Chapter 11 - RACHEL’S SECRET
Adrian stared at Rachel.
She looked terrified.
“You knew Claire?”
Rachel held Emma tightly.
“Yes.”
“Since when?”
“Before I worked here.”
Natalie stepped closer.
“How?”
Rachel’s eyes filled with tears.
“Claire helped me leave my husband.”
Nobody expected that.
Rachel continued.
“My husband was violent. Claire met me through the women’s shelter she funded.”
Adrian remembered.
Claire volunteered secretly.
She never wanted publicity for it.
“She helped me find an apartment. A lawyer. Work.”
Adrian held Claire’s broken phone.
“Why did she call you that night?”
“Because she was scared.”
Rachel swallowed.
“She told me people were following her.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her to drive to the police station.”
“Did she?”
“No.”
Rachel looked at the floor.
“She said the police couldn’t be trusted.”
Victor Hale.
Adrian understood.
“What else?”
Rachel hesitated.
“Claire told me something about Madison.”
Madison looked up sharply.
“What?”
Rachel faced her.
“She said Madison had been sleeping with someone in the family.”
Silence.
Adrian turned slowly toward Caleb.
Caleb shook his head.
“Not me.”
Then everyone looked at Daniel.
He smiled.
Madison’s face burned.
Adrian understood.
“You and Daniel.”
Madison said nothing.
“How long?”
“Adrian—”
“How long?”
“Four years.”
Natalie laughed in disbelief.
“You were sleeping with Daniel while pretending to be Claire’s best friend?”
Madison snapped.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“It is exactly like that.”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“So marrying me was part of your plan?”
Daniel smiled.
“At first.”
Madison glared at him.
“Shut up.”
“At first?” Adrian repeated.
Daniel continued.
“Madison was supposed to get close to you after Claire died.”
“To control me.”
“Yes.”
“To get access to the company.”
“Yes.”
“To put foundation assets into your hands.”
Daniel nodded.
Madison suddenly screamed.
“That was before!”
Everyone stared at her.
“Before what?” Adrian asked.
Madison looked at him.
And for the first time, she seemed ashamed.
“Before I actually fell in love with you.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You chased my wife into a ravine.”
“I didn’t mean for her to die.”
“You left her there.”
Tears ran down Madison’s face.
“I was scared.”
“You spent three years sleeping beside me.”
“I know.”
“You watched me grieve.”
“I know!”
“You comforted me.”
“I KNOW!”
The room went silent.
Adrian’s voice became colder.
“And every time I blamed myself, you let me.”
Madison collapsed into a chair.
Daniel laughed.
“Touching.”
She looked at him with hatred.
“You’re the reason everything happened.”
Daniel’s smile disappeared.
“No, sweetheart.”
He leaned closer.
“You’re the one who grabbed the wheel.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
Daniel continued.
“Claire didn’t crash because Madison’s car forced her off the road.”
Madison screamed.
“STOP!”
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“Madison climbed into Claire’s car before the final stretch.”
Adrian’s blood went cold.
“And when Claire tried to get away…”
May you like
Daniel smiled without humor.
“…Madison grabbed the steering wheel.”
