THE WIFE HE NEVER EXPECTED

The Truth About Adrian

Chapter 14

Amara gently closed the photo album and looked at Mrs. Evelyn.

"Who was Adrian?"

Mrs. Evelyn walked into the library and sat in one of the leather chairs.

For a moment, she stared at the old photograph in Amara's hands.

"Adrian wasn't born into the Black family," she began quietly. "He was an orphan."

Amara listened carefully.

"Mrs. Black found him at one of the orphanages she supported. He was only ten years old."

"And they adopted him?"

Mrs. Evelyn smiled.

"They wanted to, but Adrian refused."

"Why?"

"He said he already had parents... they were just watching over him from heaven."

Amara felt her heart tighten.

"So he stayed with them?"

Mrs. Evelyn nodded.

"He became Damien's best friend. They were like brothers."

Amara looked down at the smiling boy in the photograph.

"He looks so happy."

"He was."

Mrs. Evelyn's smile slowly faded.

"Until the accident."

"What accident?"

Before she could answer, Damien's voice came from the doorway.

"It wasn't an accident."

Both women turned.

Damien stood there, his face calm, but his eyes carried years of pain.

"I've spent a long time calling it an accident," he said.

"But the truth is..."

"...someone caused it."

The room fell silent.

Damien walked over and picked up the photograph.

"Adrian died protecting me."

Amara gasped.

"What?"

"There was an explosion at one of my father's factories."

"Everyone believed it was caused by faulty equipment."

He shook his head.

"It wasn't."

"It was planned."

Mrs. Evelyn lowered her head.

"The police never found the person responsible."

"They stopped looking," Damien replied.

"I didn't."

Amara stepped closer.

"So that's why you've been investigating all these years?"

Damien nodded.

"Yes."

"And now..."

He looked out the library window.

"I think the same person has returned."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Then Amara spoke softly.

"Is that why Isabella is in danger?"

Damien looked at her.

"I believe so."

"Then we'll find her."

He smiled faintly.

"We?"

She nodded without hesitation.

"You're not fighting this alone anymore."

For the first time in years...

Damien felt something he had almost forgotten.

Hope.

Just then, a security guard hurried into the library.

"Sir!"

Damien turned.

"What is it?"

"We've traced the phone call used to send the ransom message."

"Where did it come from?"

The guard swallowed.

"It came from..."

He looked at Amara.

"...the neighborhood where she grew up."

Amara's heart skipped a beat.

"My neighborhood?"

Damien's expression darkened.

"If the kidnapper is there..."

He reached for his car keys.

"We're going."