Chapter 6 - The Brother Who Was Erased From History
Adrian Vale read the message again.
Do not let him touch Clara.
His eyes stayed on the photograph.
Gabriel Vale.
A man standing inside the hospital six years ago.
A man holding Clara’s medical records.
A man everyone told Adrian did not exist.
For the first time in his life, Adrian felt something stronger than anger.
Betrayal.
Because if Gabriel was real...
Then his entire family history was a lie.
And if Gabriel was at the hospital that night...
Then he knew what happened to Elena.
"Marcus."
The security chief immediately stepped forward.
"Yes."
"Get everyone to Clara's room."
Marcus nodded.
But Adrian stopped him.
"No."
Marcus looked confused.
Adrian looked at the photograph.
"Quietly."
Because if Gabriel had spent six years hiding from him...
Adrian knew one thing.
Gabriel was not afraid.
And a man who wasn't afraid of Adrian Vale was either powerful...
Or desperate.
Inside Clara's room, Selene stood between Gabriel and the little girl.
Gabriel looked at her.
"You are the maid."
Selene didn't move.
"And you are the man who entered a child's bedroom without permission."
A small smile appeared on Gabriel's face.
"You are brave."
"I'm protecting Clara."
Gabriel looked at Clara.
"Her mother wanted me to protect her too."
Clara pressed herself against the back of the wheelchair.
"You know my mommy?"
Gabriel's expression changed.
For a moment, he looked almost human.
"I knew her better than anyone."
Selene noticed.
The sadness.
The regret.
The pain hidden behind his eyes.
But she remembered Adrian's warning.
Do not let him touch Clara.
"Stay away from her."
Gabriel looked at Selene.
"You have no idea what Adrian has done."
Selene frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Gabriel stepped closer.
"The man you trust is the reason Clara lost six years."
Clara looked terrified.
"No."
Her voice was small.
"My daddy loves me."
Gabriel looked at her.
"I know."
The answer surprised everyone.
"I know he loves you."
He lowered his voice.
"But love doesn't mean someone can't make mistakes."
The bedroom door suddenly opened.
Adrian stood there.
His face was unreadable.
"Get away from my daughter."
Gabriel turned.
The two brothers looked at each other for the first time.
Six years of lies.
Six years of silence.
Six years of secrets.
All standing in one room.
Gabriel smiled slightly.
"You finally found me."
Adrian walked inside.
"You were never lost."
The smile disappeared.
Adrian continued.
"You were hiding."
Gabriel looked toward Clara.
"I was protecting her."
"You were watching her."
Gabriel's eyes hardened.
"Because someone had to."
The words hit the room.
Adrian stepped closer.
"Explain."
Gabriel laughed quietly.
"Still the same."
"What does that mean?"
"You always demand answers after everything is already destroyed."
Selene looked between them.
"How are you brothers?"
Neither answered.
Clara looked confused.
"Daddy?"
Adrian looked at her.
His expression softened.
Just slightly.
"I don't know yet."
Gabriel shook his head.
"You really don't."
Adrian turned back.
"Tell me everything."
Gabriel remained silent.
Then he looked at Clara.
"Ask her about the night of the accident."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Gabriel looked at Clara.
"Ask her what she remembers."
The room became silent.
Clara lowered her head.
Her small hands gripped the wheelchair.
Adrian noticed.
"Clara?"
The little girl didn't answer.
"Look at me."
Slowly...
She did.
Her eyes were filled with fear.
"What happened that night?"
Clara swallowed.
"I don't remember everything."
Adrian sat down beside her.
"That's okay."
She shook her head.
"No."
A tear fell.
"I remember something."
Everyone went quiet.
Clara looked at the floor.
"I remember mommy screaming."
Adrian froze.
"Screaming at who?"
Clara closed her eyes.
"I don't know."
"Clara."
"She said..."
Her voice trembled.
"She said she knew what they were trying to do."
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
"What were they trying to do?"
Clara looked at Gabriel.
Then at Adrian.
"She said they wanted me gone."
Nobody moved.
Even Gabriel looked surprised.
Clara continued.
"But mommy told someone."
"Who?"
The little girl whispered:
"She told Uncle Gabriel."
Adrian turned toward Gabriel.
"You were there."
Gabriel didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The answer was immediate.
Adrian stood.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Gabriel looked away.
"Because Elena made me promise."
"Promise what?"
"That if anything happened..."
He paused.
"That I would keep Clara away from you."
The words cut deeper than Adrian expected.
"Why?"
Gabriel looked at him.
"Because Elena believed you were being used."
Adrian's face hardened.
"By who?"
Gabriel didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward the desk.
He picked up the old photograph.
"The night Elena died, she discovered something about the Vale family."
Adrian watched him.
"What?"
Gabriel looked at Clara.
"Someone inside this family wanted her gone."
The room became cold.
"Who?"
Gabriel looked back at Adrian.
"You really want to know?"
"Yes."
"Even if the answer destroys everything?"
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Gabriel reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
Old.
Worn.
With Elena's handwriting.
Adrian recognized it instantly.
Another letter.
But this one was different.
Because it had never been opened.
Gabriel handed it to him.
"She wrote this for you."
Adrian took it.
"Why didn't you give it to me?"
Gabriel looked down.
"Because she told me not to."
Adrian opened the envelope.
Inside was one page.
Only a few lines.
Adrian,
If Gabriel gives you this letter, it means I failed.
The person who caused everything is someone you trust.
Someone who has been beside you for years.
Someone who knows every weakness you have.
Adrian stopped reading.
His eyes moved to the next line.
The truth is not outside our family.
The truth is sitting at your table.
His breathing changed.
Because there was only one person who matched those words.
Someone who had been there through every decision.
Every meeting.
Every secret.
Every loss.
Marcus.
Adrian slowly lowered the letter.
Gabriel watched him.
"You finally understand."
Before Adrian could speak...
The mansion alarm suddenly stopped.
Not triggered.
Stopped.
Every security system went offline.
Marcus looked at his phone.
His face changed.
"Mr. Vale."
Adrian turned.
"What?"
Marcus looked at the screen.
"The entire security network has been overridden."
"By who?"
Marcus didn't answer.
Because another message appeared.
One sentence.
May you like
A sentence that made Adrian's blood run cold.
THE PERSON YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS STANDING BEHIND YOU.
