Chapter 10 - BEFORE HE MET ME
I couldn't feel my hands.
The photograph was dated six months before Adrian and I first met at a charity auction.
He had always described that night as fate.
He spilled wine near me.
I laughed.
We talked until midnight.
He asked for my number.
I believed our story began there.
But the picture in my hands proved Adrian had known my uncle before he knew me.
“Where did you get this?”
Mom answered carefully.
“I've been tracking David's financial network for years.”
Dad stared at the photograph.
“You never showed me this.”
“I wasn't sure Adrian understood who Claire was.”
I looked at Mom.
“What does that mean?”
“There are two possibilities. David introduced Adrian to you deliberately, or Adrian met David for unrelated business and later recognized an opportunity.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
But suddenly memories rearranged themselves.
Adrian asking casual questions about my childhood.
About my mother's family.
About people I knew overseas.
He had never asked directly about Dad.
Maybe because he already suspected.
“Did Adrian know I was Thomas Sterling's daughter?”
Mom shook her head.
“I don't think so.”
Dad frowned.
“Then why target Claire?”
“Because David knew.”
Silence.
My uncle had known exactly who I was.
And he'd helped Adrian enter my life.
I felt sick.
Mom opened another page.
Bank transfers.
David to a consulting firm.
The consulting firm to Vale Capital before Adrian and I were married.
“He financed Adrian?”
“Quietly.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
Dad swore softly.
Mom continued.
“Adrian was almost bankrupt when he met you.”
I looked at the photograph again.
“So our meeting wasn't random.”
“Probably not.”
The betrayal felt different now.
Bigger.
Older.
But then Mom said something unexpected.
“Claire, I don't think Adrian knew the whole plan.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“David used people. He told them only what they needed to know.”
“Adrian still cheated.”
“Yes.”
“He still hurt me.”
“Yes.”
“He forged my signature.”
“Yes.”
Mom stepped closer.
“I'm not defending him.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because knowing exactly what someone did matters.”
I stared at her.
She was right.
I hated that she was right.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice came through.
“Claire?”
My heart tightened.
It was Adrian.
“You're in custody.”
“My attorney arranged a call.”
I almost hung up.
Then he said, “David Sterling is going after your father tonight.”
I froze.
“What?”
“I know where.”
Dad stepped closer.
I put the call on speaker.
Adrian continued.
“There's a board meeting at seven tomorrow morning.”
Dad frowned.
“No meeting is scheduled.”
“There will be.”
Adrian's voice shook.
“David has enough proxies to call an emergency vote.”
Mom looked at Dad.
Adrian continued.
“He's going to accuse Thomas of concealing material risks, manipulating Vale Capital, and hiding Elizabeth's survival from the board.”
Dad's face changed.
David had prepared the attack from every direction.
“Why are you telling us?” I asked.
Adrian went quiet.
Then said, “Because I finally understand that Vanessa never loved me.”
I almost laughed.
“That isn't my problem.”
“I know.”
“Then give me a better reason.”
He swallowed.
“Because David told me something else.”
“What?”
A long pause.
“He said if tonight failed, he'd make sure your mother disappeared again.”
May you like
Mom went pale.
Then the line went dead.
