CHAPTER 5 The Mother’s Secret
CHAPTER 5 The Mother’s Secret
The ballroom erupted.
Hundreds of voices collided at once.
Some guests whispered in disbelief.
Others quietly moved toward the exits.
Nobody knew what to believe anymore.
But Adrian Westwood heard only one sentence.
“Don’t trust your mother.”
Claire’s voice continued playing in his mind.
The woman he loved.
The woman who knew him better than anyone.
The woman who had never accused anyone without proof.
Adrian stared at Margaret.
His mother stood completely still.
For decades, Margaret Westwood had controlled every room she entered.
She was known for her confidence.
Her intelligence.
Her ability to solve problems before anyone else even noticed them.
But tonight…
For the first time…
She looked afraid.
“Adrian.”
Margaret’s voice was quiet.
“You cannot seriously believe that recording.”
Adrian did not answer.
His eyes remained locked on her.
“Why?”
Margaret frowned.
“Why what?”
“Why would Claire say that?”
The question hung in the air.
Margaret opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
That hesitation told Adrian more than any answer could.
Natalie stepped forward.
“Margaret.”
Her voice was filled with anger.
“What did my sister find?”
Margaret looked at her.
“You should be careful with accusations.”
Natalie laughed.
“Accusations?”
She pointed toward the screen.
“My sister recorded herself saying someone in this family betrayed her.”
Margaret’s expression hardened.
“And you immediately assume it was me?”
“No.”
Natalie stepped closer.
“I’m asking why Claire believed it was.”
The room became silent.
Adrian looked at Madison.
She was standing near the staircase.
Her phone was still in her hand.
He noticed.
“You were texting someone.”
Madison froze.
“What?”
“Earlier.”
Adrian walked toward her.
“When Emma mentioned the closet, you grabbed your phone.”
Madison tightened her grip.
“I already explained that.”
“No.”
His voice became colder.
“You avoided the question.”
Everyone watched.
“Who were you messaging?”
Madison looked around the room.
She realized everyone was waiting.
Slowly, she unlocked her phone.
“There.”
She held it out.
Adrian took it.
The message screen was open.
A single conversation.
The contact name was hidden.
Only a number appeared.
The last message she sent was simple.
“He found the box. We need to leave.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
His stomach tightened.
He looked at Madison.
“Who did you send this to?”
Madison immediately reached for the phone.
Adrian pulled it away.
“Answer me.”
Her eyes filled with frustration.
“You are twisting everything.”
“Who?”
Madison looked down.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
“My lawyer.”
Nobody believed her.
Not even her.
Adrian looked at the message again.
A lawyer would not be someone you warned to leave.
A lawyer would not need to know that Adrian found a hidden box.
“What is your lawyer’s name?”
Madison hesitated.
“Daniel.”
Adrian stared.
“Daniel who?”
She did not answer.
Natalie suddenly spoke.
“Daniel Hart?”
Madison looked at her.
“How do you know him?”
Natalie’s face changed.
“Because Claire mentioned him.”
Adrian turned.
“What?”
Natalie looked at him.
“Two weeks before she died, Claire told me she was worried about a man named Daniel Hart.”
The room became colder.
“Who is Daniel Hart?”
Natalie shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Adrian looked back at Madison.
“Call him.”
Madison’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Call him.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
She looked around.
“No.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Why not?”
Madison’s silence answered.
Suddenly, a voice came from the entrance.
“Because Daniel Hart is already here.”
Everyone turned.
A man stood near the ballroom doors.
Tall.
Dark suit.
Calm expression.
He looked completely comfortable despite the chaos.
Adrian recognized him immediately.
Daniel Hart.
One of Chicago’s most powerful attorneys.
A man who represented billionaires, politicians, and corporations.
And apparently…
Madison.
The room went quiet.
Daniel walked forward.
“Mr. Westwood.”
Adrian stared.
“What are you doing here?”
Daniel looked around.
“I came because someone contacted me.”
His eyes moved toward Madison.
“She said there was a misunderstanding.”
Adrian laughed once.
A cold, humorless sound.
“A misunderstanding?”
He held up the photograph.
“My wife’s missing ring was found hidden in her closet.”
Daniel’s expression changed slightly.
Very slightly.
But Adrian noticed.
Then he held up Claire’s letter.
“She left evidence saying Madison was hiding something.”
Daniel remained silent.
Adrian continued.
“And now I find out you were the person she was texting.”
Daniel looked at Madison.
Then back at Adrian.
“Mr. Westwood, you should not make accusations without understanding the entire situation.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Then explain.”
Daniel did not answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward Emma.
The little girl holding the rabbit.
And then he said something that made everyone freeze.
“That child should never have been inside this house.”
Rachel immediately stepped forward.
“Excuse me?”
Daniel ignored her.
His eyes stayed on Emma.
“She knows more than she should.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
He moved between Daniel and the child.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Daniel looked at him.
“I’m trying to protect this family.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Madison.
“Everyone keeps saying they are protecting this family.”
His eyes moved toward Margaret.
“But nobody has protected Claire.”
Silence.
Then Adrian looked back at Daniel.
“Tell me the truth.”
Daniel remained quiet.
Adrian lowered his voice.
“Were you involved in my wife’s death?”
For the first time…
Daniel Hart lost his confidence.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
Because Adrian saw it.
Fear.
And he realized something terrifying.
The mystery surrounding Claire’s death was not a secret from the past.
It was a secret that had been living inside his house.
Waiting for someone to uncover it.
Then Emma suddenly pointed toward Daniel.
Her face became frightened.
“That’s him.”
Everyone turned.
Adrian looked down.
“Who?”
Emma hugged her rabbit tighter.
“The man who told the blue lady to be quiet.”
The entire room went silent.
Daniel’s face went pale.
And Adrian finally understood.
May you like
Madison was not the only person who had been hiding the truth.
TO BE CONTINUED…
