Chapter 10: The Betrayal Inside The House
The drive back to the Whitmore estate was silent.
Too silent.
Adrian sat in the passenger seat holding his brother’s old phone.
He hadn’t said a word in almost an hour.
I understood why.
Sometimes the truth didn’t bring relief.
Sometimes it only created more questions.
James followed behind us in another vehicle.
He had promised to explain everything once we were somewhere safe.
But Adrian didn’t trust anyone anymore.
Not even family.
When we reached the mansion, Adrian stopped before entering.
He stared at the front door.
"The person who betrayed me was inside this house.""
His voice was quiet.
I looked at him.
"Do you have any idea who?""
"No.""
He looked exhausted.
"And that's what scares me.""
We entered through the back entrance.
The house was dark.
The staff had already gone home.
Except one person.
Mrs. Bell.
She was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea.
When she saw Adrian, she immediately stood.
"Mr. Oleso.""
Adrian looked at her carefully.
"Mrs. Bell, how long have you worked here?""
The question confused her.
"Twenty-two years.""
"And my brother trusted you?""
Her expression changed.
"Yes.""
"Did he ever tell you he was alive?""
The color drained from her face.
Just slightly.
But enough.
I noticed.
Adrian noticed too.
"Why did you react like that?""
Mrs. Bell looked away.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Adrian stepped closer.
"You knew.""
"No.""
"You knew my brother wasn't dead.""
Her silence answered for her.
I felt my stomach tighten.
After everything we had discovered, another betrayal was almost too much.
Adrian's voice became colder.
"How long?""
Mrs. Bell sat down slowly.
"Since the beginning.""
The words landed like a stone.
"Explain.""
She looked at Lily, who was standing behind me.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Your brother came to me the night everyone thought he died.""
Adrian froze.
"What?""
"He was injured.""
Mrs. Bell wiped her eyes.
"He told me Victoria was dangerous. He told me if she believed he survived, Lily would never be safe.""
Adrian stared.
"And you helped him disappear?""
Mrs. Bell nodded.
"I helped him escape.""
"Then why did you lie to me?""
Pain crossed her face.
"Because he asked me to.""
Adrian looked furious.
"You let me suffer for years because he asked you to?""
Mrs. Bell looked down.
"He said you were the only person who could stop Victoria.""
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"By keeping me in the dark?""
"He believed if you knew the truth, you would go after her.""
"And?""
"He was right.""
The kitchen went silent.
Adrian looked away.
Because he knew.
If he had known Victoria was responsible, he would have attacked without a plan.
And maybe he would have lost.
But that didn't make the betrayal hurt less.
Then James entered.
Everyone turned.
Mrs. Bell stood immediately.
"James.""
The older man nodded.
"I'm sorry.""
She looked at him sadly.
"You should have told him.""
"I wanted to.""
"Then why didn't you?""
James looked at Adrian.
"Because your brother was right.""
Adrian's face hardened.
"Stop saying that.""
James continued anyway.
"You were angry. You were reckless. You wanted revenge.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"And now?""
James looked around the mansion.
"Now you have a chance to finish what we started.""
Before Adrian could answer, the lights suddenly went out.
The entire house fell into darkness.
Lily grabbed my hand.
"What happened?""
Nobody answered.
Then we heard a sound.
A door opening upstairs.
Slow footsteps.
Someone was inside.
Adrian immediately moved in front of Lily.
"Stay behind me.""
A flashlight appeared at the top of the staircase.
A figure walked down.
My heart raced.
Then I recognized him.
One of the security guards.
Marcus.
He had worked at the estate since I arrived.
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
"Marcus.""
The guard stopped.
"Mr. Oleso.""
"Why are you here?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his jacket.
Adrian tensed.
But Marcus pulled out a small envelope.
"I was told to give you this if things went wrong.""
"By who?""
Marcus looked at James.
Then at Adrian.
"By your brother.""
James looked confused.
"My brother?""
Marcus nodded.
"He said only give it to Adrian after Victoria was exposed.""
Adrian took the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
His face changed instantly.
I looked over his shoulder.
The photograph showed Victoria.
Standing beside someone else.
Someone unexpected.
Someone who had been helping her.
The person who had access to every document.
Every room.
Every secret.
On the back of the photograph was one sentence:
*"The person who destroyed our family is the person who built it.""*
May you like
Adrian whispered one name.
And I knew from his expression that this betrayal would hurt more than any other.
