Chapter 5 - Her Father’s Final Protection
Camille returned to the hospital and read the letter aloud.
Lena listened with tears slipping silently toward her pillow.
Her father wrote that he had discovered Adrian secretly negotiating loans against Vale family properties before the wedding.
Jonathan had confronted him.
Adrian denied everything and accused Jonathan of trying to separate him from Lena.
Knowing Lena was deeply in love, Jonathan chose not to force her into a decision. Instead, he created safeguards.
The family trust contained a hidden clause.
If Lena’s death resulted from suspicious circumstances involving a beneficiary, control would not transfer to Adrian. It would move temporarily to an independent trustee until the investigation ended.
Adrian’s plan had never been legally possible.
But he did not know that.
The backup drive contained copies of old financial records, private investigator reports, and messages between Adrian and Victor Hale.
Most were years old, but one detail stood out.
Victor had helped Adrian create Northstar Strategic Consulting shortly before Adrian and Lena married.
The company had been designed as a place to hide money.
“We can prove financial fraud,” Ruiz said. “But the attempted murder charge still requires stronger evidence.”
Lena studied the ceiling.
“Adrian thinks I’m helpless.”
Camille looked at her casts. “For the moment, you are vulnerable.”
“No,” Lena said. “That’s what he sees. There’s a difference.”
An idea began forming.
Adrian needed the trust documents.
If he believed the recording alone was not enough to convict him, he would still attempt to secure Lena’s shares before investigators discovered the hidden clause.
“He’ll come back,” Lena said.
Ruiz understood immediately.
“You want to make him believe the original trust documents are here.”
“Yes.”
“That is dangerous.”
“He already tried to kill me.”
Camille leaned forward. “Then we make sure he cannot try again.”
Ruiz arranged surveillance outside Lena’s room. A nurse deliberately mentioned within Adrian’s hearing that Lena’s attorney had delivered confidential trust documents to the hospital safe.
The information spread exactly as Ruiz expected.
That afternoon, Adrian called Victor from a temporary holding area after being released pending further investigation.
“The documents are at the hospital,” Adrian said. “Get them before she talks.”
Victor hesitated.
“You said she would not survive.”
Adrian’s voice turned cold.
“Do what I pay you to do.”
The call was recorded under a legal warrant.
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For the first time, investigators had Adrian ordering Victor to conceal evidence.
But they still wanted the truth about the brakes.
