Chapter 10: The Woman at the Center
The vault door sealed before Grant’s men reached the library.
Inside, everyone stared at William Cole’s image.
“The person responsible,” William continued, “is Evelyn Cole.”
Adrian felt the room tilt.
Evelyn was his mother.
Or at least the woman who had raised him since he was four years old.
William explained that Evelyn had married into the family with one goal: permanent control of the Cole fortune.
Grant was her biological son from a previous relationship. Adrian had always believed they shared the same father.
They did not.
William had discovered the truth shortly before his death.
Evelyn convinced Grant that Adrian planned to remove him from the family and expose his parentage. She ordered the crash and used Grant’s fear to control him.
Hannah covered her mouth.
“I thought Evelyn died.”
“So did I,” Adrian said.
Three years earlier, Grant had announced that Evelyn had suffered a fatal stroke in Switzerland. There had been a closed casket and no public medical records.
On the video, William’s face hardened.
“If Evelyn disappears, do not assume she is dead.”
The power to the vault went out.
Emergency lights came on.
Maya examined the door.
“They’re trying to override it.”
Hannah searched through the files until she found a floor plan.
“There’s another exit.”
The escape tunnel opened into a greenhouse behind the estate.
Maya led them through as Grant’s men entered the vault.
They reached the woods and found an old utility vehicle hidden beneath a canvas cover.
As they drove away, Adrian looked back.
Grant stood outside the greenhouse.
He did not order his men to shoot.
Instead, he raised one hand as if warning Adrian to stop.
Grant called Adrian’s phone.
Adrian answered.
“You heard Father’s recording,” Grant said.
“Yes.”
“Then you know I wasn’t the beginning of this.”
“You still destroyed my life.”
“I did what she told me.”
“Where is Evelyn?”
Grant’s voice dropped.
“Closer than you think.”
A gunshot sounded through the phone.
Grant gasped.
The call disconnected.
Then another voice came through the line.
May you like
A woman’s voice Adrian had not heard in three years.
“Come home, son.”
