Chapter 38
Adam’s POV continued
The look on Anna’s face was a mixture of fear, fury, and frustration. I’m sure she was hoping she would never have to see me again. And I can understand that. Let’s face it, I haven’t given her any reason to be happy to see me. Quite the opposite. On the twenty minute drive from
Fiona’s to here, I had time to think.
I have been such a fool. Even without the money factor, Anna is ten, no, a hundred times the
woman Fiona could ever hope to be. The difference between them is so obvious. Anna is
kindness, goodness, and light. Always trying to help those less fortunate than she is. Always
willing to lend a helping hand, offer support, and sometimes a figurative kick in the butt when
needed. Fiona, on the opposite end of the spectrum, is a self–absorbed, selfish, entitled brat
that pouts and throws a tantrum when she doesn’t get her own way.
What the hell had I been thinking? I don’t deserve someone as sweet as Anna. And she sure
as hell doesn’t deserve to have a sister, father and stepmother as cruel and greedy as Fiona,
Alan and Lydia. Someone has to protect her from those three. I know what I have to do. Not in
the hopes that it will fix things between us, because it won’t. That ship has sailed. But maybe,
just maybe, I can for once in my life, do something for someone without expecting anything in
return.
“Anna, I’m not here to cause trouble. I’ve done enough of that for you. But I have something
you need to listen to.” I tried to keep my voice calm as the three people leaning against her
vehicle moved to stand beside her. I was shocked to see Bradley Gray, and the other guy that
had been in the conference room yesterday. What were they doing here? Maybe they are with
Anna’s friend, Jenna, who is also here.
“I don’t need an explanation of your actions, Adam. They have spoken for themselves.” Anna’s
voice was flat, void of all emotion as she responded to me.
“I’m not here for that, because I know there is no excuse for what I’ve done. What you need to listen to isn’t from my mouth. It’s directly from the mouths of Alan, Lydia and Fiona. Please say you’ll listen to it. It may actually help to save your life!” I was pleading now. She had to listen to the recording. It’s the only way I can help her.
Anna slowly nodded her head in agreement after looking at Bradley and the other guy. “I take it this isn’t for general public consumption,” she questioned. “Perhaps we should all sit in my
vehicle?”
Anna got into the dirver’s seat, Jenna in the front passanger seat, and I ended sandwiched
up
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Chapter 38
between the two men. I suppose that made sense, as if I presented a danger to Anna, they
would be there to restrain me.
“Okay, we’re here. What do you want us to listen to?” Scepticism colored her voice as she urged me to get on with it.
I pulled out my phone and brought up the recording, turning up the volume before I hit play. The five of us listened to the ravings as three people, insane with greed and hate, revealed the
depth of their vileness.
“That f**king b*tch,” Lydia almost screeched. How dare she fire you two. God, but I hate her. Just because she’s the only biological heir she gets everything. She gets Fredericks Design Co, she gets Graystone International, she gets billions. And what do we get? Nothing! My mother was the step–sister to Anna’s great–grandmother. That should count for something.”
Alan tried to calm his wife’s tirade, offering words of consolation. “Lydia, dear. It will all work out. You know if Anna dies before she turns twenty–five her estate will go to her remaining blood relatives. That means me and Fiona. I’ll call Wade Blackwood. I doubt he’s changed his number in the last four years. Accidents happen all the time.”
Fiona now put in her two cents. “Well, she can’t marry Adam now, otherwise he would inherit everything when she dies. You know damn well he would take the money and run. The only reason I’ve kept him around this long is to get to Anna. He’s no use to me anymore. F**k him.”
Lydia’s responded, her voice cold as ice. “Well you know what that means? He can’t be allowed to live. He knows we were planning on arranging an accident for her. He know everything, except for the Graystone connection. Alan, see if Wade can give us a ‘two–for–one‘ deal. Make it look like a murder/suicide. Kill us two birds with one stone.”
Bradley’s POV
Hallelujah! That cat is finally out of the bag. Anna knowing about Lydia’s connection through her mother’s family is going to make the rest of my job so much easier. That is unless she thinks I want to marry her for her money. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Which means I need to have a serious talk with her. Lay everything out on the table for her. I want to marry her because I love her. And because it will protect her. Once she is married, if she dies, her spouse would inherit everything. Lydia, Alan and Fiona would have no claim on her wealth. Her grandparents made sure of that when they wrote their will.
I am sure that is one of the reasons her grandparents wanted me to be the one to protect her. For some reason, her grandmother knew I would fall in love with Anna. And I have. Deeply and irrevocably. I just have to make sure Anna knows that. Understands that, accepts that. Because I can’t lose her. She is my everything.
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But there is still that one thing I can’t tell her. The thing that has to stay secret until the New Year. I just pray that our bonds are strong enough to withstand her learning the truth.
Anna’s POV
Having Adam show up the way he did was a bit of a shock. He didn’t come barrelling in, screaming and behaving like an arsehole. No, instead he spoke in a respectful, almost pleading tone. Asking me to listen.
At first, I wanted to tell him to leave me the hell alone, and send him on his way. But when he told me what I needed to listen to, I relented. Now I’m sitting here in my vehicle, trying to process not just the words, but the intent of those spoken words.
And damn, but it hurts. Somewhere deep inside me the little girl had always hoped that her father did in fact love her. That little girl’s heart was now shattered, crushed, and pulverized
into dust.
The adult Anna definitely wants those three to pay for their actions. It’s going to take time to find the proof needed to not only charge them with multiple crimes, but the proof has to be strong enough to convict them of those crimes. Sean Cummings and his best investigators
have their work cut out for them.
And I have to disappear, at least until New Years. That seems to be a crucial point for
whatever is going on behind the scenes. Making the move to Toronto is definitely a bonus. Going on a thirty–day cruise will take me out of their reach, especially as they won’t know a thing about it. The incentive of it being a honeymoon where I get to spend all kinds of time with Bradley is also a plus.
Which led me down the rabbit hole, going back to Fiona’s comment about if I’m married my
wealth will go to my spouse, not Alan, Fiona, and Lydia.
Did Bradley know about that clause? Is that why he’s marrying me? And since Spencer was
the one that drew up my grandparents will he knew about the clause. Is that why he made the
comment about me getting married while in Toronto on a job? Were he and Bradley working
together to get me to marry him? Faack! I need to have a sit down with Bradley and Spencer to
get some answers.
And another thing, how did Alan and Lydia find out about that clause in the will? How long
have they been plotting this? Has it always been about Graystone International? Or did it start
out about Fredericks Design Co, and then spiral after my grandparents death?
So many damn questions, and so few available answers. It was frustrating beyond belief.
And the biggest question of all, why exactly did Adam come forward with this? What does he
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really want? Is he expecting me to take him back with open arms, grateful that he came to me
with this information? I guess there is only one way to find out. I need to ask him why he
came to me with this information. And I need to find out what he wants in return.
So I asked.
