Chapter 14 - What Maryanne Remembered
Adeline did not leave.
Not that day.
But she packed one suitcase.
Cassian saw it near the bedroom door.
He said nothing.
That silence hurt more than an argument would have.
She visited Maryanne alone.
Her mother was having a good day.
They sat beside the window.
Adeline showed her an ultrasound photograph.
Maryanne stared.
“A baby?”
“Yes.”
“Yours?”
Adeline smiled.
“Yes.”
Maryanne touched the image.
“Henry wanted grandchildren.”
Adeline’s breath caught.
“Mom?”
Her mother looked at her clearly.
“Your father would have spoiled them.”
Tears filled Adeline’s eyes.
It was as if a door had opened briefly inside Maryanne’s mind.
Adeline was afraid to move too quickly.
“Did Dad know Cassian?”
Maryanne nodded.
“He knew his father.”
“What happened?”
“Henry kept books.”
“Yes.”
“He found money going where money shouldn’t go.”
“Lucien?”
“Cain.”
“Ezra Sr.?”
Maryanne frowned.
“Both.”
Adeline took her hand.
“Mom, why did Dad keep investigating?”
Maryanne smiled sadly.
“Because he thought truth mattered even if powerful men didn’t.”
That sounded exactly like Henry.
“And Gabriel?”
Maryanne’s eyes sharpened.
“Poor boy.”
“You met him?”
“Once.”
“When?”
“Henry brought him home.”
Adeline stopped breathing.
“How old?”
“Maybe twenty-nine.”
That meant eight years ago.
Gabriel had known Henry.
“Why didn’t Gabriel tell us?”
Maryanne looked confused.
“He promised.”
“Promised what?”
“To protect you.”
Adeline leaned closer.
“Me?”
Maryanne nodded.
“Henry knew they were watching.”
Everything shifted.
Gabriel had not merely been following Adeline as part of Lucien’s plan.
He may have been keeping Henry’s promise.
The hospital gala.
Lake Forest.
The missing blood vial.
Perhaps Gabriel had been trying to protect evidence.
Adeline returned to the mansion and confronted him.
Gabriel did not deny it.
“Your father found me eight years ago.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the fewer people who knew our relationship, the safer you were.”
“I’m beginning to hate that sentence.”
He almost smiled.
“Understandable.”
“What promise did you make?”
Gabriel looked away.
“When Henry realized Lucien knew he was investigating, he asked me to watch you and Maryanne.”
“So the photographs in the church?”
“Mine.”
“You followed me for four years?”
“Yes.”
“That’s disturbing.”
“Yes.”
“Useful, occasionally.”
“Still disturbing.”
He accepted that.
Adeline crossed her arms.
“The night at Lake Forest.”
“I was there.”
“You took the blood vial.”
“Yes.”
“Why not tell Cassian?”
“I didn’t trust him.”
Cassian, standing in the doorway, said, “Charming.”
Gabriel barely reacted.
“I had spent thirty years being told you were our father reborn.”
“Our father was murdered.”
“He was also ruthless.”
Cassian could not deny it.
Gabriel continued.
“I needed proof you weren’t part of the scheme.”
“And?”
“I watched Adeline save your life.”
He looked at his brother.
“Then I watched you insist no one harm her even while you could barely remain conscious.”
Cassian frowned.
“I don’t remember.”
“You told Ezra you’d bury anyone who touched the nurse.”
Adeline looked at him.
Cassian appeared annoyed.
“I was ill.”
Gabriel smiled.
“Apparently sentiment is a fever symptom.”
Adeline laughed.
The sound surprised all three.
For a moment they were not members of a damaged dynasty.
Just people.
Then Adeline’s expression softened.
“Why did you send the photograph telling Cassian to ask what happened after midnight?”
“To force him to investigate.”
“You terrified me.”
“I’m sorry.”
The apology was direct.
No justification.
She appreciated that.
Cassian asked, “Are you staying?”
Gabriel looked toward the window.
“In Chicago?”
“In the family.”
Gabriel laughed.
“I’m not sure this qualifies as one.”
“It can.”
The answer surprised him.
Cassian continued.
“I don’t know what brothers are supposed to do.”
“Based on our family history, apparently conceal each other for decades.”
“Let’s avoid that.”
“Agreed.”
Adeline watched them.
Something quietly repaired itself.
Not everything.
But enough to begin.
That evening she found Cassian in the bedroom.
Her suitcase still sat near the door.
He looked at it once.
Then away.
Adeline said, “I’m angry.”
“I know.”
“At you too.”
“I know.”
“You investigated me before offering the contract.”
“Yes.”
“You knew more about my life than I knew about yours.”
“Yes.”
“You used my financial desperation.”
Cassian took longer.
“Yes.”
Adeline’s eyes filled.
“And somehow I still love you.”
Cassian went completely still.
She had not meant to say it.
But there it was.
No clause.
No protection.
No withdrawal.
Cassian looked at her as though she had spoken a language he understood intellectually but had never heard aloud.
“Adeline.”
“You don’t have to say it.”
“I do.”
“No.”
She started to turn.
He caught her hand.
Bare skin against bare skin.
“I love you.”
She stared.
Cassian looked almost angry with himself.
“I have for longer than I know how to explain.”
Tears escaped her.
He continued.
“I think it began when you allowed the third beat to pass.”
She laughed through tears.
“That is terribly romantic.”
“It’s the best I have.”
“It needs work.”
“I expected that.”
Adeline closed the distance and rested her forehead against his.
Cassian whispered, “Stay.”
She looked at the suitcase.
Then at him.
“I’m not staying because of the contract.”
“I know.”
“I’m not staying because of the baby.”
“I know.”
“I’m staying because I choose you.”
Cassian closed his eyes.
For a man who could purchase buildings and influence politicians, the thing he wanted most had finally been given freely.
Then the baby moved.
The first unmistakable flutter.
Adeline gasped.
Cassian instantly panicked.
“What?”
She grabbed his hand.
“Wait.”
Again.
A tiny movement.
His face changed.
Wonder.
Pure and unguarded.
Adeline smiled.
“Your child.”
Cassian whispered, “Our child.”
And neither knew that downstairs, Rosalind was signing a confession that would transfer every remaining piece of evidence about the Raldi family to federal investigators.
May you like
By morning, the old empire would begin to dismantle itself.
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