Chapter 13: The Man Behind the Curtain
Chapter 13: The Man Behind the Curtain
The name stayed in my mind all night.
Adrian Vale.
Vanessa's family.
The person who had been hiding behind every betrayal.
I had spent my entire career learning how to recognize threats.
A criminal's hesitation.
A liar's body language.
A hidden weapon.
But Adrian Vale was different.
He didn't hide because he was afraid.
He hid because he enjoyed watching people search for him.
At six in the morning, Agent Sloan arrived at my house.
She didn't knock.
She walked in with a folder and a look that told me whatever she found was worse than expected.
"I traced Adrian Vale."
I looked at her.
"And?"
She placed the folder on the table.
"Officially, he doesn't exist."
I opened it.
Empty records.
No employment history.
No government documents.
No verified identity.
"Impossible."
Sloan nodded.
"Exactly."
She sat down.
"Someone erased him."
My father looked up.
"Who has that kind of power?"
Nobody answered.
Because we all knew.
Very few people could erase a person's entire existence.
People with influence.
Money.
Connections.
I turned another page.
A photograph was attached.
Adrian Vale.
Older.
Cold eyes.
A familiar smile.
Then I saw the date.
Twenty years ago.
My stomach tightened.
"Wait."
Everyone looked at me.
"Why does he have a picture with my mother?"
The room froze.
My father took the photo.
His face changed.
He knew.
"Dad?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then quietly:
"Adrian Vale was your mother's business partner."
The words hit harder than expected.
"What?"
"Before I met your mother, Adrian was involved with her company."
My eyes narrowed.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
My father looked ashamed.
"Because I thought that part of her life was over."
I stared at the photo.
My mother.
Adrian.
Together.
Planning.
Building.
"What happened?"
My father sighed.
"Adrian wanted control. Your mother refused."
"And?"
"He disappeared."
I looked back at the photo.
"No."
I shook my head.
"He didn't disappear."
I closed the folder.
"He waited."
A notification appeared on my phone.
A message.
From Adrian.
You finally found the beginning.
My heart stopped.
Another message.
Now find out why your mother really chose you.
I stared at the screen.
The words made no sense.
Why my mother chose me?
Not Alexander.
Not herself.
Me.
I replied:
What are you talking about?
The answer came immediately.
Ask your father what happened the night you were born.
I looked up.
Everyone saw my expression.
My father went pale.
And that scared me more than anything.
May you like
Because Marcus Hart was not a man who feared many things.
But he feared this.
