Chapter 7 - The Marston Secret
The magistrate dropped his book in sheer terror.
Emma slowly turned to look at Adrian.
Adrian did not look angry, nor did he deny the accusation.
He simply waved his hand at the guards.
"Remove the trash from my floor," Adrian ordered smoothly.
The guards dragged a sobbing Cole out of the library.
Adrian turned back to the magistrate.
"You may conclude the ceremony," Adrian instructed, his voice like ice.
The magistrate quickly pronounced them married and practically ran out of the estate.
Emma was officially Mrs. Adrian Marston.
She stood frozen in the center of the vast room.
"Were you really going to have him killed?" she asked quietly.
Adrian walked over to a crystal decanter and poured two glasses of whiskey.
"I do not make empty threats, Emma," he replied, handing her a glass.
"He is your brother," she whispered in horror.
"He is a liability," Adrian corrected her.
He walked toward the massive fireplace.
"Welcome to the family, my dear. Feel free to explore the house, but stay out of the east wing."
That night, Emma could not sleep.
The storm raged outside the heavily fortified windows.
Her curiosity overpowered her fear.
She slipped out of her bedroom and walked down the dark corridors.
She found herself standing in front of the heavy iron door of the east wing.
It was slightly ajar.
Emma pushed it open and stepped inside.
It was not a torture chamber or a weapons vault.
It was a surveillance center.
Dozens of monitors glowed in the dark, showing every angle of the city.
But one entire wall was covered in printed photographs and documents.
Emma walked closer.
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
The wall was entirely dedicated to her.
There were photos of her getting coffee, walking her dog, and sitting in the library.
She checked the dates printed on the bottom of the photos.
They were from three years ago.
It was six months before she had ever even met Cole.
She picked up a handwritten note pinned to the center of the board.
May you like
It was in Adrian's handwriting.
It read: "She is the one. Send Cole to the coffee shop tomorrow to initiate contact."
