Chapter 10 - THE RECORDING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The search for the recording lasted twenty minutes.
But to Adrian…
It felt like three years.
Because three years ago, he lost Claire.
Tonight, he was finally getting her back.
The hidden compartment contained another envelope.
Inside was a small memory card.
Claire’s handwriting was written across it.
“IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, PLAY THIS.”
Adrian inserted the card into the computer.
Everyone gathered around.
Nobody spoke.
The screen turned black.
Then Claire appeared.
But this time…
She was not sitting calmly.
She looked terrified.
“Adrian…”
Her voice shook.
“If you are watching this, I failed.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Claire continued.
“I found out who has been stealing from Westwood Holdings.”
A pause.
“I found out why Madison wanted to become part of this family.”
Madison stepped backward.
Claire looked directly into the camera.
“Adrian, the woman you trust is not the person you think she is.”
The video suddenly changed.
A security camera recording appeared.
A parking garage.
The night Claire died.
Adrian leaned closer.
Then he saw it.
Claire’s Mercedes.
Parked.
Not driving.
Someone was standing beside it.
A person wearing a dark coat.
Then the camera zoomed in.
The person turned.
Everyone gasped.
Because the face appeared clearly.
It was someone Adrian knew.
Someone inside his own family.
Someone who had been lying for three years.
The video stopped.
Adrian stared at the frozen image.
And whispered:
“No…”
Because standing beside Claire’s car that night…
May you like
Was Margaret Westwood.
His own mother.
