Noah walked closer.
"Then who?"
Adrian thought about lying.
Then he remembered how many lies had already shaped Noah's life.
"At some adults who made bad decisions a long time ago."
Noah considered this.
"Victoria?"
Clara looked surprised.
Adrian almost laughed despite everything.
"You're pretty smart."
Noah shrugged.
"She ruined your wedding."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"That she did."
Noah looked at the documents.
"Is she going to come here?"
"No."
"Promise?"
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"I promise."
Noah stood quietly for another second.
Then he reached out and took Adrian's hand.
It was a small gesture.
But Adrian felt it all the way through him.
Three weeks later, the investigation became much larger.
The forensic examiner confirmed that the signature on the trust amendment was almost certainly not Adrian's mother's.
The notary listed on the document claimed he had never met her.
His stamp had been used without authorization.
Bank records revealed that money from the children's trust had passed through three shell companies before reaching businesses controlled by Victoria's father.
One payment had covered part of the purchase price of a lake house Victoria frequently used.
Another had helped fund a failed luxury development.
A third had paid debts connected to one of her father's companies.
But the transfer that disturbed Adrian most was much smaller.
Twenty-five thousand dollars.
It had been sent to a private medical facility shortly before Adrian's mother's death.
When Martin showed him the record, Adrian stared at it.
"What medical facility?"
"A private rehabilitation center."
"My mother was never in rehabilitation."
"That's what I thought."
"Then why was money sent there?"
Martin slid another document across the table.
The recipient listed beneath the transaction was Clara Bennett.
Adrian's blood turned cold.
"Clara never received this."
"We need to ask her."
Adrian already knew the answer.
He drove directly to her house.
Clara was outside pushing Mia in a stroller while Noah drew with chalk on the driveway.
Adrian walked toward her carrying the document.
She took one look at his face.
"What now?"
He handed it to her.
She read it.
Her confusion appeared genuine.
"I've never seen this."
"It says twenty-five thousand dollars was paid to a rehabilitation facility for you."
Clara laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
"I've never been in rehabilitation."
"I know."
She read further.
Then her face drained of color.
"Adrian."
"What?"
"This place."
She pointed to the facility's former address.
"I know it."
"How?"
"I didn't stay there."
"Then what happened?"