Chapter 17 - THE REAL REASON ADRIAN CHOSE VALERIAThe investigation lasted months.
The evidence was overwhelming.
The conspiracy had lasted decades.
Adrian's uncle had stolen technology.
Murdered two men.
Manipulated multiple companies.
And destroyed an entire family.
But one question remained.
Why had Adrian chosen Valeria?
Why had he trusted her?
The answer came from his mother.
She gave Valeria an old letter.
"Your father wrote this."
Valeria stared.
"My father?"
The letter was dated twenty years earlier.
She opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
If anything happens to me, protect my daughter.
Valeria's hands trembled.
She read further.
She has the mind to see what others miss.
Her father had written about her.
About the way she noticed details.
The way she remembered conversations.
The way she could see patterns.
Then came the final line.
One day, she may be the person who saves your family.
Valeria looked up.
Adrian's mother was crying.
"Your father sent this to me the week before he died."
"Why didn't you ever give it to me?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of making you a target."
Valeria looked toward Adrian.
He had known.
He had hired her because of her work.
But also because his mother had recognized her father's mind in her.
Adrian approached.
"I didn't know at first."
Valeria looked at him.
"When did you know?"
"The night you found the patent discrepancy."
She smiled faintly.
"That was a long time ago."
"I know."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I needed to know whether you were like him."
"Like my father?"
"Honest."
Valeria looked away.
Adrian continued.
"You didn't betray me."
She looked back.
"And you never used the information to get revenge."
He smiled.
"That's when I knew."
She folded the letter.
"What did you know?"
Adrian's answer was simple.
May you like
"That I could trust you."
And for Valeria, that meant more than the contract.
