Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Mask
I wanted to hate Marcus Vale immediately.
It would have been easier.
People like him were supposed to look evil.
They were supposed to have cruel faces and obvious intentions.
But Marcus didn’t.
That was what made him dangerous.
He looked like someone’s grandfather.
Someone who would offer you a blanket during a storm.
Someone who would smile while destroying your entire life.
“Don’t listen to him,” Adrian said.
Marcus smiled.
“Still protecting strangers, Adrian?””
Adrian moved between us.
“She isn’t a stranger.””
The older man’s eyes shifted to him.
Interesting.
That single look carried years of history.
“You always were emotional.””
“And you always were a liar.””
Marcus sighed.
“After everything I did for you?””
A bitter laugh escaped Adrian.
“Everything?””
The room became silent.
I looked at Adrian.
There was something between them.
Something broken.
Something much older than me.
Marcus walked slowly toward the desk.
“You have questions.””
I didn’t answer.
“You deserve answers.””
Still nothing.
“Your mother’s name was Evelyn.””
My chest tightened.
I knew that name.
Not clearly.
Like a song heard through a wall.
Evelyn.
A woman’s voice.
Warm hands.
A perfume I couldn’t remember but somehow missed.
Marcus continued.
“She discovered things she wasn’t supposed to know.””
“What things?””
He looked at me.
“The Kane family’s real business.””
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“Enough.””
Marcus ignored him.
“Your father wasn’t the man the world believed he was.””
“Neither are you,” Adrian said.
Marcus smiled.
“Perhaps.””
That answer was worse than denial.
I stared at Adrian.
“Is it true?””
He didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“You knew.””
“No.””
“Not about me?””
“No.””
“But about your family.””
Adrian looked away.
“I knew my father wasn’t perfect.””
“That’s not the same thing.””
“No.””
His voice was quieter.
“It isn’t.””
Marcus watched us.
Almost enjoying it.
“You see, Wren, Adrian and I are very similar.””
“I’m nothing like you.””
Marcus laughed.
“You saved a dying man in an alley without knowing who he was.””
I said nothing.
“You chose compassion over survival.””
He tilted his head.
“Just like your mother.””
Something in my chest cracked.
“Don’t talk about her.””
His smile disappeared.
For the first time, he looked serious.
“I knew your mother better than anyone.””
“No.””
“She trusted me.””
“No.””
“She believed I would protect you.””
My hands curled into fists.
“You’re lying.””
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“Tell her.””
Adrian remained silent.
“Tell her what your father ordered.””
The room went cold.
“Adrian.””
He looked at me.
I hated what I saw.
Pain.
“You don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me.””
He swallowed.
“My father wanted custody of you.””
The words felt like a punch.
“Why?””
“Because of your mother.””
“What about her?””
Adrian hesitated.
Marcus answered.
“Because Evelyn Kane knew where the bodies were buried.””
The phrase made my stomach turn.
Adrian’s eyes flashed.
“Stop.””
Marcus looked almost disappointed.
“You still think protecting her protects you.””
Then he turned toward me.
“Your mother didn’t abandon you.””
Everything stopped.
“What?””
“She didn’t leave you on the streets.””
My breathing became uneven.
“Then what happened?””
Marcus was quiet.
“She was killed.””
The room disappeared.
No sound.
No movement.
Only that sentence.
My mother was killed.
Not gone.
Not missing.
Killed.
“Who?””
Marcus looked at Adrian.
Adrian looked back.
Neither spoke.
And somehow, I already knew.
Someone in that room knew the answer.
I stepped toward Adrian.
“Who killed her?””
His silence lasted too long.
My voice broke.
“Adrian.””
Finally, he said:
“My father.””
The world tilted.
Marcus looked satisfied.
“Now you understand.””
I turned toward Adrian.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“You suspected?””
“I didn’t have proof.””
“But you knew enough.””
He looked devastated.
“I didn’t know about you.””
“That doesn’t make it better.””
No one spoke.
Then Marcus walked toward the door.
“You should leave.””
Adrian’s eyes snapped to him.
“Why?””
“Because tonight, people are going to come looking.””
“For her?””
Marcus nodded.
“For everyone who knows the truth.””
He paused.
Then looked directly at me.
“Especially you.””
The door closed behind him.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Elena spoke.
“We need to get her somewhere secure.””
I laughed.
Everyone looked at me.
Secure.
That word felt like a joke.
I had spent ten years being unsafe.
Now suddenly everyone wanted to protect me.
“Where were you when I was sleeping under bridges?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Adrian.
“Where were you when I was hungry?””
His face changed.
Because he knew.
He had no answer.
I walked toward the door.
“Wren.””
I stopped.
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“If you leave, they will find you.””
I looked back.
“And if I stay?””
He didn’t answer.
Because we both knew.
May you like
The truth was dangerous.
But so was the man who had spent years hiding it.
