Chapter 3: The Papers She Never Got to Show Him
Chapter 3: The Papers She Never Got to Show Him
Adrian's sobs echoed through the memorial hall.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Ethan kept staring at his younger brother.
"What papers?"
Adrian opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Margaret recovered first.
"He's upset," she said quickly. "Claire imagined things. You heard how frightened she sounded."
Ethan never looked away from Adrian.
"I didn't ask you."
Adrian wiped his face with trembling hands.
"They were divorce papers."
The words struck Ethan like a blow.
"What?"
Margaret stepped forward.
"She wanted to leave you."
"No," Adrian whispered.
Margaret shot him a warning look.
"No... that's not true."
Ethan's heartbeat slowed.
Not from relief.
From rage.
"Then tell me the truth."
Adrian closed his eyes.
"They weren't divorce papers."
"They were financial records."
Margaret's breath caught.
"Claire found out someone had been moving money through the family foundation."
Ethan frowned.
"The foundation?"
"It wasn't just money," Adrian continued. "She found fake signatures... hidden accounts... and property transfers."
Ethan stared.
"Why give them to you?"
"She didn't."
Adrian swallowed.
"Mom did."
The room fell silent again.
"She handed me an envelope three days ago and told me Claire had stolen confidential documents."
"I believed her."
His voice cracked.
"She told me to destroy them before you came home."
Ethan felt sick.
"Did you?"
Adrian slowly reached into the inside pocket of his suit.
Everyone watched.
Instead of ashes...
He pulled out a thick sealed envelope.
"I couldn't."
Margaret lunged toward him.
"Give me that!"
Ethan caught her wrist before she could reach it.
May you like
For the first time in his life...
His mother looked afraid of him.
