Chapter 5 - Grace’s Mother Was Alive—and Adrian’s Family Had Hidden Her for Twenty Years
Grace couldn't speak.
The photograph trembled in her fingers.
Her mother.
Alive.
After twenty-one years.
She had spent most of her life believing her mother died because of a drunk driver on a highway outside Indianapolis.
She remembered the funeral.
The closed coffin.
The flowers.
Her grandmother refusing to discuss details.
Now Adrian stood beside her as everything she'd believed fractured.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“But your family did.”
“I don't know.”
Grace looked at him.
“Then find out.”
Adrian promised he would.
They traveled to Michigan that night.
The house was abandoned.
But evidence remained.
Old photographs.
Medical records.
Letters.
Grace's mother, Laura Miller, had been placed in protective custody after giving testimony against Victor.
Grace's grandmother had believed hiding Laura's survival was the only way to protect Grace.
But years later Laura disappeared.
Victor had found her.
Or so they thought.
A hidden message led them to a clinic in Detroit.
There they found Laura.
Alive.
Older.
Frailer.
But alive.
Grace walked into the room and froze.
Laura looked up.
For a few seconds neither moved.
Then Laura cried.
“Grace?”
Grace couldn't breathe.
“Mom?”
Laura stood.
Her legs shook.
Grace rushed forward.
They held each other.
Twenty years of grief collapsed into one embrace.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“I wanted to.”
“Then why?”
Laura looked at Adrian.
“Because they told me you'd die if I did.”
Grace stepped back.
“Who?”
“Victor.”
Adrian's jaw clenched.
Laura explained everything.
Victor had manipulated both families.
He framed Adrian's father as the architect of the criminal network.
He killed anyone who threatened his control.
Grace's grandmother had discovered the truth.
Laura had testified.
Victor had threatened Grace.
So Laura disappeared.
But there was one thing Victor did not know.
Laura had copied the entire financial ledger.
It was the same ledger he wanted.
“Where is it?” Adrian asked.
Laura looked at Grace.
“She has it.”
Grace frowned.
“What?”
Laura smiled sadly.
“Your grandmother hid it in the one place nobody would think to search.”
Grace remembered the old house in Indiana.
Her childhood bedroom.
The wooden bed frame her father built.
Underneath it was a compartment.
They returned.
Inside the frame they found a metal box.
The ledger.
Names.
Payments.
Killings.
Every secret.
Every betrayal.
And one final page.
Grace's name.
Beside it was a date.
Tomorrow.
Adrian stared.
“He's coming.”
“Who?”
“Victor.”
Then the house lights went out.
A vehicle stopped outside.
Adrian pulled Grace behind him.
Footsteps entered the house.
Someone shouted.
“Vale!”
Adrian raised his weapon.
Victor's voice followed.
“You finally found the truth.”
Grace's mother stepped closer.
“Victor.”
Victor appeared in the hallway.
He smiled.
“Laura.”
Adrian stood between them.
“You're finished.”
Victor laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“Your empire was never yours.”
Silence.
“I built it.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
Victor continued.
“Your father was my employee.”
“He was my father.”
“He was weak.”
Grace stepped forward.
“You're lying.”
Victor smiled.
“Your grandmother knew the truth.”
“She knew enough to stop you.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
Victor's eyes moved to the ledger.
“Now I need Grace.”
Adrian moved.
Victor's men raised their weapons.
A shot rang out.
Laura fell.
Grace screamed.
But Laura's wound was not fatal.
Adrian dragged Grace to safety.
Victor escaped.
The house burned.
Grace and Adrian watched from the road.
Everything was ash.
Grace cried.
Adrian stood beside her.
“I couldn't save everyone.”
“You saved me.”
“And your mother.”
Grace looked at him.
“You saved me more than once.”
He shook his head.
“You saved me first.”
She took his hand.
“Then maybe we're even.”
Adrian smiled.
“No.”
May you like
“What?”
“I think I owe you the rest of my life.”
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