Chapter 2 - THE HUSBAND BEHIND THE DOOR

“You think this is about whether I like you?”
Helena Vale's voice trembled.
Evelyn stood beside the library desk, both hands resting protectively over her stomach.
“Then what is it about?”
Helena stared at her.
For several seconds, the only sound came from the rain striking the tall windows.
Then Helena whispered, “Survival.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“Whose?”
Helena looked away.
That was when Adrian opened the door.
“Mine, apparently.”
Both women turned.
Evelyn's face went white.
Helena gripped the desk.
Adrian stood in the doorway wearing a rain-darkened coat, his expression so controlled that it frightened Evelyn more than anger would have.
“Adrian,” she whispered.
He looked at his wife.
At her swollen stomach.
At the red marks on her knees from the marble floor.
Then at his mother.
“Why,” he asked quietly, “was my pregnant wife begging you not to throw her out of my house?”
Helena opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Adrian stepped inside.
“I'm waiting.”
“Adrian,” Helena said, “you don't understand.”
He laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“That's becoming a popular sentence in this room.”
Evelyn moved toward him.
“Please.”
He looked at her.
His expression softened immediately.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded.
But he saw the tears.
He saw the exhaustion.
And he saw something else.
Fear.
Not fear of his mother.
Fear of what he had just heard.
Adrian reached for Evelyn's hand.
She hesitated.
That tiny hesitation hurt him.
He lowered his arm.
“Tell me what happened.”
Helena stepped forward.
“Adrian, you need to listen to me.”
He turned toward her.
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“You've had eight months to speak.”
Helena went still.
Adrian looked back at Evelyn.
“Now it's her turn.”
Evelyn swallowed.
Then whispered, “Your father didn't die in an accident.”
The room seemed to stop breathing.
Adrian stared.
“What?”
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“I think someone murdered him.”
Helena closed her eyes.
And Adrian knew.
May you like
Before another word was spoken.
His mother already knew.