Chapter 8 - The Housekeeper's Secret
Hannah hadn't left because she believed Adrian no longer needed her.
That was only half the truth.
The other half was waiting in Brooklyn.
Her younger brother, Noah.
Adrian found Hannah outside a small apartment building.
She stared at him.
Then at the cane.
“You drove here?”
“Walter drove.”
“You walked from the car?”
“Mostly.”
“You shouldn't—”
“Stop.”
She fell silent.
“You left.”
“I explained.”
“You wrote six sentences.”
“Seven.”
“Hannah.”
She looked away.
Adrian stepped closer.
“Tell me the real reason.”
Her eyes filled.
“My last name isn't Brooks.”
Adrian stopped.
“My legal name is Hannah Lang.”
Peter Lang.
The accountant.
Adrian understood.
“He's your grandfather.”
“Yes.”
Hannah had applied for the position at the mansion deliberately.
Peter had suffered memory problems for years, but before entering the facility he told Hannah that Richard Cole's son was in danger.
She didn't know what he meant.
Then she learned Adrian was disabled.
Then Grace advertised privately for household staff.
“So you came to investigate me.”
“I came to find out what happened to my grandfather.”
“Everything was a lie?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
Hannah stepped toward him.
“That is why I left. Because the reason I entered your house was a lie. But everything after wasn't.”
Adrian's anger softened.
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid you'd look at me differently.”
“I do.”
Her face fell.
“I look at you as the woman who saved my life.”
She started crying.
Adrian reached for her.
This time she didn't retreat.
But their reunion was interrupted by Noah.
He came downstairs carrying a box.
Inside were Peter's old financial documents.
One ledger had been overlooked.
And inside it was proof that Marcus wasn't working alone.
A current Cole Enterprises board member had authorized dozens of transfers.
Chairman Victor Shaw.
Adrian's father's oldest friend.
Victor had publicly supported Adrian through the scandal.
He had called Marcus a monster.
He had promised shareholders a full investigation.
And according to Peter's ledger, Victor had received $23 million.
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The conspiracy wasn't over.
It had only lost one of its leaders.
