Chapter 3 - The Wife's Secret
Adrian drove back to Caldwell House like a madman, his mind spiraling through a thousand terrifying possibilities.
He completely ignored the frantic questions from his security chief, Marcus, as he stormed through the grand foyer.
He marched directly up the sweeping marble staircase to the secluded west wing where Claire spent her days in medicated silence.
He kicked her bedroom door open, finding her sitting rigidly by the window in a white silk dressing gown.
Adrian threw the manila folder directly onto her lap, demanding to know why her signature was on the adoption papers of their missing son.
Claire stared at the document for a long moment before bursting into hysterical, broken sobs.
She confessed that she did not kidnap Noah ten years ago, but she had known he was alive for the past five years.
She revealed that a mysterious blackmailer had contacted her, claiming they had purchased Noah from the original kidnappers.
The blackmailer promised to keep Noah perfectly safe and healthy at St. Jude's, but only if Claire secretly funded the orphanage and never told Adrian.
Claire wept as she explained that she transferred millions of dollars in total secrecy to keep her son breathing.
She said the blackmailer forced her to sign the adoption release two months ago, threatening to kill Noah if she refused.
Adrian asked why she never came to him, why she never trusted him to use his vast resources to save their boy.
Claire looked up at him with terrified, bloodshot eyes, her entire body shaking violently.
She whispered that the blackmailer had sent her a fresh photo of Noah every single year on his birthday.
The very last photo came with a typed warning stating that if Adrian ever found out the truth, Noah would be immediately executed.
Suddenly, Claire's personal cell phone buzzed loudly on the glass bedside table.
She reached for it with trembling fingers and read the glowing text message on the screen.
Her face drained of all remaining color as she handed the phone to Adrian.
May you like
The anonymous message contained only two chilling words.
It read: "He knows."
