Chapter 10 - The Woman Adrian Planned to Leave Behind
Brielle arrived at Kendra’s house twenty minutes later.
Kendra had never seen her look so frightened.
She stood in the foyer clutching her phone.
“Show me.”
Kendra led her to the dining table.
The same table where Brielle had eaten Sunday dinner four days earlier.
The irony was unbearable.
Lena had printed the guaranty.
Brielle read it once.
Then again.
“No.”
“His signature is there.”
“He told me Northstar was owned by an investor.”
“He lied.”
“He said the investor was buying the building and Adrian would lease it.”
“He lied.”
Brielle’s breathing became shallow.
“He told me the condo was being held temporarily because the divorce wasn’t filed yet.”
“It is owned by Northstar.”
“He said he couldn’t put it in his name because you would claim it.”
Kendra stared at her.
“I would claim marital property bought with money stolen from our company.”
Brielle flinched.
“I didn’t know.”
“You knew some of it.”
“I knew about us.”
“Yes.”
“I knew he wanted the building.”
“Yes.”
“I knew he was moving money.”
“Yes.”
Brielle’s voice broke.
“But I thought he was doing it so we could start over.”
Kendra looked at her younger sister.
For months, Kendra had imagined betrayal as a straight line.
Brielle chose Adrian.
Adrian chose Brielle.
Kendra was discarded.
Now the shape was uglier.
Adrian had chosen himself.
Brielle had betrayed Kendra believing she was becoming Adrian’s future.
Adrian had betrayed both women believing neither would compare notes.
That did not absolve Brielle.
But it changed the battlefield.
“Give Lena your phone.”
Brielle stiffened.
“What?”
“Everything.”
“There are private messages.”
“I know.”
“Between me and Adrian.”
“I know.”
Brielle looked ashamed.
Kendra forced herself not to imagine them.
“If you want to understand what he did with your company, give the phone to your lawyer and preserve it.”
“You told me to get my own attorney.”
“You should.”
“Are you going to the police?”
“I’m going wherever the evidence leads.”
Brielle’s eyes filled.
“Could I go to jail?”
Kendra did not answer immediately.
“I don’t know.”
The truth landed harder than reassurance would have.
Brielle sat.
“I deserve consequences.”
Kendra looked at her.
“For sleeping with my husband?”
“For everything.”
Silence.
Brielle stared at the table.
“You know what the worst part is?”
Kendra almost laughed.
“There are options.”
“He made me think you hated me.”
Kendra’s face hardened.
“You did not need Adrian to create every problem between us.”
“I know.”
“You already resented me.”
“Yes.”
“You already believed Mom chose me.”
“Yes.”
“You already thought I controlled you.”
“Yes.”
“Adrian didn’t invent those things.”
“No.”
“He weaponized them.”
Brielle looked up.
“I let him.”
That was the first sentence she had said that Kendra could respect.
Brielle unlocked her phone.
She began scrolling.
“There’s something you should see.”
She opened a message thread.
ADRIAN:
When this is done, Kendra won’t control either of us anymore.
Another:
The building is worth less than she thinks. Let her cling to her fake appraisal.
Another:
Once Northstar owns it, the salon becomes untouchable.
Then one from Brielle:
And us?
Adrian:
You know what I promised.
Brielle scrolled farther.
A message from three months earlier.
ADRIAN:
Do not correct Paige or anyone else. It’s easier if staff already see you as my wife.
Kendra’s stomach turned.
Brielle whispered, “I asked him why.”
“What did he say?”
“That it would make the transition easier.”
Kendra looked at Lena.
“Transition.”
Lena’s eyes narrowed.
“To what?”
Brielle scrolled again.
Then stopped.
A photograph filled the screen.
It showed a document lying on Adrian’s desk.
PETITION FOR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE.
Petitioner:
Brielle Dawson.
Respondent:
Kendra Mercer.
Kendra stared at her sister.
“What is this?”
Brielle looked horrified.
“I’ve never seen it.”
“Your name is on it.”
“I did not file anything.”
Lena took the phone.
The draft accused Kendra of self-dealing, withholding beneficiary distributions, and favoring Mercer Beauty in its lease.
Kendra’s heartbeat accelerated.
If filed, the petition could create litigation around the trust.
It might delay transactions.
Damage Kendra’s credibility.
Give Brielle leverage.
And, if Adrian controlled both sides—
create pressure for a cheap settlement.
Lena enlarged the photograph.
At the bottom were handwritten notes.
Need B to sign after appraisal dispute.
Push sale as resolution.
Kendra looked at Brielle.
“He wasn’t preparing to divorce me first.”
Brielle slowly understood.
“He was preparing to attack the trust.”
May you like
Kendra nodded.
“And he planned to use you to do it.”
