Chapter 8: The Secret About Noah
The world became silent.
Not peaceful silence.
The kind that comes right before something breaks.
I stared at Adrian.
He looked back at me.
And I knew.
Whatever Jordan was about to say...
Adrian knew.
“Nia,” Jordan said through the phone.
I couldn’t speak.
My arms tightened around Noah.
My baby.
My son.
The only person in that room who deserved honesty from every single one of us.
“Tell me,” I whispered.
Adrian moved forward.
“No.””
The word came out instantly.
Everyone looked at him.
Not because he spoke.
Because he was afraid.
Marcus stepped between us.
“Don’t.””
Adrian ignored him.
“Nia, hang up.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
He stopped.
Because he had no answer.
Not one that could save him.
Jordan’s voice returned.
“He never told you.””
My heart started pounding.
“Told me what?””
Adrian shook his head.
“Don’t listen.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
That single word destroyed him.
Because he knew.
He knew I was no longer the woman who accepted silence.
The woman who waited.
The woman who forgave without answers.
Jordan continued.
“Five years ago, Adrian discovered something that could destroy his entire image.””
I closed my eyes.
Five years.
The same time period when everything changed.
The same year Adrian suddenly became obsessed with protecting his reputation.
“The night before your wedding anniversary,” Jordan said, “Adrian found out the truth.””
My voice became barely audible.
“The truth about what?””
A long pause.
Then:
“About Noah.””
My knees almost weakened.
I looked down at my baby.
Noah stared back at me with innocent eyes.
Unaware.
Safe.
Loved.
I looked at Adrian.
“Say something.””
He didn’t.
That was the answer.
Vanessa stepped back.
“Oh my God.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She looked at Adrian.
“You knew?””
Adrian’s face changed.
“Nia—”
“No.””
My voice cut through the room.
“Answer me.””
He swallowed.
“I was trying to protect you.””
The words felt like a slap.
“Protect me?””
He stepped closer.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
“Tell me what?””
His eyes moved to Noah.
Then back to me.
And that movement broke my heart.
Because it told me everything.
Jordan spoke again.
“Nia, there’s a document.””
My hand shook.
“What document?””
“The original test.””
The room stopped.
Marcus looked away.
Even he looked uncomfortable.
Adrian whispered:
“Please.””
I stared at him.
“Please what?””
His voice cracked.
“Don’t do this here.””
I almost laughed.
Because that was Adrian.
Always concerned about the room.
The image.
The audience.
Never the damage.
Jordan continued.
“The test was changed.””
I felt cold.
“What?””
“Adrian paid someone to alter the results.””
Vanessa gasped.
“No.””
Adrian looked furious.
“Shut up.””
The command came out harsh.
And suddenly Vanessa understood.
She wasn’t standing beside a powerful man.
She was standing beside someone who had spent years manipulating everyone around him.
Including her.
I looked at Adrian.
“Why?””
He looked broken.
“I was scared.””
The answer was so small.
So human.
But too late.
“Scared of what?””
He looked at Noah.
“I thought I would lose everything.””
I whispered:
“You already did.””
The words hurt me too.
Because a part of me still wanted him to deny it.
To tell me Jordan was lying.
To tell me there was some explanation.
But Adrian didn’t.
He just stood there.
A man watching his entire life collapse.
Marcus walked toward the table and placed a small envelope beside the folder.
“This is the original report.””
I stared at it.
I didn’t touch it.
Not yet.
Because once I opened it...
Nothing could go back.
Adrian looked at me.
“Nia.””
I looked at him.
“Did you ever love me?””
His face changed.
That question hurt him more than anything else.
“Yes.””
A tear formed in his eye.
“I did.””
I believed him.
That was the worst part.
I believed he loved me.
He just loved himself more.
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
I looked down.
A photograph appeared.
A photograph of the original document.
But there was something else attached.
A second file.
A note.
My hands went cold as I read the first line.
“Before you read the results, you need to know what Adrian did the night Noah was born.””
I looked up.
Adrian was staring at my phone.
May you like
And for the first time...
He looked like he wanted to run.
