Chapter 8 - Sophie Found What Both Families Missed
Sophie stood inside Room 317.
Still wearing her maid uniform.
Adrian stared at her.
“You knew about this room?”
“My grandfather brought me here once.”
Robert looked embarrassed.
“She was twelve.”
Sophie nodded.
“He told me never to touch the west wall.”
Adrian looked at Robert.
“You have a talent for dramatic instructions.”
Robert almost smiled.
Sophie walked to the wardrobe.
Moved it.
Behind it.
A ventilation grille.
She removed two screws.
Reached inside.
Pulled out a small leather pouch.
Robert stared.
“I never knew that was there.”
Sophie handed it to Adrian.
Inside.
One hotel key card.
One miniature tape.
And one ring.
Evelyn gasped.
“My wedding ring.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You left it here?”
“No.”
Robert whispered:
“Then your husband did.”
Adrian held the ring.
Inside.
An engraving.
E + D.
Evelyn and David.
His father.
She began crying.
Adrian inserted the miniature tape into Robert’s old player.
Static.
Then David Morel’s voice.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“If anyone finds this.”
A breath.
“Evelyn was right.”
Adrian froze.
His father continued.
“I found her ring in Room 317.”
“She left it because she was leaving me.”
A pause.
“She had every reason.”
Camille looked down.
The recording continued.
“I copied my signatures from the ledger.”
“I am taking them to a prosecutor.”
Evelyn stared.
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
His father said:
“If I do not return, Victor knows where I went.”
Robert whispered:
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“What?”
Robert’s face had changed.
“David told Victor.”
Silence.
The tape continued.
“I still trust my brother.”
Victor.
Adrian closed his eyes.
His father had trusted the man who later helped arrange his death.
The recording continued.
“Lawrence Russo is the center.”
“Charles is afraid of him.”
“Helena is afraid for Camille.”
“Robert is afraid for his granddaughter.”
“And I am afraid of what Adrian will think of me.”
A long pause.
“But fear is how they built this.”
Adrian looked at Evelyn.
The voice continued.
“So I am done.”
Then.
“If my son hears this.”
Silence.
“Tell him his mother did not abandon him.”
Evelyn started sobbing.
Adrian stood completely still.
“She escaped me.”
The tape ended.
No one spoke.
Adrian looked at the ring.
Then gave it to Evelyn.
She stared.
“No.”
“It is yours.”
She held it.
Her hands shaking.
Sophie looked at Robert.
“Why was this hidden in the wall?”
Robert shook his head.
“I do not know.”
Helena whispered:
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
She stepped forward.
“David called me that night.”
Evelyn stared.
“What?”
Helena continued.
“He said he was going to the prosecutor.”
“He asked me to hide one copy of the recording.”
Adrian looked at the vent.
“You hid it.”
“Yes.”
“Why not tell anyone?”
Helena looked at Camille.
“Because Lawrence found out David had contacted me.”
Camille’s face changed.
“My grandfather threatened me.”
“Yes.”
Again.
The same pattern.
Adrian looked around the room.
Parents lying for children.
Children paying for parents.
Everyone calling fear love.
Sophie asked:
“What happens now?”
Adrian looked at her.
“We finish it.”
“How?”
He held up the tape.
“With every piece.”
Camille looked at him.
“And us?”
He stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
“Our engagement.”
Silence.
Evelyn looked away.
Robert did too.
Adrian walked toward Camille.
“You kept my mother from me for seven months.”
“Yes.”
“You did it because you were afraid.”
“Yes.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“You do not get to call it protection.”
Camille’s eyes filled.
“I know.”
Adrian looked at the engagement ring on her hand.
“Take it off.”
She froze.
Then slowly removed it.
Placed it in his palm.
He closed his fingers around it.
Camille whispered:
“So we’re done.”
Adrian looked at her.
“The engagement is.”
Her eyes lifted.
He continued.
“I do not know about us.”
She nodded.
“That is fair.”
Adrian put the ring in his pocket.
Then looked at Room 317.
“This room started with people deciding for each other.”
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