Chapter 8: The Father’s Warning
Adrian stayed in the study for almost an hour after the attorney ended the call.
Vanessa eventually left the room.
Not because she was giving him space.
Because she realized he wasn’t listening to her anymore.
And Vanessa hated being ignored.
Outside, the mansion remained perfectly quiet.
Almost too quiet.
Adrian sat behind the desk.
His desk.
At least, that was what he had always believed.
Now he wondered how many things in his life had belonged to him only because someone allowed him to believe they did.
He opened the folder again.
The amendment.
The trust agreement.
The signatures.
Everything connected back to his father.
Marcus Cole.
A man who never made careless moves.
Adrian picked up his phone.
He called an old number.
One he hadn’t used in years.
After several rings, someone answered.
“Adrian?””
The voice was familiar.
Older.
Tired.
“Daniel.””
His father’s former assistant.
“What happened?””
Adrian frowned.
“Why do you assume something happened?””
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“Because you only call when something breaks.””
The answer annoyed him.
But he ignored it.
“Did you know about my father’s trust?””
Silence.
Too long.
Adrian stood.
“You knew.””
Daniel sighed.
“Yes.””
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“Your father asked me not to.””
Adrian walked toward the window.
“Everyone knew except me.””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice softened.
“Everyone respected your father’s decision.””
“My father betrayed me.””
The words came out before Adrian could stop them.
Daniel went quiet.
Then said:
“No, Adrian.””
The response was calm.
“Your father protected you from yourself.””
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“You sound just like Nia.””
“Maybe because we both knew him.””
That sentence landed.
“Why was Nia involved?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
“Daniel.””
Another pause.
Then:
“Your father trusted her.””
Adrian laughed once.
“More than his own son?””
“No.””
Daniel corrected him.
“He trusted her because she was the only person who could tell you the truth.””
Adrian looked down.
That hurt.
Because it sounded exactly like something his father would say.
“What truth?””
Daniel sighed.
“The truth that power without humility destroys everything around it.””
Adrian gripped the phone.
“Don’t give me life lessons.””
“I’m not.””
Daniel’s voice became firmer.
“I’m telling you what your father wrote.””
Adrian froze.
“What?””
“He left a letter.””
A silence followed.
“Where?””
“With Nia.””
Of course.
Of course it was with Nia.
Everything important seemed to exist somewhere Adrian couldn’t reach.
“What did it say?””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“Your father gave it to her personally.””
Adrian looked toward the door.
“Nia has my father’s letter?””
“Yes.””
“And she never told me?””
Daniel’s voice softened.
“Did you ever ask?””
The question hit.
Adrian had no answer.
He ended the call.
For several minutes, he stood completely still.
Then he heard footsteps.
Nia.
She walked back into the study carrying a small box.
Not a dramatic entrance.
Not a confrontation.
Just a woman returning for something that was hers.
Adrian watched her.
“You knew.””
Nia stopped.
“Knew what?””
“My father.””
Her expression changed slightly.
“Yes.””
“You knew about the trust.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
Nia looked at him.
“No.””
The honesty surprised him.
“Why?””
She placed the box on the desk.
“Because it wasn’t my secret to tell.””
Adrian stepped closer.
“He trusted you.””
“He did.””
“Why?””
Nia looked at the photograph on the shelf.
A picture of Adrian and his father.
“He believed I could reach you.””
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“Apparently he was wrong.””
Nia looked back at him.
“No.””
Her voice was quiet.
“He believed you would eventually want the truth.””
Adrian stared.
“And do you think I do?””
Nia studied him.
For a moment, she looked less like his enemy.
More like the woman he married.
“I think you want the truth now because you lost control.””
The honesty hurt.
Because it was true.
Before Adrian could respond, Nia opened the small box.
Inside was a letter.
Old.
Sealed.
Adrian’s eyes widened.
“My father’s?””
Nia nodded.
“He asked me to keep it until you were ready.””
Adrian stepped forward.
“Give it to me.””
Nia didn’t move.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
She held the letter.
“Because once you read it, you can’t go back to believing what you believed before.””
Adrian reached for it.
“I’m sure.””
Nia handed him the letter.
But before he opened it, she said:
“There’s something you should know.””
He looked up.
“What?””
“My father didn’t create the trust because he thought you would fail.””
Adrian waited.
“He created it because he knew someone would try to make you fail.””
Adrian frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Nia looked toward Vanessa’s empty chair.
And for the first time, Adrian saw uncertainty in her eyes.
“It means your father wasn’t only protecting me from you.””
May you like
A pause.
“He was protecting you from someone else.””
