Chapter 7 - The Grave Where Every Lie Collapsed)
The rain became heavier after Bianca arrived.
Mara stood in front of Eleanor's grave while Bianca held the pregnancy test like evidence in a trial she had invented.
"You could have left quietly," Bianca said.
"I tried."
"You could have signed the statement."
"I won't destroy another person's life to protect your money."
"Sebastian's life is already tied to mine."
"Then maybe stop tying lies around it."
Bianca stepped closer.
"You think Adrian will choose you?"
Mara's throat tightened.
"This isn't about being chosen."
"It will be when he learns what you are."
"What am I?"
"A maid carrying an heir."
Mara's expression changed.
"I am Mara Collins."
"Not in that family."
"My baby isn't a family strategy."
Bianca slapped her.
The rest happened as it had in the opening moments of the story.
Mara fell.
Bianca dragged her into the mud.
Adrian arrived.
Bianca recognized him.
Mara recognized his voice.
Then the false world Bianca had constructed began collapsing.
"Bianca," Adrian said. "You already knew whose baby this was, didn't you?"
Bianca remained silent.
Sebastian's car came through the cemetery gate less than a minute later.
He jumped out before it stopped completely.
"Bianca!"
She turned.
Sebastian took in the scene.
Mara in the mud.
Adrian standing in front of her.
One security man down.
Another refusing to move.
The pregnancy test in Bianca's hand.
His face went gray.
"What did you do?"
Bianca stood.
"What you wouldn't."
Sebastian looked at Mara.
"I'm sorry."
Adrian turned toward him.
"Don't speak to her."
"Adrian."
"Did you know?"
Sebastian swallowed.
"Know what?"
"That Mara was pregnant."
"Today."
"Did you know she and I knew each other?"
"After the accident."
"Did you help Bianca keep us apart?"
Sebastian looked away.
That was enough.
Adrian walked toward him.
Mara caught his sleeve.
"Don't."
He stopped.
She was shaking violently now.
Adrenaline.
Cold.
Fear.
Adrian immediately removed his coat and wrapped it around her.
"We're leaving."
Bianca laughed from behind them.
"Go ahead."
Everyone turned.
Mud streaked her burgundy coat.
One heel had snapped.
Yet she was smiling.
"You think taking her to a doctor fixes this?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"Bianca."
She lifted her chin.
"Ask Sebastian what happens if the child isn't legally recognized before the vote."
Sebastian closed his eyes.
Adrian looked between them.
"What vote?"
Sebastian answered.
"The board accelerated the trust review."
"When?"
"Three weeks."
Adrian's face changed.
"Why?"
"Because of your medical incapacity."
"I'm not incapacitated."
"They have documents."
"What documents?"
Sebastian said nothing.
Nathan had shown Adrian the forged voting authorization.
Now another possibility appeared.
Someone was trying not merely to separate him from Mara.
Someone was trying to remove him from control before anyone knew he had an heir.
Adrian turned to Bianca.
"You forged my medical records?"
"No."
"Did Sebastian?"
"No."
Sebastian looked at her.
"Who did?"
For the first time Bianca looked uncertain.
Mara noticed.
So did Adrian.
A new shadow had entered the story.
Bianca had lied.
Manipulated.
Intercepted letters.
But someone else had accelerated the trust review.
Someone who expected Adrian to remain weak.
Someone who might have caused the accident in Italy.
A black sedan stopped beyond the cemetery gate.
No one recognized it.
The rear door remained closed.
Daniel Reese, Adrian's security chief, stepped between Adrian and the vehicle.
"Sir."
Adrian looked.
The sedan backed away.
Then disappeared.
Sebastian whispered, "That wasn't ours."
Adrian took Mara's hand.
"We're going to the hospital."
Mara resisted.
"Adrian."
He turned.
Her eyes were full of hurt.
"You don't get to come back and decide everything."
He looked at their joined hands.
Then slowly released her.
"You're right."
The answer surprised her.
"So ask me."
Mara took a breath.
"Will you take me somewhere safe?"
Adrian's expression softened.
"Yes."
"Then do that."
He nodded.
As they walked toward his SUV, Sebastian called after them.
"Adrian."
Adrian stopped.
Sebastian held Mara's unsigned false confession.
"I think Bianca isn't the only one who wanted you to lose that trust."
Adrian looked at him.
May you like
Sebastian continued.
"And I think whoever did may have tried to kill you."
Related Stories
