Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Fire
The photograph on Adrian’s phone was impossible.
I stared at the screen.
A man stood outside the hospital entrance.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Wearing a dark coat.
But there was no mistaking the face.
Adrian’s father.
The man who had supposedly died fifteen years ago.
The man whose death had shaped Adrian’s entire life.
Adrian didn’t move.
He just stared.
“Adrian?””
No answer.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
Marco stepped closer.
“Boss…”
Adrian finally looked up.
“Lock down the hospital.””
Marco immediately nodded.
“Everyone?””
“Everyone.””
The fear in his voice was different from before.
Not fear of being attacked.
Fear of realizing his entire life had been built on a lie.
I looked at the photograph again.
“Your father is alive?””
Adrian swallowed.
“I saw his body.””
The words came out quietly.
“I was there.””
He looked toward the window.
“I was fourteen years old.””
For the first time, I saw the boy behind the dangerous man.
A child who lost his family.
A child who never got answers.
“What happened that night?””
Adrian sat down slowly.
“My father was investigating Vincent.””
I listened carefully.
“He discovered money was being moved through fake companies. Millions disappearing.””
“By Vincent?””
Adrian nodded.
“But before he could expose him, the fire happened.””
“And you saw him die?””
Adrian looked at me.
“I saw someone who looked like him.””
The room went silent.
“What does that mean?””
“I don’t know.””
Marco checked the hallway.
“Boss, we have a problem.””
Adrian stood.
“What?””
“The security cameras from the last hour were erased.””
His face darkened.
“By who?””
Marco hesitated.
“Someone with internal access.””
A chill ran through me.
Someone inside the hospital.
Someone close enough to watch us.
Then Alexander’s hospital room alarm started screaming.
We ran.
Doctors rushed past us.
The door was open.
Alexander was sitting up, pale and confused.
Adrian grabbed his shoulder.
“Who was outside?””
Alexander looked at him.
For a moment, he looked like he didn’t know him.
Then his eyes moved to me.
“Isabella.””
My heart stopped.
He reached toward me.
“You’re alive.””
I didn’t move.
I wanted to run toward him.
I wanted to hate him.
I wanted answers.
Instead, I whispered:
“Why didn’t you find me?””
The question destroyed him.
His eyes filled with guilt.
“I tried.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You disappeared.””
“I was forced to.””
“By who?””
Alexander looked at Adrian.
Then at Marco.
Finally, he whispered:
“By your mother.””
Nobody spoke.
“What?””
Alexander closed his eyes.
“Evelyn wasn’t just your mother.””
I stepped closer.
“She was hiding something.””
Adrian frowned.
“Explain.””
Alexander looked terrified.
“Your mother discovered the person controlling Vincent.””
“Who?””
He looked at me.
“The person who ordered the fire.””
The monitor beside him began beeping faster.
“Who was it?””
Alexander opened his mouth.
Then the lights flickered.
A shadow moved outside the glass.
Adrian turned instantly.
“Get down!””
A gunshot shattered the window.
Everyone dropped.
Glass exploded across the floor.
Marco pushed Alexander away from the window.
Adrian grabbed my arm.
“Stay with me.””
Another shot.
Then silence.
Security rushed in.
The shooter was gone.
But something remained on the floor outside the window.
A small envelope.
Adrian picked it up carefully.
Inside was a single photograph.
A picture of a young girl.
Me.
Standing outside the Whitmore mansion the night of the fire.
On the back was a message.
*ASK YOUR BROTHER WHY HE LEFT YOU TO DIE.*
I looked at Adrian.
My heart stopped.
“Brother?””
Adrian looked just as confused.
Then Alexander whispered from the bed.
“No…”
Everyone turned.
Alexander stared at Adrian.
“That’s not possible.””
“What?”” Adrian demanded.
Alexander’s face went pale.
“Because the person who took you away that night…”
May you like
He looked at Adrian.
“Was your brother.””
