Chapter 8 - THE LAST BARGAIN
Victor's words changed the room.
Adrian stepped in front of Nia.
“You're finished.”
Victor laughed softly.
“No. You are.”
He opened the file.
Inside were contracts, bank records, photographs, and copies of old family documents.
“I can destroy your company.”
“You can't.”
“I can expose every illegal operation your father built.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“And take yourself down with me?”
Victor smiled.
“I'm prepared.”
Nia looked at the papers.
Something caught her attention.
A payment schedule.
A series of dates.
Every payment corresponded with one of Erin's medical appointments.
Victor had been funding her care.
Not to help her.
To track her.
“You were monitoring her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed to know when the baby would be born.”
Erin stepped forward.
“You wanted my child.”
Victor looked at her.
“I wanted control.”
“Why?”
“Because your child is the only legal heir to Richard's trust.”
Erin stared.
“I don't want it.”
“That isn't the point.”
Victor turned toward Adrian.
“The trust contains enough money to dismantle everything.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Then why not steal it?”
“Because it requires family authorization.”
Nia understood.
“Mine.”
Victor looked at her.
“Yes.”
“That's why my name was added to the trust.”
“Exactly.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“You needed Nia.”
“And I needed you.”
Victor smiled.
“Marriage. Pregnancy. Family. It was all leverage.”
Nia looked at Adrian.
“For years?”
Victor nodded.
“But then something went wrong.”
“What?”
“You fell in love with her.”
Silence.
Adrian didn't answer.
Victor laughed.
“That wasn't supposed to happen.”
Nia looked at her husband.
For the first time, she saw the full shape of the trap.
Her marriage had not been arranged.
But once Adrian married her, Victor realized she could become useful.
The trust.
The pregnancy.
The medical records.
The old family secrets.
All of it had become leverage.
Victor turned toward Erin.
“Sign the trust over.”
“No.”
“Then your child becomes a target.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You touch her, and you won't walk out.”
Richard interrupted.
“Enough.”
He placed the original ledger on the table.
Everyone froze.
Victor stared.
“You had it.”
Richard nodded.
“I always did.”
“Where?”
“Where your father never thought to search.”
Victor looked at Nia.
Her face changed.
“The hospital.”
Richard nodded.
“St. Catherine's.”
Victor's expression collapsed.
Daniel stepped beside Richard.
“You're finished.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“You think a book ends this?”
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“People do.”
The room went quiet.
Adrian reached for his phone.
Victor's face changed.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling the federal investigators.”
Victor stared.
“You wouldn't.”
“I will.”
“You'll destroy your own company.”
“I'll rebuild it.”
“You'll destroy your father's legacy.”
Adrian looked at the family photographs.
“No.”
His voice was calm.
“I'll finally tell the truth about it.”
Victor stepped backward.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Then the front door opened.
Federal agents entered.
Victor turned toward Richard.
“You betrayed me.”
Richard shook his head.
“I stopped protecting you.”
Victor was taken away.
But the danger wasn't over.
Nia looked at Adrian.
“I'm leaving.”
He froze.
“I understand.”
“You don't get to decide what happens next.”
“I know.”
“I need space.”
“You'll have it.”
“I need safety.”
“You'll have that too.”
“And I need you to understand something.”
Adrian waited.
“I can love you and still refuse to live with what you did to me.”
His eyes filled.
“I know.”
She picked up her coat.
Then Adrian said quietly,
“I'll spend the rest of my life making sure Fiona—”
Nia stopped.
“Who?”
He corrected himself.
“Our baby.”
He swallowed.
“Our baby grows up knowing the truth.”
Nia nodded.
“That is where you start.”
She walked toward the door.
Then Erin called after her.
“Nia.”
She turned.
Erin held out the silver bracelet.
“I think this belongs with you.”
Nia stared.
“Why?”
“Because you were the first person in this family who didn't ask me to be useful.”
Nia took it.
Then Erin smiled through tears.
“You made me feel like I belonged.”
Nia closed her fingers around the bracelet.
“So do you.”
Behind them, Adrian watched silently.
He had lost control of his world.
For the first time, he understood that losing control might be the beginning of becoming someone better.
But before Nia could leave, Daniel entered from the hallway.
He looked at Adrian.
“There is one more thing.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
Daniel held out a final photograph.
It showed Nia at the hospital.
Eight weeks pregnant.
Beside her stood a woman Nia had never seen.
May you like
On the back were four words.
SHE KNOWS ABOUT THE BABY.
