The Billionaire Was Declared Brain Dead—But His Maid’s Crying Toddler Refused to Leave His Side
Chapter 7
The answer seemed to come from Adrian’s company.
Dr. Parker contacted a federal financial investigator she trusted.
The investigator discovered something buried beneath years of corporate transactions.
Several Blackwell Holdings subsidiaries had been quietly sending money to companies that did not appear to conduct legitimate business.
The total exceeded seventy million dollars.
Claire stared at the report.
“That’s why Adrian was investigating.”
“Yes.”
“Who controlled the transfers?”
The investigator pointed to a name.
Marcus Reed.
Claire felt her stomach twist.
Marcus had spent years beside Adrian.
He attended every board meeting.
He knew every account.
Every contract.
Every weakness.
But the investigator found something else.
Marcus had not acted alone.
Dr. Howard had received two large payments over the previous year.
One payment came forty-eight hours before Adrian’s accident.
Another came the morning after.
Claire sat silently.
“Why didn’t he just let Adrian die?”
The investigator answered.
“Because Adrian’s will could be challenged if his death happened under suspicious circumstances.”
Claire looked confused.
“He needed a diagnosis that made him appear incapable of making decisions before his death was officially processed.”
Dr. Parker understood first.
“They wanted to control the estate while he was still alive.”
Exactly.
Adrian’s brain-death declaration meant business control could pass temporarily to a board structure.
Marcus would become acting chairman.
Then he could move assets.
Destroy records.
And prepare the company before Adrian’s death certificate was finalized.
Claire suddenly remembered the seventy-two-hour notice.
They weren’t simply trying to remove her.
They wanted everyone who knew Adrian personally out of the way.
There was only one problem.
Adrian had left evidence.
And Claire had it.
That evening, Claire returned to the mansion again.
She searched Adrian’s study.
She found nothing.
Then Liam wandered into the room.
He carried the small wooden train Adrian had given him.
He dropped it near the desk.
A panel underneath the desk shifted.
Claire crouched.
There was a hidden compartment.
Inside was a flash drive.
Her hands trembled.
She plugged it into Adrian’s private laptop.
One folder appeared.
ORION
Claire opened it.
There were financial reports.
Emails.
Recorded board meetings.
And one video.
Adrian appeared on screen.
He looked tired.
“If you’re seeing this, it means I’m in danger.”
Claire leaned closer.
“I’ve been building a case against Marcus Reed for months. But I learned something worse.”
Adrian looked directly into the camera.
“One person inside the hospital has been coordinating with him.”
Claire froze.
Then Adrian spoke the name.
“Dr. Howard.”
The video ended.
Claire sat motionless.
Then another file opened automatically.
It was dated the night before the crash.
Adrian’s voice returned.
“There is someone I have not told about any of this because I don’t want her put at risk.”
Claire’s breath caught.
“She is the one person in my house who has never betrayed me.”
He paused.
“Claire Bennett.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
“I was going to tell her how I feel.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Adrian had intended to confess.
Before the accident.
Before the diagnosis.
Before the conspiracy.
She closed her eyes.
For three years, she had convinced herself that the kindness between them meant nothing.
Now she knew.
It had meant everything.
