Chapter 12 - The Man Behind the Door
Adrian moved Lily again.
This time he told no guards.
No drivers.
No lawyers.
Only Grace, Thomas, and Dr. Lena Ortiz knew where the child was.
Marcus responded exactly as Adrian expected.
He became impatient.
Three Vale security captains arrived separately at Adrian’s office asking where he had been sleeping.
Two claimed Marcus had ordered them to “protect” him.
Adrian dismissed all three.
By evening, Marcus requested an emergency private meeting.
Adrian agreed.
They met inside the closed Vale Athletic Club.
Marcus stood beside a boxing ring where they had trained together as young men.
“You remember this place?”
“Yes.”
“You broke my nose here.”
“You deserved it.”
Marcus smiled.
“Probably.”
For a moment, they almost sounded like brothers again.
Then Marcus said, “Give me the drive.”
Adrian’s expression did not change.
“What drive?”
Marcus sighed.
“Don’t insult me.”
“I know Thomas Kane survived.”
“I know he found Evelyn.”
“I know she had documents.”
Adrian stepped toward him.
“How?”
Marcus stared back.
“Because Thomas was supposed to die with her.”
The room became silent.
Marcus realized what he had said.
Too late.
Adrian’s voice became quiet.
“Supposed to?”
Marcus slowly smiled.
There was no point pretending anymore.
“You’ve always been smarter than people think.”
“And you’ve always been less loyal than I thought.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Loyalty?”
“I spent fifteen years making you untouchable.”
“I cleaned your mistakes.”
“I built alliances while you played businessman.”
“Then Evelyn arrived.”
“You started talking about leaving.”
“Changing.”
“Walking away.”
Marcus’s eyes darkened.
“You were going to destroy everything we built because a schoolteacher wanted you to become respectable.”
“She was an art teacher.”
Marcus laughed.
“That’s what you heard?”
Adrian’s hands curled.
Marcus moved closer.
“Bring me Lily.”
Adrian became perfectly still.
Marcus smiled.
“Yes.”
“I know.”
“And now you have forty-eight hours.”
“To do what?”
“Give me Evelyn’s evidence.”
“Withdraw the trust amendment.”
“And let the world keep believing Lily Vale died eight months ago.”
Adrian stared at the man he had once called brother.
“And if I don’t?”
Marcus took out his phone.
A photograph appeared.
May you like
Grace’s cousin was tied to a chair inside an unknown room.
Marcus said quietly, “Then people who helped hide your daughter begin disappearing.”
