Chapter 6 - The Vale Bloodline
Vale Holdings had never belonged completely to Adrian.
His father had structured the company that way.
Fifty-one percent of the voting shares remained inside a family trust.
Adrian controlled them only while he remained the final surviving direct heir.
If he had a biological child, those shares would pass into a protected trust for that child.
If Adrian died without an heir, control would transfer temporarily to a named executive steward.
Adrian had named Marcus Reed.
At twenty-seven, it had seemed meaningless.
Marcus was his brother in every way except blood.
Now the structure looked like a motive.
Evelyn had discovered it during her pregnancy.
She had asked Adrian to change the successor provision.
He had promised to do it after Lily was born.
He never got the chance.
Grace whispered, “If Lily died…”
“Marcus became one heartbeat away from controlling everything.”
“And Evelyn?”
Adrian stared at the trust papers.
“She knew.”
A message from Lena interrupted them.
Someone had attempted to access Lily’s DNA results.
The request had used credentials belonging to Adrian’s corporate medical program.
Only four people had authorization.
Adrian.
Marcus.
The company attorney.
And Evelyn.
Adrian closed the file.
Marcus was no longer simply suspicious.
He was desperate.
That evening Adrian visited Evelyn’s old art studio.
Nothing had been touched since her death.
Paintbrushes remained inside coffee mugs.
Half-finished canvases leaned against the walls.
A white lily was painted across one canvas.
On the back, Evelyn had written:
FOR LILY, WHEN SHE COMES HOME.
Adrian ran his fingers across the words.
Something rattled inside the wooden frame.
He cut the backing carefully.
A flash drive fell out.
There was also a note.
ADRIAN,
IF YOU ARE READING THIS, I WAS RIGHT TO BE AFRAID.
DON’T TRUST THE MAN WHO TELLS YOU I NEVER SUSPECTED HIM.
ASK WHO BENEFITED FROM THE SOUTH BRANCH DEAL.
E.
Adrian closed his eyes.
She had known danger was coming.
She had tried to leave him a trail.
A sound came from the front room.
Someone had entered the studio.
Adrian drew his weapon.
A man stepped through the doorway.
His face was scarred.
One side of his neck was covered in burn tissue.
Adrian stared.
The man lifted both hands.
“Don’t shoot.”
Adrian’s weapon slowly lowered.
“Thomas.”
Thomas Kane looked at him.
May you like
Then he said the words Adrian had waited eight months to hear.
“I saw Evelyn alive after the crash.”
