Chapter 9 - The Father's Burden|
That night, Adrien returned late.
Evelyn was sitting on the window seat in the main gallery, watching the rain trickle down the glass, when she heard heavy footsteps approaching.
Adrien walked into the gallery, pulling off his wet coat and tossing it onto a leather chair. He looked exhausted. Dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes, and his shoulders were slumped under an invisible weight.
He stopped when he saw her. "You're up late."
"I couldn't sleep," Evelyn answered softly.
Adrien walked over to the sideboard, poured two fingers of amber scotch into a glass, and took a long sip. He stood near the window, looking out into the dark night.
"They had a good day today," Evelyn offered gently. "Noah drew a house. Leo ate all his lunch."
A faint, bittersweet smile touched Adrien's lips. "Thank you, Evelyn. I don't say it enough, but... having you here has changed this place."
Evelyn hesitated, looking at the powerful man standing before her. "Mr. Belandi... can I ask you a question?"
"Ask."
"Do you really believe your wife left?" Evelyn asked carefully. "Do you really believe she took twelve million dollars and walked away from those three beautiful children?"
Adrien’s grip on his glass tightened so hard his knuckles turned white. The air in the gallery suddenly grew dangerous and thick.
"Why are you asking me this?" he demanded, his voice dropping into a low growl.
"Because I look at those children every day," Evelyn said boldly, stepping toward him. "A mother who loves her kids doesn't just vanish into thin air without leaving a trace. And those children aren't silent because they are grieving, Mr. Belandi. They are silent because they are terrified."
Adrien stared at her, his eyes burning with a mixture of rage and profound, agonizing grief.
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"I searched the entire continent for her, Evelyn!" Adrien roared softly, his voice cracking. "I spent millions! Her passport was flagged in Paris! Her signature was on the bank transfer in Geneva! What else am I supposed to believe?!"
Evelyn looked him dead in the eye. "I think someone wanted you to believe it. And I think the truth is somewhere inside this house."
