Chapter 9 - The Man She Trusted Most
Charlotte stopped breathing.
The video continued.
Her mother sat across from Alexander.
They looked serious.
Afraid.
"Alexander..."
Evelyn's voice shook.
"If something happens to me, you cannot let Charlotte know everything immediately."
Alexander in the video nodded.
"I understand."
Charlotte stepped backward.
"No..."
Everyone looked at Alexander.
Charlotte turned slowly.
"You knew."
Alexander's face changed.
"Charlotte..."
"You knew my mother was in danger."
Silence.
"You knew she was investigating."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Alexander looked down.
Because the truth hurt.
"I promised your mother."
Charlotte laughed bitterly.
"A promise?"
She shook her head.
"You all keep using that word."
Alexander stepped closer.
"I was trying to protect you."
Charlotte's eyes filled with anger.
"By lying to me?"
Nobody answered.
Because she was right.
The people who claimed they protected her...
Were the same people who kept secrets from her.
Alexander finally spoke.
"Your mother believed someone inside your family was watching her."
Charlotte looked at Adrian.
"So she trusted you."
Alexander nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why hide it?"
Alexander looked at the video.
"Because she was afraid."
Charlotte froze.
"My mother was never afraid."
Alexander whispered:
"She was when it came to you."
The words hurt more than anything.
Because Charlotte realized something.
Her mother wasn't trying to save the company.
She was trying to save her daughter.
Suddenly...
A loud alarm sounded.
Everyone turned.
The hidden room doors locked automatically.
Marcus looked concerned.
"Someone found us."
Charlotte looked at the security screen.
The hallway cameras showed dozens of guards approaching.
But they were not hotel security.
They were private armed men.
Adrian smiled.
For the first time...
He looked confident again.
"You should have left when you had the chance."
Charlotte stared at him.
"You planned this."
Adrian walked toward the door.
"No."
He smiled.
"I planned everything."
The lights turned red.
The security system activated.
And Adrian said the words that shocked everyone.
May you like
"Welcome back, Charlotte."
"Now watch me take your empire one more time."
