Chapter 9 - THE SIGNATURE THAT COULD DESTROY HIM
Luca arrived at nine.
He carried a leather folder.
Two attorneys accompanied him.
Adrian recognized neither.
Evelyn stood beside the window.
Mrs. Hargrove had been ordered downstairs.
Luca placed the folder on the desk.
"Ready?"
Adrian looked at the documents.
"Let me read them."
Luca smiled.
"Of course."
The papers transferred control of the Moretti family trust to a holding company registered overseas.
Adrian examined the names.
Several were unfamiliar.
One made him stop.
NORTHSTAR BENEFICIARY SERVICES.
He remembered seeing the company in the records Mrs. Hargrove had given him.
It was connected to the Vale estate.
Luca was consolidating everything.
The Moretti trust.
The Vale fortune.
The properties.
The children.
Adrian looked up.
"Why do you need this much money?"
Luca's smile faded.
"Because I can."
Adrian studied him.
"No."
He leaned back.
"You're afraid."
Luca's jaw tightened.
"Of what?"
"Someone is coming for you."
Silence.
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"Sign."
Adrian picked up the pen.
Evelyn watched him.
Her face was pale.
He looked at the signature line.
Then at Luca.
"Where is Grace?"
"Safe."
"I want to see her."
"After you sign."
Adrian set down the pen.
"No."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Don't test me."
Adrian stood.
"Bring her here."
One attorney shifted uncomfortably.
Luca stared.
"You don't understand your position."
Adrian looked directly at him.
"I understand it perfectly."
He pointed at the documents.
"You need my signature because without it, you can't access the trust."
Luca said nothing.
"And you need it quickly because your other arrangements are collapsing."
His brother's face darkened.
Adrian continued.
"So here's my condition."
He leaned forward.
"I see my daughter first."
Luca stared for a long moment.
Then smiled.
"Fine."
He took out his phone.
Dialed.
"Bring the girl."
Evelyn gasped.
Adrian's heart pounded.
Minutes later, the door opened.
A nanny entered.
Holding a little girl's hand.
Grace.
She wore a pink cardigan.
Her dark hair was tied with a ribbon.
Her eyes were gray.
Adrian stopped breathing.
The little girl looked around.
Then saw Evelyn.
"Mommy!"
Evelyn rushed forward.
She dropped to her knees and embraced her daughter.
Grace wrapped her arms around her neck.
Adrian watched.
Tears blurred his vision.
Then Grace looked at him.
"Who's that?"
Evelyn turned.
Her voice trembled.
"Sweetheart, this is Daddy."
Grace stared.
Adrian knelt.
"Hello, little one."
She studied his face.
Then whispered:
"A-dree?"
He laughed through tears.
"Yes."
Grace took one step toward him.
Then another.
She touched his cheek.
"Mommy says you love me."
Adrian's heart broke.
"More than anything."
She smiled.
Then wrapped her arms around his neck.
Adrian held her.
For the first time.
His daughter.
Warm.
Alive.
Real.
He closed his eyes.
And in that moment, nothing else mattered.
Not the money.
Not the empire.
Not revenge.
Only the little girl in his arms.
Then Luca spoke.
"Touching."
Adrian opened his eyes.
His brother stood beside the desk.
"Now sign."
Adrian looked at Grace.
Then at Evelyn.
He slowly stood.
And said:
"No."
Luca's smile vanished.
"What?"
Adrian looked toward the door.
"You're finished."
At that moment, sirens sounded outside.
May you like
Luca froze.
Then the mansion's security alarm began screaming.
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