Chapter 12 - THE FAMILY SECRET
The word echoed in my head.
Sister.
I stared at Adrian Hales.
The man who had destroyed an engagement party.
The man who had hidden in the shadows.
The man everyone thought was a ghost.
"No."
The denial escaped before I could stop it.
Adrian looked almost sad.
"You really don't know."
I looked at Griffin.
He looked just as confused.
"What are you talking about?"
Adrian smiled.
"The same thing your father spent his entire life hiding."
Marcus stepped between us.
"Adrian, don't."
Adrian laughed.
"Still protecting them?"
His eyes became colder.
"After everything they did?"
Griffin's voice hardened.
"Explain."
Adrian looked around the hotel.
At the cameras.
At the security guards.
At the people who remained.
Then he said:
"My father had two families."
Silence.
"He had me."
He looked at Griffin.
"And he had you."
Then his eyes moved to me.
"And years later, he had Fay."
My mind struggled to understand.
"No."
Adrian nodded.
"Your mother was not just a witness."
He looked at me.
"She was family."
My chest tightened.
"You're saying..."
Adrian interrupted.
"Your mother was my sister."
The room went silent.
I looked at Griffin.
Then Adrian.
Then Marcus.
Everyone knew something except me.
My entire life had been built on missing pieces.
"Why was I hidden?"
Adrian's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked less angry.
More hurt.
"Because someone wanted all of us separated."
"Who?"
Adrian looked directly at Griffin.
"Your father's closest friend."
Marcus went still.
Griffin turned toward him.
"No."
Adrian smiled.
"Yes."
The accusation hit like a bomb.
Marcus shook his head.
"Don't listen to him."
Adrian stepped closer.
"You know it's true."
Griffin looked between them.
"Marcus?"
His voice carried years of trust.
Years of friendship.
Years of loyalty.
Marcus looked broken.
"I was trying to fix what happened."
Griffin stared.
"What happened?"
Marcus didn't answer.
And that silence was enough.
Adrian continued.
"Your father discovered someone was stealing from the company."
Griffin's face changed.
"He thought it was me."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"But he was wrong."
He looked at Marcus.
"It was him."
The accusation hung in the air.
Marcus finally snapped.
"You don't know what you're talking about!"
His voice echoed.
Everyone froze.
Because it was the first time Marcus had lost control.
Adrian smiled.
"There it is."
Griffin stared at his best friend.
"Marcus..."
Before Marcus could respond, the hotel doors suddenly slammed shut.
The lights went dark again.
A scream came from the lobby.
Then a single gunshot echoed through the building.
Everyone froze.
When emergency lights returned...
Marcus was gone.
And on the floor where he had been standing...
was a small envelope.
May you like
With my name written on it.
FAY LAWSON.
