserve your help.""
I closed my eyes.
That sentence almost sounded sincere.
Almost.
"You're right.""
Silence.
"I don't owe you anything.""
"I know.""
"Then why call me?""
His breathing changed.
"Because Richard is going to destroy everything.""
I looked toward my brothers.
They were listening.
Caleb motioned for me to keep him talking.
"Explain.""
Adrian was quiet.
Then he said:
"When I met you, I thought I understood everything.""
My stomach tightened.
"I thought your family was hiding something.""
"Because Richard told you.""
"Yes.""
The honesty surprised me.
Adrian continued.
"He told me your mother had left behind something valuable.""
My jaw clenched.
"Valuable.""
A bitter laugh came through the phone.
"That's how he described it.""
"And what did you believe?""
Another pause.
"I believed him.""
At least he admitted it.
For once.
"I thought if I got close to you, I could find whatever your mother had hidden.""
The confession hurt.
Even though I already suspected it.
Hearing him say it made it real.
"Was anything real?""
My voice became quieter.
"Between us?""
Adrian didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Then he said something I didn't expect.
"At first, no.""
I looked down.
My heart felt strangely numb.
"But later?""
His voice changed.
"Later, I forgot why I was there.""
I said nothing.
"That wasn't supposed to happen.""
"Adrian.""
I cut him off.
"You don't get to rewrite what happened.""
"I know.""
"No.""
My voice shook.
"You don't know.""
The anger I had carried for days finally came out.
"You don't know what it felt like to love someone who was secretly studying you.""
Silence.
"You don't know what it felt like to stand beside you while you lied.""
"I know I hurt you.""
"You destroyed me.""
The words escaped.
And for a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Adrian quietly said:
"I know.""
Something about his voice made me realize something.
He wasn't pretending.
He was finally seeing the damage.
Too late.
But seeing it.
"Why should I believe anything you say?""
"Because Richard is planning something worse.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"He doesn't want the foundation.""
"Then what does he want?""
Adrian hesitated.
Then:
"Your mother's research.""
I froze.
"My mother's what?""
Adrian lowered his voice.
"Your mother discovered something about powerful people who were using charities to hide illegal operations.""
I looked at Marcus.
His expression changed.
Because he understood.
"The foundation wasn't the goal," Adrian continued.
"It was a doorway.""
A cold feeling spread through me.
"What does that mean?""
"Your mother kept evidence.""
"Where?""
"I don't know.""
The frustration in his voice sounded real.
"But Richard does.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The secret.
The lies.
The betrayal.
Everything connected.
"Why tell me?""
Adrian's answer came immediately.
"Because Richard is coming for you next.""
The call ended before I could respond.
For several seconds, I stood frozen.
Then Marcus spoke.
"You believe him?""
I looked at him.
"I don't know.""
And that was the hardest truth.
Because Adrian had been a liar.
But sometimes even liars told the truth when they were afraid.
Julian suddenly looked at his screen.
"Wait.""
We all turned.
"What?""
He pointed.
"There was a security breach.""
"Where?""
He looked at me.
"Your mother's old house.""
My blood ran cold.
"When?""
"Ten minutes ago.""
Caleb was already moving.
"Let's go.""
When we arrived, the front door was open.
Nobody needed to say anything.
We knew.
Someone had been inside.
The house was destroyed.
Drawers pulled out.
Books thrown onto the floor.
Pictures broken.
Someone had searched every room.
But they weren't looking for money.
They weren't looking for valuables.
They were looking for something hidden.
Something connected to my mother.
I walked into her office.
The same room where we found the letter.
The envelope was gone.
My heart dropped.
"They took it.""
Marcus looked around.
"No.""
He pointed.
The hidden compartment was still open.
But there was something left behind.
A small black notebook.
My mother's handwriting covered the first page.
I opened it.
And read the first sentence.
If you found this, it means Richard failed to hide the truth.
I stopped.
Because beneath it were words that changed everything.
May you like
The person you should fear most is not the man who betrayed you.
It is the person who taught him how.
