Chapter 13 - The Lake Forest Crash Site
They walked across the marble floor toward the sofa where Margaret sat.
The remaining guests cleared a wide path, sensing the terrifying aura surrounding Adrian.
Margaret looked up, her eyes red from crying.
"Adrian, darling," Margaret whimpered softly.
"We need to call our corporate lawyers immediately."
"We have to protect the family name before the press ruins us."
Adrian stood over her like an imposing shadow.
"Where were you at eleven-fifteen on the night Claire died, Mother?" Adrian asked in a flat, emotionless voice.
Margaret’s face stiffened instantly.
Her crying stopped abruptly.
"What kind of absurd question is that?" Margaret asked, her voice turning defensive.
"I was in my bed sleeping, as I told the police three years ago."
"You were seen leaving this estate in your private car," Adrian stated clearly.
"You returned at one in the morning with wet shoes and a torn coat."
"Who told you that?!" Margaret barked out, her eyes darting around the room frantically.
"Was it that servant girl?!"
"She’s lying to destroy this family!"
"Rachel didn't lie about the cedar door," Natalie cut in, stepping right beside Adrian.
"Rachel didn't lie about Madison’s shoes."
"Why would she lie about you, Margaret?"
Margaret stood up from the sofa, her diamond earrings shaking as her head trembled with rage.
"I built this family from nothing after your father died!" Margaret shouted at Adrian.
"I protected this company when you were too broken to function!"
May you like
"You didn't protect it," Adrian said, his voice dropping an octave into pure malice.
"You helped murder my wife because she was going to expose the forty million dollar embezzlement."
