Chapter 5: The Woman He Never Knew
Nia sat alone in her car outside the mansion.
The engine was off.
The windows were closed.
But she could still feel the weight of that room.
The accusations.
The arrogance.
The way Adrian looked at her like she was an obstacle.
She placed both hands on the steering wheel.
For a moment, she allowed herself to feel everything she had buried.
The disappointment.
The anger.
The grief.
Not because Adrian left.
Because part of her had known he would.
The hardest thing about losing someone wasn’t when they walked away.
It was realizing they had been gone long before that.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from her attorney.
*He found the amendment. Are you sure you want to continue?*
Nia stared at the screen.
Then typed.
*Yes.*
She paused.
Then added:
*He needs to know the truth.*
She put the phone down.
The truth.
That was the one thing Adrian had never wanted.
Not because it would hurt him.
Because it would force him to admit he had been wrong.
A knock suddenly sounded against her window.
Nia looked up.
A woman stood outside.
Older.
Elegant.
Holding a small envelope.
Nia immediately recognized her.
“Mrs. Bennett?””
The woman smiled sadly.
“Hello, Nia.””
Nia opened the door.
“What are you doing here?””
The woman handed her the envelope.
“Your mother asked me to give you this when you were ready.””
Nia looked down.
The envelope had her name written across the front.
Her mother’s handwriting.
Her breath caught.
“She left this years ago?””
Mrs. Bennett nodded.
“She told me there would come a day when you would need it.””
Nia held the envelope carefully.
“What did she know?””
The older woman looked toward the mansion.
“She knew Adrian.””
Nia said nothing.
Mrs. Bennett sighed.
“Your mother always said people reveal themselves when they think they’ve already won.””
Nia looked at the house.
At the place where she had spent years trying to build a family.
“She was right.””
Mrs. Bennett touched her shoulder.
“Are you ready?””
Nia looked at the envelope.
“No.””
A small smile appeared.
“But I’m done waiting.””
Inside the mansion, Adrian was doing the same thing.
Waiting.
Except he wasn’t patient.
He was desperate.
The attorney had sent another message.
*You need to speak with Nia directly.*
Adrian hated those words.
Because speaking with Nia meant admitting he didn’t have control.
Vanessa stood near the fireplace.
“You’re going to let her come back?””
Adrian looked at her.
“She never left.””
“She walked out.””
“She still owns something here.””
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“You’re choosing her?””
Adrian frowned.
“This isn’t about choosing.””
“Everything is about choosing.””
He looked at her.
For the first time, he noticed something.
Vanessa wasn’t worried about him.
She wasn’t asking if he was okay.
She wasn’t asking what happened.
She was asking what she would get.
That realization bothered him.
“You knew about the divorce papers before I told you,” he said.
Vanessa went still.
“What?””
“You knew I was planning this.””
She looked away.
“Of course you told me.””
“When?””
“A few months ago.””
Adrian stared.
Months ago.
The same period when Nia had started becoming distant.
The same period when she stopped arguing.
The same period when she began organizing documents.
A cold feeling moved through him.
“Vanessa.””
“What?””
“Did you ever talk to Nia?””
Her face changed slightly.
“Why?””
“Answer me.””
“No.””
The hesitation came too quickly.
Adrian noticed.
He noticed everything now.
Or maybe he was finally paying attention.
Before he could ask again, the front door opened.
Both of them turned.
Nia walked into the mansion.
But she wasn’t carrying anger.
She was carrying the envelope.
Adrian stepped forward.
“What is that?””
Nia looked at him.
“Something you should have seen years ago.””
Vanessa moved closer.
“What’s inside?””
Nia looked down at the envelope.
Then back at Adrian.
“The reason my mother never trusted you.””
May you like
Adrian’s expression changed.
And for the first time, Vanessa looked afraid.
