Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN HE NEVER BOTHERED TO KNOW
Adrian watched the blue station wagon disappear beyond the gates.
He remained on the front steps until the taillights vanished.
Then he turned.
“Frank.”
The driver stood beside the fountain.
“Yes, sir?”
“Where is she going?”
Frank looked at him.
“I can't tell you that.”
Adrian stared.
“You work for me.”
Frank's expression hardened.
“I've worked for your family for forty-one years.”
“Then answer the question.”
Frank took a slow breath.
“Mrs. Vale asked me not to disclose her destination.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“And you agreed?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Frank looked toward the empty driveway.
“Because somebody should have listened to her.”
Adrian went still.
Frank lowered his eyes.
“Good night, sir.”
Then he walked away.
Inside, Adrian found Mrs. Alvarez collecting the packages from the console.
“Leave those.”
She stopped.
“Sir?”
“Tell me what's happening.”
Her eyes filled.
“Mrs. Vale said goodbye to everyone this afternoon.”
Adrian stared.
“Everyone?”
“Yes.”
“The gardeners?”
“Yes.”
“The kitchen staff?”
“Yes.”
“The security team?”
Mrs. Alvarez nodded.
Adrian looked toward the empty doorway.
“And nobody told me?”
The housekeeper hesitated.
“Sir, she asked us not to.”
“You should have informed me.”
Mrs. Alvarez's expression changed.
For nine years, she had rarely contradicted him.
Tonight, she did.
“Mrs. Vale has spent nine years informing you of things you didn't want to hear.”
Adrian froze.
She continued softly.
“Tonight, we thought perhaps she deserved to finish one thing without being interrupted.”
Then she carried the packages away.
Adrian stood alone beneath the chandelier.
He had built a business empire by knowing everything.
Every contract.
Every debt.
May you like
Every weakness.
Yet somehow, everyone in his own house knew his wife better than he did.
