Chapter 10 - The Father Who Didn't Die the Way They Said
Richard Cole had died from a heart attack.
That was what Adrian had believed for five years.
Grace finally told him the truth from a federal interview room.
Richard had collapsed.
But it wasn't natural.
Marcus had been supplying him with medication.
Victor had arranged it.
Richard survived the first poisoning attempt and secretly entered protective custody while federal investigators tried to build a case.
The photograph was real.
Three months later, however, Richard died from complications.
Adrian felt betrayed all over again.
“You let me bury an empty coffin?”
Grace cried.
“I was ordered to protect you.”
“There it is again.”
Protection.
The word Adrian had come to hate.
But this time, he stayed.
He listened.
Grace admitted every failure.
Her fear.
Her affair.
Her financial crimes.
Her attempts to protect Evan.
Her cowardice after Adrian's crash.
When she finished, Adrian didn't forgive her.
Not immediately.
But he said something she didn't expect.
“I'll visit again.”
Sometimes healing didn't begin with forgiveness.
Sometimes it began with refusing to close the door forever.
Outside, Hannah waited.
Adrian walked toward her.
His cane tapped softly against the floor.
“What now?” she asked.
May you like
He looked through the courthouse windows toward Manhattan.
“Now I rebuild.”
