Chapter 145
Chapter 145
Kelly
Everything had been leading to this moment. And now, Susan and I finally had enough. Enough to confront Mrs. Kim.
We sat in Susan’s car, parked a safe distance away, watching through the windshield as Kate stood outside a café, talking with Mrs. Kim. I couldn’t hear them, but their body language told me plenty.
Kate’s arms were crossed, her face tight with frustration. Mrs. Kim, as composed as ever, gestured lightly, her expression unreadable.
Susan clenched the steering wheel. “I knew it. Kate knows something we don’t”
I swallowed hard. “The real question is… does she actually know?”
Susan exhaled sharply. “We need to find out.”
I nodded, my stomach twisting.
We’d uncovered enough to demand answers. The DNA results. The inconsistencies in Susan’s adoption. The testimony from Nurse Helen. And now, this….Kate still in contact with Mrs. Kim, despite everything.
It was time.
I reached for my phone, scrolling through the files Susan and I had gathered.
“Once we have her cornered, she won’t be able to talk her way out of it.”
Susan smirked. “I’d like to see her try.”
I watched Kate closely. If she knew… if she had known this entire time…I wasn’t sure what I would do.
…
Later that evening, I found Adrian in the living room, sitting on the couch with Aiden beside him. Harper was curled up next to Adrian, fast asleep, her tiny hand gripping his hoodie. I paused in the doorway, watching them.
It was such a normal sight. So painfully normal. It was exactly how life was supposed to be. Adrian must have sensed me, because his eyes lifted to meet mine. Something in my expression made his brows furrow.
Carefully, he shifted, lifting Harper into his arms and carrying her to her room. Aiden looked at me, then Adrian, before silently following. A moment later, Adrian returned.
“You found something.” It wasn’t a question.
I nodded. He exhaled and rubbed a hand down his face.
“I figured it was only a matter of time.”
I sat down across from him. “Kate met with Mrs. Kim today.”
That caught his attention. His jaw clenched.
“And?”
“I don’t know what they talked about, but it didn’t look like a casual conversation. Kate looked pissed. Mrs. Kim looked…” I hesitated. “In control.”
Adrian leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “So, what’s the plan?”
I swallowed. “We confront her.”
A long silence stretched between us. Then Adrian spoke, his voice quiet but firm.
“Are you ready for this?”
I let out a slow breath. “For the first time… yeah.”
He studied me for a moment. “No hesitation?”
“No.” I met his gaze. “I need to do this, Adrian.”
His expression softened slightly. “I know.”
I looked down at my hands. “I used to think that if I found out the truth, it would break me.”
“And now?”
I lifted my chin. “Now I just want to know. I want to stop running. Stop feeling like my past is something I have to be afraid of.”
Adrian reached out, his fingers brushing mine.
“No matter what happens, you’re not doing this alone.”
I swallowed hard. “I know.” And I did.
Adrian had been by my side through all of this. And despite everything, despite my stubbornness, my instinct to push people away, he hadn’t left.
I looked at him, but my cheeks betrayed me as I tried to cover the redness.
“You’re so sweet, Adrian.”
His lips quirked.
“Don’t spread that around. I have a reputation to maintain.”
I laughed softly. Then his voice grew serious.
“You sure you don’t want me there when you confront her?”
I shook my head. “This is something I have to do myself.”
Adrian exhaled. “Alright. But if anything goes wrong, you call me.”
“I will.”
A pause. Then he reached for my hand, threading his fingers through mine.
“You’ve come a long way, Kelly, I’m so proud of you.”
I squeezed his hand. “Yeah, thank you.”