Chapter 4
Grace pulled away from me.
Her face held more pain than relief.
“You lied.”
“I concealed my identity.”
“That is a polished way to describe lying.”
Before I could answer, Vanessa laughed.
“Don’t be impressed. Adrian has always enjoyed testing people.”
The employees looked at me differently now.
Some were frightened.
Others were angry.
I deserved both.
Victor recovered first.
“This man is an impostor.”
Vanessa’s eyes snapped toward him.
He had misunderstood her game.
“Be quiet,” she said.
“But Mrs. Whitmore—”
“I said be quiet.”
Richard entered through the corridor, buttoning his jacket.
He stopped when he saw me.
For a moment, I saw my younger brother as he had looked at twelve years old after breaking our father’s watch.
Guilty.
Terrified.
Then his confidence returned.
“Adrian,” he said. “Thank God.”
He walked toward me with open arms.
I did not move.
He let his arms fall.
“We’ve been worried sick.”
“You forged my signature.”
Shock appeared on his face with theatrical perfection.
“What are you talking about?”
“The transfer of voting power.”
Richard glanced at the staff.
“You’re confused. The doctors warned us this might happen.”
“I have not seen a doctor.”
“You don’t remember.”
Vanessa placed a hand on his arm.
“Richard, don’t agitate him.”
Grace stared between us.
I understood their plan.
They would not deny my identity.
They would deny my sanity.
Richard lowered his voice as if speaking to a frightened child.
“You disappeared without medication, Adrian. You disguised yourself and wandered onto the property. You accused loyal employees of crimes.”
“Victor planted that bracelet.”
“Did you see him?”
I glanced at Grace.
The lie I had used to protect her had become their weapon.
“No.”
Richard sighed.
“Then you invented it.”
Victor’s confidence returned.
He reached for Grace.
I blocked him.
“Do not touch her.”
Richard gestured toward two unfamiliar men in dark suits standing near the hall.
Private security.
Not mine.
“Take Adrian upstairs,” he ordered. “Gently.”
The men approached.
Mateo moved beside me.
Then the laundress joined him.
An elderly groundskeeper stepped forward too.
Three people against an armed security team.
Grace did not move.
Her eyes remained fixed on mine.
I could not blame her.
I had entered her life as a test.
She had offered me food.
I repaid her with danger.
“Grace,” I said, “take Ruby and leave.”
Vanessa smiled.
“She isn’t leaving. The police are on their way regarding my bracelet.”
“That bracelet never left this house.”
“It was in her locker.”
Richard leaned close to me.
“Go upstairs quietly, and perhaps we can keep her daughter out of foster care.”
My fist closed.
For most of my life, anger had made people obey me.
This time, it nearly destroyed everything.
I grabbed Richard’s collar.
The guards pulled me back.
Vanessa gasped loudly for the watching staff.
“There!” she cried. “You all saw it. He’s violent.”
Richard straightened his tie.
“You need help, Adrian.”
I forced myself to stop struggling.
He wanted proof that I was unstable.
I would not give him more.
“Call Malcolm Reed,” I told Mateo. “Tell him the meeting must continue Friday.”
One guard twisted my arm behind me.
Richard’s smile vanished.
“What meeting?”
“The one where you planned to steal my company.”
They dragged me toward the stairs.
Grace suddenly stepped into our path.
“Wait.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
Grace looked at me.
“You said there are cameras everywhere.”
“Yes.”
“The laundry camera is broken.”
“I know.”
Her expression hardened.
“Then why mention it?”
“Because Victor didn’t know.”
Every face turned toward him.
Victor took one step backward.
Grace understood.
“When you mentioned the camera, he looked terrified.”
“That proves nothing,” Vanessa said.
“It proves he believed it recorded him.”
Victor’s hand moved toward his radio.
Mateo blocked the door.
Richard shouted at the guards to take me upstairs.
Grace raised her voice.
“Ruby saw him.”
My heart stopped.
“What?” Vanessa whispered.
Grace’s eyes filled with tears.
“My daughter told me Victor went into the laundry room carrying something wrapped in red velvet. I thought she was confused.”
Victor lunged toward her.
I drove my shoulder into the guard holding me and broke free.
Victor never reached Grace.
Mateo tackled him around the waist.
The corridor erupted.
Employees screamed. The second guard ran for the exit. Vanessa grabbed the bracelet and tried to slip it into her pocket.
Grace caught her wrist.
“That belongs to you,” Grace said. “So does the lie.”
Vanessa struck her again.
This time, Grace remained standing.
I stepped between them.
“Enough.”
The word came out low and deadly.
Richard pointed toward me.
“You see? He’s threatening my wife.”
“No,” a new voice said. “He’s protecting a woman you framed.”
Malcolm stood in the doorway.
Two state police officers were behind him.
Relief nearly weakened my knees.
Richard’s face lost all color.
Malcolm held up a folder.
“I brought the original corporate authorization records. Mr. Whitmore never transferred voting power.”
Vanessa recovered quickly.
“This is a family misunderstanding.”
“One involving forged medical reports,” Malcolm replied.
The officers entered.
Richard forced a laugh.
“You can’t arrest us based on accusations.”
“They’re not here for you,” Malcolm said.
One officer approached Victor.
“Victor Haines, we need to speak with you regarding theft, evidence tampering, and assault.”
Victor stared at Vanessa.
“You promised I would be protected.”
Vanessa stepped away from him.
“I barely know this man.”
Victor’s expression changed.
Betrayal could loosen a tongue faster than fear.
He pointed at her.
“She gave me the bracelet.”
Richard struck him across the mouth.
The officers seized both men.
In the confusion, Vanessa slipped through the side door.
I started after her, but Grace caught my sleeve.
“Ruby.”
Her voice was filled with terror.
I turned.
Ruby should have been with Mrs. Parker beyond the west gate.
Grace’s phone rang.
She answered with shaking hands.
“Mrs. Parker?”
A woman shouted through the speaker.
Grace’s face collapsed.
“What do you mean she never arrived?”
Everyone became still.
Then a message appeared on Grace’s phone.
It contained a photograph of Ruby sitting inside a dark car.
Beneath it were six words.
Withdraw every accusation, or lose her.
Grace looked at me.
“You promised to protect us.”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“My daughter is gone.”
