Chapter 6 - THE FRIEND WHO BETRAYED HIM
Adrian couldn’t move.
Daniel.
His best friend.
The man who stood beside him at his first wedding.
The man who helped him through every difficult moment.
The man he trusted more than anyone.
“No.”
Marcus watched him carefully.
“I know it’s difficult to accept.”
Adrian looked up.
“You’re lying.”
Marcus didn’t react.
“Why would Daniel do this?”
Lena answered softly.
“Because he wanted what you had.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What?”
“Your company.”
“Your name.”
“Your family.”
Every word felt heavier.
Adrian remembered.
Daniel was always there.
Always offering advice.
Always telling him who to trust.
Always warning him about Lena.
“He told me she was dangerous.”
Lena looked down.
“He wanted you to believe that.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
The memories started coming back.
Daniel telling him:
“Adrian, she’s only with you because of your money.”
“Adrian, you need someone who understands your world.”
“Adrian, Victoria is better for you.”
At the time, they sounded like concerns.
Now they sounded like a plan.
His phone suddenly rang.
Victoria.
He stared at the screen.
Lena noticed.
“She knows you found me.”
Adrian answered.
“Why?”
Silence.
Then Victoria’s voice.
“Because I know you’re with her.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“You’ve been watching me?”
“Adrian, listen to me.”
“No.”
His voice was cold.
“You listen.”
A pause.
“You lied to me for seven years.”
Victoria started crying.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Protect me?”
He laughed.
“You stole my children.”
“I didn’t steal them.”
“Then what did you do?”
Silence.
Again.
Adrian’s patience disappeared.
“Answer me.”
Victoria finally whispered:
“I helped hide them.”
The confession felt like a knife.
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Why?”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“Because Daniel promised me everything.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
“He said after you lost Lena, you would eventually love me.”
His hands tightened.
“But when Lena had children…”
Victoria started crying harder.
“I knew you would never let her go.”
Adrian felt sick.
“So you helped him.”
“I was afraid.”
“No.”
His voice became sharp.
“You were selfish.”
Victoria didn’t deny it.
That hurt even more.
Then she said something that changed everything.
“Adrian…”
“What?”
“Daniel isn’t the biggest problem.”
He frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Victoria whispered:
“Daniel didn’t start this.”
A pause.
“Your father did.”
Adrian looked at Marcus.
Marcus immediately looked away.
Adrian noticed.
“Marcus.”
No answer.
“Marcus!”
The attorney finally looked up.
And Adrian saw it.
Guilt.
“You knew.”
Marcus slowly nodded.
“I knew some of it.”
Adrian stepped back.
“How many people were involved?”
Marcus didn’t speak.
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked at the message.
And his face changed.
“What?”
Lena asked.
Marcus turned the screen around.
A single message.
One sentence.
WE KNOW ADRIAN FOUND HER.
Adrian looked outside.
The black SUV was gone.
But another car was approaching.
Fast.
Marcus stood up.
“We need to leave.”
Adrian grabbed his arm.
“Who is coming?”
Marcus looked toward the window.
And whispered:
“The person who was controlling everyone.”
The headlights stopped outside.
The front door shook.
Then someone knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Adrian stared at the door.
May you like
Because the person standing outside…
Was someone he thought had been dead for three years.
