Chapter 5 - The Dinner Invitation
Adrian listened to the recording six times.
Each time, Victor’s voice sounded colder.
More deliberate.
More impossible.
Thomas finally stopped the playback.
“If Marcus realizes I have that recording, he’ll burn everything.”
Adrian stared toward the dark church windows.
“Then we make him believe you don’t.”
Thomas understood.
“You want to draw them out.”
“I want them comfortable.”
“How?”
Adrian almost smiled.
“Family dinner.”
The following afternoon, invitations went out.
Adrian Vale requested the presence of his closest relatives and senior executives at the Vale mansion.
No explanation.
Victor accepted within four minutes.
Marcus accepted within two.
At seven that evening, black vehicles moved through the mansion gates.
Victor arrived in a navy suit carrying a bottle of twenty-year-old Scotch.
Marcus came behind him.
He hugged Adrian.
“You disappeared from Evelyn’s memorial.”
“I needed air.”
Marcus studied his face.
“Where did you go?”
“To Grace Miller’s apartment.”
Marcus paused for half a second.
“Why?”
Adrian poured himself a drink.
“Her daughter said something strange.”
Marcus laughed.
“She’s three.”
“Three-year-olds say strange things.”
“She said Lily was alive.”
The room went quiet.
Victor slowly lowered his glass.
Marcus shook his head.
“Adrian.”
“I know.”
“You’ve been through enough.”
“I searched Grace’s apartment.”
Marcus watched carefully.
“And?”
“Nothing.”
Adrian forced bitterness into his voice.
“No baby.”
“No yellow room.”
“No proof.”
“She disappeared before I arrived.”
Marcus glanced at Victor.
The movement lasted less than a second.
Adrian saw it.
Every instinct inside him wanted to grab both men and demand the truth.
Instead, he drank.
Victor approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Grief does cruel things to the mind.”
Adrian looked at him.
Victor had taught him to shoot when he was twelve.
Victor had carried him home after Adrian broke his ankle at fifteen.
Victor had once promised Adrian’s father that he would protect the boy as his own.
Now Adrian knew the same hand resting on his shoulder had ordered Lily’s death.
“You’re right.”
Victor smiled.
“You need rest.”
Marcus leaned against the fireplace.
“I can increase security.”
“No.”
Marcus frowned.
Adrian continued.
“I’m shutting down the search for Lily.”
The words almost destroyed him.
Marcus’s shoulders relaxed.
Victor’s eyes softened with satisfaction.
Adrian saw both reactions.
“Tomorrow, I’ll issue a statement.”
“I’m accepting that she died with Evelyn.”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“That’s probably best.”
Adrian looked into his glass.
“And I’m changing the succession structure.”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“To what?”
Adrian glanced at him casually.
“If I die without an heir, everything goes to charity.”
The silence that followed was beautiful.
Victor recovered first.
“That seems unnecessarily dramatic.”
“Maybe.”
Adrian stood.
“But there’s nothing left for family.”
Victor smiled again.
This time, the smile did not reach his eyes.
At 11:17 that night, Adrian’s surveillance team intercepted a message from Victor to Marcus.
Six words.
May you like
HE CANNOT SIGN THOSE PAPERS TOMORROW.
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