Chapter 104 The Morning After
Chapter 104 The Morning After
For the first time in months, Adrian managed to sleep, though it was neither peaceful nor restful.
When he finally opened his eyes, sunlight poured through the hospital window. The storm had passed, and the mountain appeared calm again, almost naive, as if they hadn’t witnessed the fall of an empire just the night before.
However, as he attempted to sit up, his shoulder protested immediately.
“Don’t.”
A familiar voice stopped him.
Zoe.
She was sitting beside his bed, still in yesterday’s clothes, her hair a bit tousled, and dark circles beneath her eyes.
She looked worn out but somehow beautiful.
Adrian stared at her. “You stayed.”
Zoe rolled her eyes. “You had half a mountain fall on you."
A pause.
"Of course I would stay."
A warm sensation blossomed in his chest, a feeling he hadn’t allowed himself to enjoy in a very long time.
Before he could say anything further, the door swung open.
Lila walked in carrying a tablet and three coffees.
“You two are disgustingly dramatic,” she remarked.
Zoe laughed, while Adrian groaned. Yet, for the first time in what felt like ages, the laughter was genuine.
Lila placed the tablet on the bed. “Unfortunately, reality still exists,” she stated.
The smile disappeared from Adrian's face.
Reality. Yes, that was a heavy burden.
KingTech. The board. The investigations. The media. Victor. Charles.
All pressing matters waited just outside the hospital room.
“How bad is it?” Adrian asked.
Lila looked at him carefully before letting out a sigh. “Depends.”
“On?”
“Whether you’re asking about your company or your family.”
That answer told him everything.
She handed him the tablet, revealing a flood of news headlines.
KING EMPIRE UNDER FEDERAL REVIEW.
BOARD MEMBERS FORMALLY CHARGED.
INVESTORS DEMANDED RESTRUCTURING.
CHARLES MADISON COOPERATING WITH AUTHORITIES.
Adrian paused.
That last headline caught his attention immediately.
“Cooperating?” he asked.
Lila nodded. “Apparently, he started talking the moment he was taken in.”
Zoe looked shocked. “So quickly?”
Lila shrugged. “He isn't protecting anyone anymore.”
The room fell silent as the weight of that statement settled in.
Charles’s battle was over.
He wasn’t fighting shadows any longer.
Another headline appeared. VICTOR KING REQUESTS PRIVATE HEARING.
Adrian’s jaw clenched at the mention of his father.
For the first time since the arrests, he hadn't allowed himself to think about Victor, perhaps because acknowledging him would hurt more than facing Charles ever did.
Then the door swung open again, this time it was Adrian’s mother.
The moment she entered the room, Zoe instinctively stood.
Mrs. King looked worn out, as if she had aged ten years in just ten days.
Her eyes immediately locked onto Adrian’s, and filled with tears.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then she rushed across the room and gave him in a hug.
Adrian was taken aback; his mother rarely hugged anyone, especially not in front of others.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice came out breaking.
Adrian’s eyes widened in surprise.
She pulled back, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m sorry I didn't stop him.”
The room became very still, as everyone understood who she was referring to, Victor.
“I spent years convincing myself he was doing everything for the family,” she continued, pausing for a moment. “And maybe he believed that too.”
She looked away briefly, regret evident in her eyes.
“But somewhere along the way…” her voice cracked. “We stopped noticing the people who were getting hurt.”
Adrian looked at his mother closely for the first time and realized that she too was burdened by guilt, not the same kind, but significant nonetheless.
“I don't know if your father deserves forgiveness,” she whispered.
Then she surprised everyone by adding, “That’s not my decision anymore.”
The silence that followed was heavy with significance.
Because for years, Victor King made all the decisions.
But now, that was no longer the case.
A knock interrupted the somber atmosphere as one of the federal agents stepped into the room.
“Mr. King,” he said, prompting Adrian to look up.
After a moment of hesitation, the agent stated, “Charles Madison has requested to speak with you.”
The room froze.
Zoe exchanged a worried glance with Lila.
Adrian’s mother looked worried also, but Adrian simply stared at the agent.
“Why?”
The agent handed him a sealed envelope.
“He said you’ll understand after reading this.”
Then, the agent left the room.
Silence filled the room again.
Slowly, Adrian opened the envelope.
Inside, he found a single photograph, old and faded, taken nearly twenty years ago showing three individuals gathered beneath the observatory telescope: Victor King, Daniel Madison, and a young woman Adrian didn't recognize.
Written on the back in Charles’s handwriting were the words: You still don’t know who she is.
Adrian felt his stomach drop.
Because suddenly, he understood.
That this wasn’t over.
Not yet.