Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE MERCER HOUSE BECAME A BATTLEFIELD
Adrian Mercer had one rule.
Nobody touched his family.
Nobody.
The moment Claire showed him the picture, something inside him changed.
Not anger.
Something worse.
Control.
The dangerous calm before a storm.
"Marcus."
His security chief answered immediately.
"Yes?"
"Lock down the house."
Marcus looked at the photo.
His face hardened.
"Already doing it."
Claire stood nearby.
Watching Adrian.
She had seen him angry before.
This was different.
This was a man preparing for war.
"Adrian."
He looked at her.
"Take Lily upstairs."
"What?"
"Go upstairs."
"I'm not leaving you."
The words came out before she could stop them.
Adrian stared.
For a moment...
neither of them moved.
Then he said quietly:
"You don't understand what you're saying."
"Yes, I do."
"No."
His voice became softer.
"And that's why I'm afraid."
Claire felt her heart tighten.
"You are not the only one who cares about her."
Silence.
Then Adrian looked away.
Because he knew.
She was right.
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Marcus reached for his weapon.
Adrian immediately moved Claire behind him.
Another sound.
Glass breaking.
Then the alarm system failed.
Someone had disabled it.
Inside the house.
Marcus whispered:
"We have an intruder."
Adrian's eyes turned cold.
"Find them."
The security team moved.
Claire grabbed Lily.
"Come on."
They reached the stairs.
Then Lily stopped.
"Claire."
"What?"
"Someone is in my room."
Claire froze.
"What?"
The little girl pointed upward.
"My music box was playing."
A chill went through Claire.
Because Lily's room was upstairs.
And they were standing downstairs.
Adrian heard.
His entire body went still.
"No."
He ran.
Not walked.
Ran.
Claire had never seen him move like that.
They reached Lily's bedroom.
The door was open.
The room was dark.
The music box played softly.
A lullaby.
Rebecca's lullaby.
Adrian entered first.
"Stay back."
Claire ignored him.
She followed.
The room looked untouched.
Until Adrian saw the table.
A small envelope.
With his name on it.
He picked it up.
Marcus arrived behind them.
"Don't."
Adrian opened it anyway.
Inside was a photograph.
An old photograph.
Of Adrian.
Victor.
And their father.
But written across it were four words.
The truth begins tomorrow.
Adrian stared.
Then another sound came from the hallway.
A child's voice.
"Hello, Adrian."
Everyone turned.
Victor stood there.
Smiling.
But this time...
he wasn't alone.
Two men stood behind him.
Armed.
Claire's breath caught.
Adrian stepped forward.
"How did you get inside?"
Victor smiled.
"Because you built a fortress."
A pause.
"But you forgot one thing."
"What?"
Victor looked at Claire.
"Every fortress has a door."
Adrian's expression turned deadly.
"What do you want?"
Victor smiled.
"The company."
A pause.
"And the truth."
Adrian laughed once.
Coldly.
"You broke into my house with armed men for a conversation?"
"No."
Victor looked at Lily.
"For a confession."
Claire felt Adrian move instantly.
Blocking Lily.
Protecting her.
Victor smiled.
"Still predictable."
Then he pressed a button on his phone.
The television in Lily's room turned on.
A video appeared.
Adrian froze.
Because the person on the screen...
was Rebecca.
His dead wife.
Alive.
And saying his name.
"Adrian..."
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Claire looked at Adrian.
And saw something she had never seen before.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Complete shock.
May you like
Because the woman he buried...
might never have been gone.
