Chapter 10 - A Sister's Secret|
Late that night, while Rosa and Mia slept peacefully upstairs, Adrien walked down to the estate's private basement archives.
He stood before a heavy mahogany door that had remained locked for twelve long years.
He pulled a silver key from his pocket, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it. The lock clicked open with a heavy, dusty groan.
Clara’s bedroom.
The room had been preserved exactly as she left it on her eighteenth birthday. The pink curtains, the high school textbooks on the desk, the framed photographs on the wall.
Adrien walked slowly to her wooden desk. He sat in her chair, touching the dusty surface.
He opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a small, leather-bound journal wrapped in a blue ribbon.
He untied the ribbon with trembling hands and flipped to the last entry, dated November 14th, twelve years ago:
Addy,
If you're reading this, it means I'm gone. I'm so sorry I couldn't say goodbye. Father and Richard Cole are forcing me to sign papers tomorrow. Richard wants to take my inheritance, and Father is letting him do it to pay off his gambling debts.
Richard told me that if I refuse, he'll ruin you. He said he'd make sure you never inherit Hastings Enterprises.
I can't let them hurt you, Addy. You're the best brother in the world. I'm running away tonight. Don't look for me. Just promise me you'll protect yourself.
I love you forever.
Clara.
Adrien clutched the journal against his chest, tears streaming down his face as he bowed his head in the quiet room.
All these years, he had blamed himself for not protecting her. But Clara hadn't run away out of rebellion—she had run away to protect him.
"I'm so sorry, Clara," Adrien sobbed quietly in the dark. "I'm so sorry."
He wiped his face, his sorrow turning into an icy, burning rage.
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Richard Cole had stolen his sister's life. He had forced her into hiding, forced her daughter to grow up in poverty, and tried to abuse her granddaughter tonight.
Adrien stood up, clutching the journal. "It ends now."
