Chapter 6: The Truth Adrian Buried
Nia stared at Adrian’s hand around her wrist.
Not tightly.
Not enough to hurt.
But enough to reveal something.
Fear.
Adrian was afraid of what was inside that envelope.
And that made Nia want to open it even more.
“Let go.””
His eyes met hers.
“Nia.””
“Let go.””
Slowly, he did.
The room became silent again.
Nia picked up the envelope.
It was surprisingly light.
Almost nothing.
Yet everyone was watching it like it contained a bomb.
Vanessa looked down.
Evelyn looked away.
Adrian looked terrified.
Nia opened it.
Inside was a single document.
The first line immediately caught her attention.
She read it once.
Then again.
Her breathing changed.
“What is this?””
Nobody answered.
She lifted the paper.
“Adrian?””
His face was unreadable.
“Where did you get this?””
Vanessa whispered.
“From the clinic.””
Nia looked at her.
“The fertility clinic?””
Vanessa nodded.
The room seemed to tilt.
Nia looked back at the document.
It was a medical report.
A procedure history.
A name.
A date.
And a section highlighted in yellow.
She read the words silently.
Then looked up.
“This isn’t possible.””
Adrian closed his eyes.
That reaction told her everything.
“You knew.””
He opened his eyes.
“Nia.””
“You knew.””
His silence was an answer.
Nia stepped backward.
For a moment, the anger disappeared.
Replaced by something worse.
Confusion.
Pain.
“You knew this entire time?””
Adrian swallowed.
“I was trying to protect you.””
She stared at him.
“Protect me from what?””
He didn’t respond.
“From the truth?””
“Yes.””
The answer was quiet.
Honest.
And somehow that made it worse.
Nia looked down at the paper again.
“Three years ago, you went through this procedure.””
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.””
“And after that…”
She stopped.
Because she didn’t want to say it.
But she had to.
“You were told something changed.””
Adrian looked at the floor.
“Yes.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Adrian found out after the procedure.””
Nia looked at her.
“Found out what?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with fear.
“That the procedure wasn’t the problem.””
Nia frowned.
“What does that mean?””
No one spoke.
Then Evelyn quietly said:
“It means there was another reason.””
Nia looked at her.
“What reason?””
Evelyn’s lips parted.
But she stopped herself.
Adrian immediately said:
“Mom.””
Nia turned toward him.
“No.””
Her voice was sharper now.
“No more protecting him.””
Evelyn looked at Adrian.
Then at Nia.
And for the first time, Nia saw guilt on her face.
“Three years ago,” Evelyn said slowly, “Adrian received another medical report.””
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Stop.””
But Evelyn continued.
“One that said his condition wasn’t what doctors originally believed.””
Nia’s heartbeat increased.
“What condition?””
Adrian looked away.
“Nia…”
“No.””
She stepped closer.
“Tell me.””
Silence.
Then Adrian finally spoke.
“My fertility wasn’t the only thing they tested.””
Nia froze.
“What does that mean?””
He didn’t answer.
She looked at the document again.
Suddenly, the words felt different.
The report wasn’t just about a baby.
It was about something Adrian had hidden from everyone.
Vanessa wiped her eyes.
“I didn’t want this to happen.””
Nia turned.
“You knew.””
Vanessa nodded slowly.
“I found out later.””
“Later?””
“Yes.””
“And you still came here?””
Vanessa looked at Adrian.
“I thought he would tell you.””
Nia laughed softly.
“You thought the man who lied to his wife for three years would suddenly become honest?””
Adrian flinched.
A small movement.
But Nia saw it.
Then Adrian’s phone buzzed again.
Nobody moved.
Not even him.
Another message appeared.
This time, Nia saw the preview.
One sentence.
One name.
Her name.
*NIA COLE NEEDS TO KNOW THE TRUTH BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.*
The blood drained from Adrian’s face.
Nia slowly looked at him.
“Who keeps sending you these messages?””
Adrian didn’t answer.
“Who?””
He stared at the phone.
Then whispered:
“Someone who knows what happened the night you almost died.””
Nia felt the room disappear.
“What night?””
Adrian looked at her.
And she knew from his expression alone.
There was a part of her own life she didn’t remember.
A part of the story everyone else had been hiding.
And before Adrian could explain, the ballroom doors opened.
A woman stood there.
Holding a file.
Looking directly at Nia.
“I’m sorry,” the woman said.
May you like
Her voice echoed across the empty room.
“But Adrian was never the only one keeping secrets.””
