Chapter 6 - The Secret Adrian Never Told Me
Three months later, Adrian came to my apartment carrying pizza.
Mia opened the door.
“Did you bring mushrooms?”
“No.”
“You may enter.”
He looked at me.
“Your security system is brutal.”
“You trained her.”
After dinner, Mia fell asleep during a movie.
Adrian carried her to bed.
When he returned, I knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“My father called.”
I stiffened.
“He's sick.”
Despite everything, my anger softened.
“How sick?”
“Heart surgery.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Go.”
“He doesn't want me there.”
“Go anyway.”
Adrian stared at me.
“You really don't understand the Kane family.”
“No. But I understand regret.”
The next morning, I went with him.
Richard looked shocked when we entered his hospital room.
Then irritated.
“I said I didn't want visitors.”
Adrian remained by the door.
“I'm not a visitor.”
Richard looked toward me.
“And she certainly isn't family.”
I started to leave.
Adrian stopped me.
“She is to me.”
Richard's expression hardened.
Adrian continued.
“You spent my entire childhood teaching me that attachment creates weakness.”
“Because it does.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“It creates something worth protecting.”
Richard looked away.
For the first time, he seemed old rather than powerful.
“You think she'll stay?”
Adrian answered without hesitation.
“I hope so.”
Not yes.
Not some arrogant billionaire certainty.
Hope.
Richard looked at me.
“You heard that?”
“I did.”
“My son never hopes. He acquires.”
I smiled slightly.
“Maybe that's the problem.”
Richard almost laughed.
Almost.
His surgery went well.
Weeks later, something stranger happened.
Richard appeared at my apartment.
Mia answered.
She looked up at him.
“Are you Adrian's mean dad?”
I nearly choked.
Richard blinked.
“Yes.”
“Are you still mean?”
“Occasionally.”
“Okay.”
She opened the door wider.
“We're having pancakes.”
That morning, Richard Kane sat at my tiny kitchen table eating dinosaur pancakes with his son, my daughter, and me.
Nobody discussed billions.
Nobody discussed boardrooms.
And when Mia accidentally spilled syrup on Richard's expensive cuff, he simply looked at it.
“Is this permanent?”
“Probably,” she said.
He nodded.
“I've survived worse.”
Adrian laughed.
Richard looked at his son.
Then something passed between them.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But a beginning.
Later, Adrian and I stood on the balcony.
“You changed my life,” he said.
“No.”
I pointed through the window at Mia.
“She did.”
He smiled.
“Fair.”
Then his expression became serious.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“I've been thinking about Mia's original proposal.”
I laughed.
“The daddy job?”
“Yes.”
“Your probation period has been unusually long.”
“Have I passed?”
I looked at him.
“That depends.”
“On?”
“Whether you're asking me or her.”
He smiled.
May you like
“Both.”
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