The video continued playing.

Adrian couldn’t move.

On the screen, his mother was lying on the hospital bed.

Her face was pale.

Her voice was weak.

But her eyes were still full of warmth.

Claire was beside her, holding her hand.

The woman who had spent years being ignored by her own husband was the only person who stayed until the end.

—Claire…

Adrian’s mother’s voice trembled.

—Promise me something.

Claire leaned closer.

—I promise.

—After I leave… tell Adrian the truth about his father.

Adrian froze.

His father’s name.

A name nobody had mentioned in years.

The video continued.

—He always thought his father abandoned him because he wasn’t good enough.

His mother closed her eyes for a moment.

—But that wasn’t the truth.

Claire’s expression changed.

—What do you mean?

A long silence.

Then the old woman whispered:

—Adrian’s father didn’t leave us.

—He died trying to protect him.

Adrian’s fingers tightened around the mouse.

The screen shook slightly.

For the first time in years, the man who controlled an entire company looked completely helpless.

His mother continued:

—When Adrian was young, I told him his father chose another family.

—Because I couldn’t let my child grow up believing that his father died because of him.

—But I was wrong.

Tears slowly fell from Adrian’s eyes.

He didn’t even notice.

His whole life…

The anger.

The loneliness.

The walls he built around himself.

Everything was based on a lie.

The video ended.

The screen went black.

But Adrian remained sitting there.

Unable to move.

The lawyer stood silently.

Finally, Adrian spoke.

His voice was hoarse.

—Why didn’t Claire tell me this before?

The lawyer looked at him.

—Because she tried.

Adrian looked up.

—What?

—Many times.

The lawyer opened his briefcase and took out another folder.

Inside were copies of messages.

Emails.

Medical records.

Notes.

—Mrs. Cole discovered the truth about your father six months ago.

Adrian frowned.

—Six months ago?

—Yes.

—Then why didn’t she tell me?

The lawyer looked at him for a long time.

—Because every time she tried to talk to you, you were busy.

Adrian stopped breathing.

The lawyer continued:

—The first time, you were at a company dinner with Vanessa.

—The second time, you were traveling.

—The third time…

He paused.

—The third time was the night you told her not to “create problems” because you were tired.

Adrian remembered.

That night.

Claire had stood in front of him.

Holding an old document.

Wanting to speak.

And he had interrupted her.

“Not tonight, Claire.”

“Can we talk about something else for once?”

At that moment, he thought she was complaining again.

Now he realized…

She had been trying to give him the truth about his own life.

And he had turned away.

The lawyer placed another document on the table.

—There is something else.

Adrian looked at him.

—What?

—Mrs. Cole transferred all her shares in Cole Corporation before leaving.

His face changed.

—Transferred?

—Yes.

—To whom?

The lawyer was silent.

Then answered:

—To the employee foundation.

Adrian stood up immediately.

—She gave away her shares?

—She said she didn’t want anything connected to a man who no longer considered her family.

Those words hurt more than any accusation.

Because Claire had never been greedy.

Never demanded his money.

Never used his status.

For years, he thought she stayed because of the Cole name.

But the truth was the opposite.

She stayed despite it.

His phone rang.

A message appeared.

Unknown number.

Adrian opened it.

It was a photo.

Claire standing at an airport.

No tears.

No sadness.

Just a woman walking toward a new life.

Below the picture was one sentence:

“Mrs. Cole has arrived safely.”

Adrian stared at the screen.

For years, he believed Claire would always be there.

No matter how many times he disappointed her.

No matter how many times he chose someone else.

Because she always waited.

Always forgave.

Always came back.

But now…

She was gone.

And for the first time, Adrian understood something terrifying.

He had not lost a wife.

He had lost the only person in the world who loved him without asking for anything in return.

Three days later, Adrian found the first clue about Claire’s location.

It was hidden in the funeral documents.

A small handwritten note from his mother.

One sentence.

“Adrian, if you are reading this, it means you finally understand what you lost.”

Below it was an address.

A place Adrian had never heard of.

And beneath the address…

A name.

The person Claire had gone to meet.

The person who knew the truth about her past.

The person who could destroy everything Adrian thought he knew.

Her father.