Chapter 11 - WHY EMMA CAME
Emma sat across from Adrian in Gabriel's car while rain hit the windshield.
"Celeste did ask me to protect Noah," she said.
"But that wasn't the only reason I came."
Adrian waited.
"I wanted proof."
"Against my family?"
"Against whoever caused her death."
"So you used me."
"At first, yes."
The answer hurt because she did not soften it.
"I applied under a fake name because I needed access to the house."
"To search it."
"Yes."
"To search me."
"Yes."
Noah slept in the back seat between them.
Emma continued.
"Then I met him."
"He had Celeste's laugh."
Adrian looked at Noah.
"And I watched you sit outside his room every night because you thought he couldn't sleep alone."
"I realized you were grieving too."
Adrian's anger did not disappear.
"Why didn't you tell me once you trusted me?"
"Because every time I got close, Victoria watched me."
"And because I was scared you would fire me before I found the truth."
"My mother saved you the trouble."
Emma touched Noah's blanket.
"I never lied about loving him."
Adrian believed her.
Gabriel returned from the pay phone outside.
"We have a problem."
Pike had called an emergency Walker board meeting for the next morning.
He planned to remove Adrian as CEO for mental instability and reckless conduct.
"He needs the company before the archive opens."
"And he filed for temporary control of Noah's trust."
Adrian turned sharply.
"On what grounds?"
"That you brought a fraudulent caregiver into the home and exposed the child to armed violence."
"He's using me."
Adrian's phone buzzed with a legal notice.
At the bottom was an affidavit.
It accused Emma of manipulating Noah and stealing Walker documents.
Then Noah stirred awake.
"Emma go?"
"No, sweetheart."
Adrian looked at the notice.
For the first time, he understood Pike's real strategy.
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He was not trying to win the fortune.
He was trying to take Noah before Noah could inherit it.
