Adrian's pulse quickened.
"My mother didn't have a separate trust."
"That's what we believed."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Martin lowered his voice.
"Adrian, I don't think this is something we should discuss over the phone."
Adrian looked at Clara again.
Her smile had disappeared.
"When?"
"As soon as possible."
"I'll be there in an hour."
He ended the call.
Clara turned off the stove.
"What is it?"
Adrian stared at the phone.
"I don't know."
Noah looked between them.
"Is something wrong?"
Adrian immediately softened his expression.
"No. Probably just some paperwork."
Noah narrowed his eyes.
"You make that face when it's not just paperwork."
Adrian almost smiled.
The boy was beginning to read him frighteningly well.
Clara walked closer.
"What did the attorney say?"
"He found something connected to my mother."
Clara's face changed.
"The trust?"
Adrian stopped.
"What trust?"
Clara went completely still.
Adrian stared at her.
"You know about it?"
Clara slowly placed the dish towel on the counter.
"I know your mother mentioned something once."
"Clara."
"She never gave me details."
"What did she say?"
Clara looked toward Noah before lowering her voice.
"She said she wanted to make sure the children would always be protected."
Adrian felt a cold pressure settle inside his chest.
"What exactly did she say?"
Clara thought carefully.
"She said that no matter what happened between us, Noah and Mia were part of your family. She told me she had arranged something for them."
"Money?"
"I assumed so."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know whether she actually finished it."
Clara crossed her arms.
"And after everything that happened, money was the last thing I wanted to bring up. I didn't want you thinking I came back because of an inheritance."
Adrian stepped toward her.
"I would never think that."
"You didn't know me anymore."
The sentence hurt because it was true.
Clara looked down.
"For years, people already treated me like I was trying to get something from your family. Victoria made sure of that. I wasn't going to walk into your life with two children and immediately mention money."
Adrian understood.
He hated that he understood.
"I'll find out what happened."
Clara nodded.
Then she looked directly into his eyes.
"Adrian, your mother was scared the last time I saw her."
That stopped him.
"Scared of Victoria?"
"I don't know."
Clara hesitated.
"Maybe."
Adrian grabbed his coat.
Forty-five minutes later, he was sitting inside Martin Hale's office downtown.
Martin had aged since Adrian last saw him. His hair was almost entirely gray now, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes.
A thick folder sat on the desk.