Chapter 4 - THE CHILD BEHIND THE LOCKED DOOR
Evelyn had named their daughter Grace.
She was two years and four months old.
Adrian learned this while sitting in a locked guest room with Evelyn beside him.
Luca had allowed them fifteen minutes together.
Fifteen minutes.
After three years apart.
Adrian wanted to tear the mansion apart.
Instead, he sat quietly because Evelyn had begun trembling again.
"Grace," he whispered.
Evelyn nodded.
"She's beautiful."
His eyes filled.
"Does she look like you?"
A small smile touched her lips.
"She has your eyes."
Adrian covered his face.
For a long moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Her expression collapsed.
"I tried."
She reached for his hand.
"That night, I was going to surprise you. I had bought a little pair of shoes."
Adrian remembered the evening she vanished.
They had argued over dinner.
He had canceled their anniversary trip because of business.
She had accused him of caring more about the organization than their marriage.
He had left angry.
When he returned, she was gone.
Her phone was on the kitchen counter.
Her coat was missing.
A note said she needed time.
He had believed she'd left him.
For twelve hours.
Then he discovered the note was forged.
And the search began.
Evelyn continued.
"Luca came to the apartment after you left."
Adrian's hands tightened.
"He said there had been an accident."
"What accident?"
"He said your car had exploded."
Adrian stared.
"He showed me photographs."
She began crying.
"He told me you were dead."
Adrian felt sick.
"He took me to a funeral."
She nodded.
"A closed coffin."
"Where?"
"Somewhere outside Boston."
Adrian closed his eyes.
Luca had staged a second funeral.
One designed for Evelyn alone.
"He said your enemies would come after me if they knew I was alive."
Adrian looked at her.
"And you believed him."
"I had just lost you."
Her voice broke.
"I was pregnant. I was terrified."
Adrian took her hand.
"You did nothing wrong."
She looked away.
"He brought me here. At first, he said I was safe."
"What happened?"
"Then I discovered you were alive."
Adrian froze.
"When?"
"Eight months later."
She swallowed.
"I saw you on television."
Adrian remembered that broadcast.
A charity gala.
He had been photographed beside the mayor.
Evelyn continued.
"I confronted Luca."
Her voice became small.
"He told me if I tried to contact you, Grace would disappear."
Adrian's heart stopped.
"He took her?"
Evelyn nodded.
"She was only three weeks old."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
"He let me see her once a month."
Adrian looked toward the door.
His entire body shook with rage.
Evelyn caught his hand.
"Please don't do anything reckless."
He turned toward her.
"Evie—"
"If Luca thinks you're going to take her, he'll move her."
Adrian forced himself to breathe.
She was right.
For three years, Evelyn had survived by obeying.
Now he had to survive by thinking.
He looked at her wrist.
"The tattoo."
She pulled her sleeve down.
"Luca made me wear his mark."
"Why?"
"So people would know I belonged to him."
Adrian closed his eyes.
He remembered Luca's words.
Something that belongs to me.
His brother had treated Evelyn like property.
He looked at her.
"You're not his."
She began crying.
"You're not anyone's property."
He took her hand.
"You're my wife because you chose to marry me. And if you don't want that anymore, I'll respect it."
Evelyn stared.
Then whispered:
"I never stopped loving you."
Adrian's eyes filled.
"Neither did I."
They embraced.
Carefully.
As though both were afraid the other might disappear.
Then Evelyn whispered against his shoulder:
"There's something else."
Adrian pulled back.
"What?"
She looked toward the door.
"Grace isn't the only child Luca is hiding."
Adrian froze.
"What do you mean?"
Evelyn swallowed.
"There's a little boy."
Silence.
"He's five."
May you like
Adrian stared.
"And he calls Luca Daddy."
