Chapter 6 - THE MAN BEHIND THE CONTRACT
His name was Adrian Vale.
I had heard it once before.
Not from Victor.
From my mother.
When I was twelve, I had found an old photograph in her bedroom.
She had been standing beside a young man.
I had asked who he was.
She had taken the photograph away.
“Someone who saved us.”
That was all she said.
Now my father told me the truth.
Adrian had been my mother's business partner.
And he had been the person who originally negotiated with Raul.
“He knew what Raul was doing,” my father said.
“Why didn't he expose him?”
“Because Raul threatened your mother.”
“And Adrian?”
“He disappeared.”
“Where?”
“We don't know.”
Alessandro's phone rang.
He listened.
Then his expression changed.
“We found him.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He's alive.”
My father stood.
“Where?”
Alessandro looked at me.
“In the city.”
That night, Adrian Vale walked into the private hospital suite.
He was older than the man in the photograph.
But I recognized his eyes.
He stopped when he saw me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said:
“You look exactly like her.”
I swallowed.
“You knew my mother.”
“I loved her.”
My father looked away.
Adrian noticed.
“You know.”
My father nodded.
Adrian approached me.
“Your mother trusted me with something.”
“The account.”
He froze.
“You found the key.”
I nodded.
He smiled sadly.
“She always said you would.”
“What is in the account?”
“Enough evidence to destroy the Hale empire.”
“Then why haven't you used it?”
“Because the account requires two keys.”
I looked at the silver key.
“Where's the other?”
Adrian looked at Alessandro.
Then at my father.
“Raul has it.”
My heart sank.
“So we need to get it.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Raul doesn't have the key.”
“Then who does?”
He looked directly at me.
“Victor.”
Silence.
I felt sick.
“Victor has it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother hid it in plain sight.”
I didn't understand.
Adrian reached into his coat.
He removed a photograph.
It showed my wedding.
Victor and me standing beneath the flowers.
My heart pounded.
“Look at his hand.”
I stared.
Victor was holding my hand.
On his finger was a ring.
My wedding ring.
Adrian pointed.
“Your mother had the second key turned into a ring.”
I stared at my own wedding photograph.
Then at my left hand.
The ring I had worn every day for eight years.
The ring Victor had chosen.
The ring I had always thought represented love.
My stomach turned.
“He knew.”
Adrian nodded.
“He knew from the beginning.”
A cold silence filled the room.
Then my phone rang.
A blocked number.
I answered.
Victor's voice came through.
“Did you finally figure it out?”
I couldn't speak.
He laughed.
“You always were slower than I expected.”
“What do you want?”
“Your ring.”
I looked at my hand.
He continued.
“Bring it to me.”
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
His voice became colder.
“If I don't get that ring, people you love will die.”
Then the call ended.
I stared at the screen.
Alessandro stood.
“We need to move.”
“Why?”
May you like
“Because Victor just escaped custody.”
And somewhere in the city, my husband was coming for the one thing that could destroy him.
