Chapter 7 - The Truth About Her Mother
Adrien could not move.
His mother stood beside Lily.
Eighteen years had passed.
Yet he recognized her immediately.
The same eyes.
The same smile.
Only older now.
She looked at him.
"Hello, Adrien."
His knees almost gave way.
He walked toward her slowly.
"You're alive."
She nodded.
"I'm sorry."
Adrien stopped.
"Sorry?"
She looked at Lily.
"I had to disappear."
"You let me believe you abandoned me."
"I know."
"You let me hate you."
"I know."
"Why?"
His mother closed her eyes.
"Because Daniel threatened you."
Adrien stared.
"He threatened to kill you?"
"Not me."
She looked at him.
"You."
Silence.
Adrien remembered his childhood.
The strange men.
The locked doors.
His father's warnings.
The sudden disappearance of his mother.
He had believed all of it was coincidence.
It wasn't.
His mother reached for him.
Adrien hesitated.
Then he let her embrace him.
He hadn't been held by his mother since he was fourteen.
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, he was a child again.
Then Lily tugged his jacket.
Adrien looked down.
She smiled.
"You're my brother."
He smiled through tears.
"Yes."
His mother looked at them.
"I never wanted you to grow up without each other."
Adrien looked at her.
"Why didn't you come back?"
"Because Daniel never stopped looking."
"Where did you live?"
"Different places."
"Who helped you?"
"Sophia."
Adrien's expression changed.
"Sophia is Lily's mother."
His mother nodded.
"She was my friend."
"What happened to her?"
His mother looked away.
"She disappeared."
Adrien's stomach tightened.
"Daniel?"
"We don't know."
"You said Daniel threatened me."
"He wanted to use you."
"For what?"
"To control your father."
Adrien frowned.
His mother continued.
"Your father wasn't the man Daniel believed he was."
Adrien listened.
"Your father knew Daniel was manipulating the company. But he was afraid of exposing him because Daniel had people inside the organization."
"Then why didn't he tell me?"
"Because you were young."
Adrien looked toward Lily.
"And Lily?"
"Your father discovered she existed."
"What did he do?"
"He wanted to protect her."
Adrien looked confused.
"Then why hide her?"
"Because Daniel was watching."
His mother took a breath.
"Your father created a false record. He made Daniel believe Lily had been sent away."
Adrien stared.
"So my father was protecting her?"
"Yes."
Adrien sat down.
For years, he had hated his father.
Now the story was changing again.
His mother handed him another envelope.
"Your father left this for you."
Adrien opened it.
The letter was short.
"Adrien,
If you're reading this, I failed to tell you the truth while I was alive.
You have a sister.
Her name is Lily.
Protect her.
Do not trust Daniel.
And remember this:
Family is not the people who share your blood.
Family is the person who stays when everyone else leaves.
I am sorry I made you believe you were alone."
Adrien lowered the letter.
His mother touched his shoulder.
"Your father loved you."
Adrien looked at her.
"Then why did he lie?"
"Because sometimes people choose silence when they think silence will keep their children alive."
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Adrien stood.
His mother grabbed Lily.
Elena rushed into the room.
"Someone is inside."
Adrien moved toward the hallway.
"Who?"
"The front doors opened."
Adrien looked toward the staircase.
A man's footsteps echoed through the mansion.
Slow.
Confident.
Daniel.
Adrien told his mother:
"Take Lily upstairs."
"No."
"Mom."
"I've hidden for eighteen years."
She looked at him.
"I'm not hiding tonight."
Adrien stared.
Daniel's voice echoed from below.
"Adrien!"
Adrien walked to the staircase.
Daniel appeared at the bottom.
He wasn't carrying anything.
He simply stood there.
Calm.
Smiling.
"Family reunion."
Adrien descended one step.
"You used Lily."
Daniel smiled.
"I protected her."
"You kidnapped her."
"I brought her back to where she belonged."
Adrien stopped.
Daniel looked toward the woman standing behind him.
Adrien's mother.
His smile disappeared.
"She wasn't supposed to be here."
Adrien understood.
Daniel had expected to control the story.
But now his biggest secret was standing in the hallway.
Alive.
Daniel looked at Adrien.
"Your mother has been lying to you."
Adrien said nothing.
Daniel smiled again.
"Ask her what happened the night Sophia disappeared."
Adrien turned toward his mother.
Her face had gone pale.
She whispered:
"Adrien..."
May you like
He waited.
"There's something I never told you."
