Chapter 14 - THE WOMAN WITH NOTHING LEFT
Vanessa disappeared for forty-eight hours.
Police searched airports.
Hotels.
Train stations.
Adrian doubled security around Grace and Eli.
On the third night, Vanessa came to him.
Alone.
She entered the mansion through an old service tunnel built decades earlier.
Adrian found her standing in his study.
She looked nothing like the woman who once attended galas beside him.
Her hair was wet.
Makeup gone.
Eyes hollow.
“Hello, Adrian.”
Grace was upstairs with Eli.
Adrian quietly pressed the emergency button beneath his desk.
“Why are you here?”
Vanessa laughed softly.
“Not to kill you.”
“You’ll forgive me if that isn’t comforting.”
She held up her hands.
“No gun.”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
Adrian stared at her.
Vanessa’s voice broke.
“I made a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“I got involved with Marcus because I was stupid.”
“You sabotaged my car.”
“I never wanted you dead.”
“Do you hear yourself?”
Vanessa began crying.
“I thought you’d be injured for a few months. Marcus said we would control the board, sell the company, and disappear.”
“You watched me suffer.”
“I stayed.”
“You drugged me.”
“I was scared!”
“You told me to accept never walking again.”
She sobbed.
“I started caring about you.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
“I did.”
“No, Vanessa. You started needing me alive because if I died, everyone would investigate.”
Her face changed.
Adrian had hit the truth.
Vanessa wiped her tears.
“You always were too smart.”
Police sirens approached outside.
She looked toward the window.
“You called them.”
“Yes.”
Her expression hardened.
“You think Grace loves you?”
Adrian said nothing.
“She loves the version of you she rescued.”
“Stop.”
“When you’re strong again, she’ll realize you don’t need her.”
Adrian stepped forward without his cane.
Vanessa stared at his legs.
He walked toward her.
Slow.
Steady.
Then stopped.
“You still don’t understand.”
“What?”
“I don’t love Grace because I need her.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“I love her because she never needed anything from me.”
Police entered.
Vanessa did not resist.
As officers led her away, she looked back.
“Did you ever love me?”
Adrian paused.
“Yes.”
Vanessa flinched.
He continued.
“That man died in the crash.”
They took her away.
Grace stood at the top of the stairs.
She had heard everything.
Adrian looked up.
“How long were you standing there?”
“Long enough.”
He climbed the stairs toward her.
One step at a time.
Grace waited.
When he reached the top, she smiled.
“You didn’t use the elevator.”
“No.”
“You’re showing off.”
“Absolutely.”
She laughed.
Then Adrian noticed an envelope in her hand.
“What’s that?”
Her smile faded.
“A job offer.”
His stomach tightened.
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
May you like
Adrian looked at her.
“You’re leaving?”
