Chapter 6 - MARCUS REALIZED ADRIAN WAS GETTING BETTER
Marcus noticed the change.
Of course he did.
Adrian stayed awake through entire meetings.
Stopped asking people to repeat themselves.
His hands steadied.
His appetite returned.
The first time Adrian wheeled himself from the study to the terrace without asking for assistance, Marcus stared.
“You’re having a good day.”
“Apparently.”
“Dr. Price said the new medication might stabilize things.”
Interesting.
There was no new medication.
Adrian smiled.
“Maybe he’s right.”
Marcus smiled back.
Two liars.
Only one knew the game had changed.
Then Marcus made a mistake.
He increased pressure.
Dr. Price arrived unannounced.
“I want to adjust your evening regimen.”
Adrian looked at the bottle.
“What is it?”
“Same medication family.”
“Name?”
Price told him.
Adrian glanced at Marcus.
Marcus remained casual.
“Side effects?”
“Minimal.”
Adrian smiled.
“Good.”
He took the bottle.
Did not take a pill.
After they left, Dr. Shah collected it.
Analysis confirmed another medication not justified by Adrian’s medical condition.
This one carried significant risk in combination with his other prescriptions.
No details were needed.
Intent was becoming clearer.
Then Lily found Marcus in Adrian’s office.
She was supposed to be with Grace.
A cookie had changed her plans.
Marcus stood beside Adrian’s medication drawer.
Lily entered.
He turned.
For three years, Marcus had frightened adults.
Three-year-olds were less cooperative.
“What you doing?”
“Nothing.”
“That's medicine.”
“Yes.”
“Mommy says don't touch medicine if not yours.”
Marcus looked at her.
Something in his expression changed.
Lily took one step backward.
He closed the drawer.
“You like Mr. Moretti?”
“Yes.”
“Very much?”
“Yes.”
Marcus crouched.
“Then you shouldn’t tell him everything you see.”
Lily frowned.
“Why?”
“Because sometimes grown-ups get upset.”
“I tell Mommy.”
Marcus reached for her stuffed rabbit.
Lily pulled it away.
“No.”
He grabbed her wrist.
Not hard enough to injure.
Hard enough to frighten.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
“Take your hand off her.”
Adrian.
Marcus froze.
Grace stood behind the wheelchair.
Her face changed when she saw Lily.
“Mommy!”
Marcus released her.
Lily ran.
Grace caught her.
Adrian looked at Marcus.
No shouting.
That frightened Marcus more.
“She wandered in,” Marcus said.
“I see.”
“I was trying to keep her away from your medication.”
“By grabbing her.”
“She pulled.”
Grace lifted Lily’s sleeve.
A faint red mark.
Her entire body tensed.
Adrian saw.
So did Marcus.
Grace stepped forward.
Adrian caught her hand.
Not controlling.
Stopping escalation.
“Grace.”
She looked at him.
His eyes said:
Not here.
Not yet.
She hated it.
But understood.
Marcus said:
“You’re letting staff children walk everywhere now?”
Wrong.
Adrian’s expression became ice.
“You should go home.”
Marcus stared.
“Boss.”
“Take the afternoon.”
“I have the finance meeting.”
“Canceled.”
“Why?”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“Family day.”
Marcus's face changed.
The same words.
Three years earlier.
Saturday meetings canceled for Sophie.
Adrian watched recognition flicker.
Good.
Let him wonder.
After Marcus left, Grace crouched beside Lily.
“What did he say?”
Lily explained in fragments.
Medicine.
Don't tell.
Grown-ups upset.
Enough.
Grace looked at Adrian.
“He knows.”
“Yes.”
“Then this is over.”
“Almost.”
“No.”
Her voice shook.
“He touched my child.”
Adrian nodded.
“And he will never be alone with her again.”
“You are still planning something.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“I need him to believe I’m getting worse again.”
Grace stared.
“You’re going to pretend?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Marcus has a succession plan.”
Understanding spread.
“You want him to activate it.”
“Yes.”
“That proves fraud.”
“And gives investigators probable cause to move on the rest.”
Grace paced.
“I hate this house.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“So do I sometimes.”
She stopped.
“If Lily is anywhere near this—”
“She won't be.”
“Promise?”
Adrian looked at the child clutching her rabbit.
Then at Grace.
“Yes.”
This time, he understood what the promise meant.
Not like three years earlier.
He could not control every danger.
But he could control whether a child was deliberately placed inside one.
Lily and Grace moved off the estate that night.
To Grace’s sister’s home.
No visible Moretti guards.
Matteo arranged distant protection.
Grace approved.
Before leaving, Lily climbed onto Adrian's lap.
“You sick again?”
He hesitated.
“Pretending.”
Her eyes widened.
“Like dragon?”
“What?”
“When I pretend rabbit dragon.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because some bad people need to believe something.”
She thought.
“Lying?”
Adrian sighed.
“Basically.”
Lily looked at Grace.
“Mommy says lying bad.”
Grace covered her face.
Adrian said:
“Your mother is becoming inconvenient.”
Lily whispered:
“Very.”
Grace heard.
Both laughed.
For one strange moment, the conspiracy disappeared.
Then Lily hugged Adrian.
“Don't die.”
His smile vanished.
“I’m not planning to.”
“Promise?”
Adrian looked at Grace.
Then answered carefully.
“I promise I’m going to do everything I can to come back.”
Grace’s eyes softened.
Better promise.
May you like
Honest one.
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