Chapter 19 - THE LAST SECRET OF THE CORSETTI FAMILY|
Adrian refused to go alone.
Claire wanted to call for backup. Adrian wanted to move immediately. Elena stood between them with the ledger pressed against her chest.
"He's using Sophia as bait," she said.
"He's had her for three years," Adrian replied. "I'm not waiting another minute."
"Then don't give him what he wants."
Adrian looked at her.
"He wants me."
"He wants control. He wants you angry. He wants you to make a mistake."
Claire opened the ledger.
"There's a final section here. It lists every payment made after Sophia's supposed death."
Elena leaned closer.
One name appeared beside the largest transfer.
Dominic Corsetti.
Another name appeared beside the final authorization.
Celeste Corsetti.
Adrian's face darkened.
"She worked with Charles."
Claire nodded.
"More than that. She transferred the Northstar assets into a shell company controlled by a foreign investment group. Charles was only the local operator."
Elena looked at the last page.
A handwritten note appeared in the margin.
The original experiment was never about money. It was about creating a compound that could alter memory and emotional response.
Elena remembered Isabella's medication.
"That's why they kept giving it to children."
Claire closed the book.
"We need to secure this evidence."
Adrian looked toward the exit.
"First, we find Sophia."
They followed the address to a secluded estate surrounded by pine trees. The property was quiet, with a single light burning in an upstairs window.
Adrian entered first.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, a woman sat in a chair beside the fireplace.
Her hair was pale blond.
Her face was thin.
But her eyes were silver.
"Sophia."
Adrian stopped.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Sophia stood.
"Adrian."
He crossed the room and held her.
She began to cry against his chest.
Elena watched them, unable to speak.
Margaret came forward.
"Sophia."
The two women embraced.
Then Sophia looked at Elena.
"You're Margaret's daughter."
Elena nodded.
"My mother told me you were dead."
"I know."
"Why didn't you come back?"
Sophia looked toward the staircase.
"Because Charles had people watching Isabella. Every time I tried to contact her, someone threatened to hurt her."
Adrian held her face.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried. Your phone was monitored. Your staff was controlled. I couldn't risk it."
Elena placed the ledger on the table.
"We found everything."
Sophia looked at the book.
"Then you found the original."
Claire began photographing the pages.
A noise sounded upstairs.
Adrian raised his weapon.
"Who's there?"
A child appeared at the top of the stairs.
Isabella.
She ran down and threw herself into Sophia's arms.
"Mama!"
Sophia dropped to her knees.
"Oh, my baby."
Adrian held them both.
For the first time, the family was together.
But the moment did not last.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Claire pushed Sophia and Isabella to the floor.
Adrian turned toward the doorway.
Celeste stood outside.
Her face was expressionless.
"How touching," she said.
She raised her gun.
"You should have left the past buried."
Elena looked at the woman who had threatened her mother, drugged a child, and helped conceal a murder.
"Why?"
Celeste's eyes moved toward her.
"Because people like us don't get to choose what happens to us."
She fired.
May you like
And the person who fell was not Adrian.
It was Margaret.
