Chapter 5 - The War Outside Our Door
Richard Vale's arrest didn't end the problem.
It exposed it.
Within forty-eight hours, federal investigators discovered companies, shell accounts, stolen patents, bribed clinic employees, and falsified adoption records connected to him.
Then the media discovered me.
TECH BILLIONAIRE REUNITED WITH SON RAISED BY CHICAGO'S ADRIAN KANE.
Reporters surrounded Meridian.
Helicopters appeared near Adrian's penthouse.
Everyone wanted the same question answered.
Who would get Evan?
A lawyer asked me that question in Adrian's library.
“You are his biological mother.”
Adrian sat across from me.
“And I am his legal father.”
The lawyer nodded carefully.
“This could become complicated.”
“No,” I said.
Adrian looked at me.
I continued.
“I'm not taking Evan away from him.”
The lawyer blinked.
“You may have grounds—”
“I don't care.”
Adrian studied me.
“Why?”
“Because Evan was right.”
“About what?”
“You stayed.”
I looked at him.
“When I couldn't protect him, you did. When Sophia died, you raised him. When he was sick, scared, angry, difficult—you stayed.”
Adrian said nothing.
“You're his father.”
The lawyer looked between us.
“Then what arrangement are you proposing?”
A voice came from the doorway.
“You could ask me.”
Evan stood there wearing pajamas.
Adrian frowned.
“You should be asleep.”
“You're discussing my life.”
“You're seven.”
“I'm still involved.”
I covered a smile.
Adrian rubbed his forehead.
“Come here.”
Evan climbed onto the sofa.
The lawyer leaned forward.
“What would you like, Evan?”
He thought seriously.
“I want my room here.”
Adrian nodded.
“And I want a room at Mom's.”
I nodded.
“And I don't want people asking me which parent I love more.”
My chest tightened.
Adrian's expression softened.
“Agreed.”
Evan looked between us.
“And Sunday breakfast together.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“Every Sunday?”
“Yes.”
“At whose house?”
“Mine.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“You have two houses.”
Evan sighed.
“Adults make everything complicated.”
Three months passed.
Richard remained in custody awaiting trial.
His network collapsed.
Meridian recovered stolen intellectual property worth hundreds of millions.
Evidence connected Richard to Sophia's death.
For Adrian, that mattered more than the money.
One evening, I found him standing on his balcony.
“Evan asleep?” he asked.
“Finally.”
“He talked for forty minutes.”
“About dinosaurs.”
“Robotic dinosaurs.”
“He wants Meridian to build one.”
“Will you?”
“Probably.”
Adrian looked toward the skyline.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not trying to take him.”
“I almost hated you that first day.”
“I noticed.”
“I thought you had stolen him.”
“I thought you were trying to.”
We stood quietly.
Then Adrian said, “Sophia would have liked you.”
“You think?”
“She disliked almost everyone.”
I laughed.
“That isn't reassuring.”
“It is from Sophia.”
He looked at me.
Something passed between us that neither of us was ready to name.
Then the balcony door opened.
Evan appeared holding the silver crescent.
“I can't sleep.”
Adrian sighed.
“You said that twenty minutes ago.”
“I was mistaken.”
Evan walked toward me.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
He handed me the necklace.
“The clasp is broken.”
I examined it.
“I can repair it.”
“You made it the first time.”
“I did.”
“Can you teach me?”
“To make jewelry?”
He nodded.
“So I can make something for Dad.”
Adrian looked suspicious.
“What?”
“A necklace.”
“No.”
“A bracelet?”
“No.”
“A ring?”
“Absolutely not.”
Evan grinned.
May you like
I laughed.
And Adrian Kane—the man half of Chicago was terrified to look in the eye—finally laughed too.
