Chapter 4 - The Name No One Mentioned

Adrian read the signature again.

“Victoria Vale.”

Vincent nodded.

“My mother.”

Adrian frowned.

“She died before I was born.”

“That is what you were told.”

Margaret looked at Vincent.

“Do not do this halfway.”

Adrian turned toward her.

“You knew too?”

Margaret said nothing.

He laughed softly.

“Of course.”

Vincent sat down.

“Victoria did die.”

Adrian stared.

“Then why is her signature on a ledger dated five years later?”

“Because the woman buried under her name was her sister.”

Silence.

Even Eleanor looked shocked.

Adrian’s face hardened.

“Start at the beginning.”

Vincent nodded.

“My mother was born Victoria Moretti.”

Adrian looked at Margaret.

Then at Vincent.

“Moretti?”

“Yes.”

“Related to Bianca?”

Vincent took a breath.

“She was Gabriel’s aunt.”

Adrian stopped moving.

That made Bianca his distant relative by blood.

Margaret spoke quickly.

“Not close enough to matter legally.”

Adrian looked at her.

“That is not the part I’m thinking about.”

Vincent continued.

“Victoria married your grandfather Giovanni Vale when she was nineteen.”

“Why was that hidden?”

“Because the marriage ended a war between the families.”

“What war?”

“Control of the harbor unions.”

Adrian looked at the last ledger page again.

“So the Vale-Moretti arrangement started as a family agreement.”

“Yes.”

“And became criminal.”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“When Victoria’s brother Lorenzo realized the family connection gave him access to Vale companies.”

“Bianca’s grandfather?”

“Yes.”

Adrian understood.

“Lorenzo used the Vale companies.”

Vincent nodded.

“Then Gabriel continued after him.”

“And Thomas?”

“Thomas inherited the problem.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“But he stayed.”

“Yes.”

“Why did Victoria fake her death?”

Vincent looked at Margaret.

Margaret answered.

“Because Lorenzo threatened to expose that half the Vale shipping contracts had been obtained through bribery.”

Adrian stared.

“My grandfather?”

“Yes.”

Vincent’s voice became low.

“My father was no saint.”

Adrian looked at him.

“Neither are you.”

Vincent nodded.

“No.”

For the first time, no one argued.

Adrian turned to Eleanor.

“What did my mother hide in the chapel?”

“The copy ledger.”

“And Thomas took it.”

“Yes.”

“Bianca now has the original.”

Vincent nodded.

“At least she had it six weeks ago.”

Adrian reached for his phone.

Margaret stopped him.

“Do not call her.”

He looked at her.

“Why?”

“Because if Gabriel is watching her, your call tells him you know.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

“You said Gabriel is in the city.”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

Vincent answered.

“At your estate.”

Adrian stared.

“What?”

“He entered before dinner.”

“Who is he pretending to be?”

“A donor.”

“What name?”

Vincent took out a photograph.

A silver-haired man in a black tuxedo.

Adrian looked at it.

Then his face changed.

I recognized him too.

He had spoken to Bianca twice that evening.

He had even toasted the engagement.

Adrian whispered:

“Mr. Grayson.”

Vincent nodded.

“Gabriel Moretti.”

Adrian was already moving toward the door.

Margaret grabbed his arm.

“If you go back angry, he wins.”

“My fiancée is in that house.”

“And she may be working with him.”

Adrian stopped.

He looked at his mother.

“You still think that?”

“I think Bianca has lied to you repeatedly.”

“So did you.”

Margaret flinched.

Adrian continued.

“So did Father.”

Vincent said nothing.

“So did Eleanor.”

The old woman lowered her head.

Adrian looked at all three.

“If lying means guilt, this room is full of criminals.”

Nobody answered.

He opened the door.

“I’m going back.”

Vincent stood.

“I’m coming.”

“No.”

“Adrian—”

“No.”

He looked at his father.

“You disappeared once.”

Vincent’s expression tightened.

“You don’t get to decide where I go now.”

Adrian stared at him.

Then nodded once.

“Fine.”

Margaret stepped forward.

“Take this.”

She handed Adrian a small recorder.

“What is it?”

“A copy of the last conversation I had with Thomas.”

“When?”

“Eight months ago.”

Adrian pressed play.

Thomas Moretti’s voice filled the room.

“I told Bianca everything.”

Adrian stopped breathing.

Margaret’s voice followed.

“Everything?”

“Yes.”

“She still plans to marry him?”

A pause.

Then Thomas answered:

“She says marrying Adrian is the only way to save him.”

Adrian looked at Margaret.

The recording continued.

Margaret asked:

“Save him from Gabriel?”

Thomas replied:

“No.”

Another pause.

“From what Adrian becomes if he learns the truth.”

The recording ended.

Adrian’s expression turned cold.

“What truth?”

Margaret looked at Vincent.

Vincent looked away.

Adrian saw it.

“You know.”

Vincent slowly nodded.

“What?”

His father’s answer was almost a whisper.

“You own the company Gabriel wants.”

“Yes.”

“But you do not own the trust behind it.”

Adrian frowned.

“Then who does?”

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Vincent looked directly at him.

“Your mother.”