Chapter 11 - THE WOMAN EVERYONE TRUSTED
Margaret Cole was seventy-two.
Elegant.
Soft-spoken.
Widowed.
And, as far as Adrian knew, completely removed from Cole Enterprises.
She lived in Connecticut and spent most of her time running charities.
Adrian drove there that afternoon.
Grace came with him.
Margaret opened the door herself.
“Adrian.”
She smiled warmly.
Then noticed Grace.
“Who is this?”
“Someone I trust.”
Margaret’s smile tightened.
They sat in the library.
Adrian placed the ledger on the table.
His mother’s face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“Dad.”
Silence.
Adrian watched her.
“Marcus stole from the company.”
Margaret looked down.
“I know.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
Adrian’s chest tightened.
“For how long?”
“Years.”
“And you said nothing?”
“He was my son.”
“So am I.”
Margaret’s eyes filled with tears.
“You were always stronger.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“So you protected the weaker one?”
“I protected the family.”
“You protected a thief.”
Margaret stood.
“You don’t understand what your father was like.”
“Then explain it.”
She turned toward the window.
“Your father planned to send Marcus to prison.”
“Maybe he should have.”
Margaret spun around.
“He was twenty-nine!”
“He stole millions!”
“He was terrified of disappointing your father.”
Adrian’s voice rose.
“And what about me?”
Margaret went silent.
“What about the eleven months I spent believing my life was over?”
“I didn’t know they would hurt you.”
Adrian stared at her.
The room seemed to tilt.
“What did you know?”
Margaret covered her mouth.
Grace whispered, “Adrian...”
He didn’t look at her.
“Mom.”
Margaret began to cry.
“I told Marcus where your father kept the ledger.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“You helped him.”
“I thought he would destroy it.”
“Instead he tried to destroy me.”
“I didn’t know.”
Adrian leaned back.
For the first time all day, he looked tired.
Really tired.
Margaret approached him.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.”
“Adrian—”
“Don’t touch me.”
She stopped.
He looked at his mother.
“You spent my whole life telling me family comes first.”
“It does.”
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“Truth comes first. Otherwise family is just another word people use to excuse what they’re ashamed of.”
Adrian turned his wheelchair toward the door.
Margaret suddenly said, “Your father didn’t die from a heart attack.”
Adrian stopped.
Grace’s face went pale.
Adrian slowly turned around.
“What did you say?”
Margaret stared at the floor.
“The doctors were wrong.”
Adrian’s voice barely came out.
“How did he die?”
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His mother looked at him with tears running down her face.
“I think Marcus killed him.”
