Chapter 2: The Man Behind the Door
The footsteps remained outside for several long seconds.
Isabella immediately closed the lockbox and slid it beneath the chair.
The handle slowly turned.
Adrian entered without knocking.
His face revealed nothing.
His eyes moved once across the room before settling on Oliver.
"He slept through the fireworks," Adrian observed.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then Adrian picked up Oliver with surprising gentleness.
For the first time that evening, Isabella saw something almost human in his eyes.
Almost.
"You've been keeping secrets."
Her heartbeat stumbled.
"I don't know what you mean."
Adrian calmly looked toward the rocking chair.
"I hope that's true."
Without another word, he returned Oliver and walked away.
Only after the door closed did Isabella realize her palms were soaked with sweat.
Someone had searched the nursery.
Nothing had been taken.
Which meant they were waiting.
Waiting for her next mistake.
The following morning she visited the family archives beneath the mansion.
Officially she was searching for documents for the charity foundation.
Unofficially she needed confirmation.
She found it.
A file labeled only with a date.
Inside was the name of Adrian's first wife.
No death certificate.
No burial record.
Only one sentence.
Removed from family registry.
Every photograph had been destroyed.
Every legal record erased.
As if she had never existed.
May you like
Isabella finally understood.
The threat had never been symbolic.
