Chapter 7 - THE FUNERAL THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Luca dismissed the guards.
That frightened Adrian more than their presence.
His brother closed the door.
Then looked at Mrs. Hargrove.
"You've been busy."
She stood straight.
"I've been watching."
Luca smiled.
"Watching what?"
"People suffer."
His expression hardened.
"Careful."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Leave her alone."
Luca turned.
"You always did enjoy playing protector."
Adrian stared.
"Where is our mother?"
Luca's smile vanished.
For a moment, he looked genuinely surprised.
Then he laughed.
"So Evelyn told you."
"Where is she?"
Luca walked toward the window.
"Mother was always dramatic."
Adrian felt rage rise.
"She died."
"That's what the paperwork says."
Adrian's hands tightened.
"You made me bury her."
Luca shrugged.
"You buried a coffin."
Adrian stared.
"Was anyone inside?"
Luca looked at him.
"Does it matter?"
The words struck like a physical blow.
Adrian remembered standing beside his mother's grave.
The rain.
The priest.
The flowers.
The terrible emptiness.
Now he understood that his grief had been manufactured.
"You monster," he whispered.
Luca turned sharply.
"Don't pretend you're innocent."
Adrian stared.
"What?"
"You built your empire on fear."
Luca approached.
"You threatened men. Destroyed families. Took what you wanted."
Adrian said nothing.
Because some of it was true.
Luca continued.
"The only difference between us is that I stopped pretending it was noble."
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Adrian never did this to children."
Luca looked at her.
His expression changed.
"Quiet."
She flinched.
Adrian moved between them.
"Don't."
Luca smiled.
"Still the hero."
Then he reached into his jacket.
Adrian tensed.
But Luca removed a photograph.
He placed it on the desk.
It showed a young boy standing beside an older woman.
Noah.
And Adrian's mother.
Alive.
Adrian stared.
His mother's hair was white.
Her face was thinner.
But it was her.
He touched the photograph.
"Mom."
Luca watched him.
"Sign the trust transfer."
Adrian looked up.
"Then what?"
"Then you get your family back."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to believe you?"
Luca shrugged.
"You don't have many choices."
Adrian looked toward Evelyn.
She was trembling.
Mrs. Hargrove stood beside her.
The key lay in Adrian's hand.
His phone remained in his pocket.
He had already contacted federal investigators.
He needed time.
"Bring the documents," he said.
Luca smiled.
"Finally."
Adrian continued.
"And I want proof Grace is alive."
Luca studied him.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
He opened his phone.
A video appeared.
A little girl sat at a table coloring.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
A small pink sweater.
She looked up at someone off camera.
"Can I see Mommy?"
Adrian stopped breathing.
Grace.
His daughter.
Alive.
Luca ended the video.
"Sign, and she's yours."
Adrian stared at the blank screen.
For a moment, the room blurred.
He had missed her first steps.
Her first words.
Her first birthday.
He had never held her.
Never heard her laugh.
Never watched her sleep.
His brother had stolen everything.
Adrian looked up.
"One condition."
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"I sign in front of a lawyer."
Luca laughed.
"Still careful."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Father taught us both."
Luca studied him.
Then nodded.
"Tomorrow morning."
He turned toward the door.
"And Adrian?"
Adrian looked at him.
"Don't mistake my patience for weakness."
Luca smiled.
"I learned from the best."
When the door closed, Evelyn looked at Adrian.
"Tomorrow?"
He nodded.
"Tomorrow."
She whispered:
"What if the police don't come?"
Adrian took her hand.
"Then we find another way."
But inside, he was terrified.
May you like
Because for the first time in his life, he had something more important than winning.
He had a daughter to bring home.
