Chapter 8 - Why Adrian Chose Her
Adrian Whitlock requested the meeting from his attorney.
Clara refused.
Then he sent one sentence through Marianne.
MY MOTHER KNEW ABOUT HALCYON BEFORE I MET CLARA.
Clara changed her mind.
The meeting took place through reinforced glass at a secure attorney visitation facility.
Adrian looked different.
No tuxedo.
No expensive watch.
No audience.
For the first time since Clara had known him, he looked ordinary.
He picked up the telephone.
Clara did the same.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Adrian smiled weakly.
“You look good.”
“Don't.”
His smile disappeared.
“Fine.”
“You said your mother knew about Halcyon.”
“She did.”
“How?”
“I don't know exactly.”
“Then this meeting is over.”
Clara started lowering the phone.
“Wait.”
She stopped.
Adrian swallowed.
“My mother found something years ago. Documents from my grandfather's estate. He had business dealings with your mother's firm.”
“Greyhaven.”
Adrian's eyes widened.
“So you know.”
“Keep talking.”
“She became obsessed with your family.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed your father built part of his empire with money that should have belonged to hers.”
Clara almost laughed.
“My father bought distressed companies. Your family stole from investors.”
“I know that now.”
“Did you know when you met me?”
Adrian stared at the table.
That was the answer.
Clara's chest tightened despite herself.
“How much did you know?”
“At first? Not much.”
“At first.”
“My mother showed me your photograph.”
Clara said nothing.
“She told me you worked for a nonprofit. She said you were Elias Voss's daughter but didn't know how rich he really was.”
“And she told you to meet me.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“The Redbridge charity dinner.”
The exact place Adrian had always claimed he'd noticed Clara from across the room.
The romantic story he had repeated at their engagement party.
A lie.
Clara's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Did you ever love me?”
Adrian's eyes became wet.
“Yes.”
Clara almost hated him more for answering quickly.
“You planned to meet me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about why.”
“Yes.”
“You helped your mother obtain information about my trust.”
His silence stretched.
“Yes.”
“And on our wedding night you intended to pressure me into signing something that could access it.”
“I didn't understand the full structure.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Adrian looked away.
“Yes.”
Clara closed her eyes.
The last piece of grief inside her finally broke.
Not because she wanted him back.
Because there had been a time when she had believed something beautiful had happened to her.
Now even the beginning had fingerprints on it.
Adrian spoke softly.
“I did love you eventually.”
Clara opened her eyes.
“That doesn't make it better.”
“I know.”
“No, Adrian. I don't think you do.”
He looked at her.
“Love that grows inside a fraud doesn't erase the fraud.”
He lowered his head.
Clara leaned toward the glass.
“What does Vivienne want with Halcyon?”
Adrian's expression changed.
“There's something inside it.”
“Money?”
“No.”
“What?”
“My mother called it the original ledger.”
Clara's heartbeat quickened.
“Greyhaven?”
Adrian nodded.
“She believes your mother hid proof that my grandfather and several others committed crimes that were never discovered.”
“Where is your mother now?”
Adrian gave a bitter laugh.
“You really don't know?”
Clara went still.
May you like
“What?”
“My mother disappeared yesterday morning.”
