The Son In-law They Mocked Found The Lost Vault

Chapter 4_A Deal With The Devil

Adrian did not take Victor Han's hand. He just stood there in the garden and looked at the green string hanging from the white jacket.

"Not here," Victor said, still smiling. "Come. The Fengs have a nice study. I am sure Madam Feng will not mind."

He turned to Madam Feng, who was fixing her hair with shaking fingers. "Aunt Grace, may I borrow your son in law for ten minutes? We have some business to talk about."

"Business?" Madam Feng laughed, but it came out thin. "With him? Mr. Han, he has no business. He has no anything."

"Then it will be a short talk," Victor said kindly.

Helen stepped forward. "Adrian is hurt. He needs a doctor."

"Then I will be quick," Victor said. He looked at her for a moment, and something cold moved behind his smile. "Do not worry, Miss Feng. I only want to talk."

Adrian looked at Helen and gave a small nod. She did not look happy, but she stepped back.

The study was on the second floor. It smelled of old paper and tea. One wall was full of books, and on the opposite wall hung a painting of mountains. Victor closed the door behind them, walked to the big wooden desk, and sat down in Madam Feng's chair as if it was his own.

He put the green string on the desk between them.

"Do you know what this is?" he asked.

"A piece of jade," Adrian said.

"A piece of a road," Victor said. "I think you know that better than me. Your grandfather drew it. You followed it. And tonight you almost reached the end." He laughed softly. "Do you know how long my family has been looking for that road? Twelve years. We tried everything. We tried your grandfather first."

Adrian's hands closed into fists. "Be careful what you say next."

"Or what? You will hit me with a garden pole?" Victor shook his head. "Sit down, Adrian. I did not come to fight. I came to give you the best offer of your life."

Adrian did not sit. But he listened.

"Here is what I will do," Victor said. "I will give you five million dollars. Cash, or bank, whichever you like. I will also give you a new name, a clean past, and a nice apartment in any city you choose. Your grandfather's name will be forgotten, and you will be a rich man who never had to hide. All you need to do is hand me your half of the jade and tell me everything you know about the vault."

Five million dollars.

Two hours ago, Adrian was wearing a suit with short sleeves. Now a man was offering him more money than he would see in ten lifetimes.

"Why do you need me?" Adrian asked slowly. "You have the mountains and the door. You have my half too, almost. You can find the vault yourself."

Victor's smile slipped, only for a moment. "The mountains show where it begins. Your half shows the way inside. Without both, you can walk around that mountain for a hundred years and never find the door. Your grandfather made sure of that. He split the map on purpose."

So it was true. Adrian felt something warm and proud rise in his chest. The old man had been clever until the very end. He had hidden the truth where a thief could never read it.

"My answer is no," Adrian said.

"You did not even think."

"I do not need to."

Victor sat back. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he took out a small white handkerchief and cleaned his glasses, slowly, like a man who has all the time in the world.

"I thought you would say that," he said. "So let me tell you what happens next."

He put his glasses back on. The kind look was gone from his face.

"The Feng family owes my family a lot of money. Did you know that? Their shop has been losing money for three years. The anniversary tonight, the big hall, all those guests, it was all paid for by loans. And do you know who owns those loans? I do."

Adrian felt the floor move under his feet.

"If I want, I can call every one of those loans tomorrow morning. Feng Antiques would be closed by lunch. Madam Feng would lose her house by dinner. And your lovely wife, the one who threw her shoe so bravely tonight, would be on the street with nothing."

"You would not," Adrian whispered.

"I already did the paperwork." Victor smiled again. "You have three days. Bring me the jade and the notes, and the Fengs live happily. Refuse, and they lose everything. And Adrian, those men in the garden were not my best. If I wanted Helen, I would have her already."

The room went very quiet.

Adrian understood then. He was not talking to a rich young man with good manners. He was talking to someone who had killed before, or paid someone to do it, and slept very well afterward.

"Why now?" Adrian asked. His voice was low. "Why tonight? You waited twelve years."

Victor stood up and walked to the window. "Because tonight, a man told us you finally found the last piece. A man who knows your work very, very well."

Something cold slid down Adrian's back. "What man?"

"Someone who has your trust." Victor looked at him over his shoulder. "Someone who knows about the cloud and the crane. Not many people know about the crane, do they?"

Adrian felt his stomach drop.

The crane with one wing raised. He had never told anyone about that mark. Not the Fengs. Not the police. Not the other dealers. Only one person in the whole world had ever seen it in his grandfather's journal, because Adrian had shown him himself, two years ago, in a small room late at night.

Marcus.

His research partner. His only friend. The one man who had never laughed at him.

No. It could not be. Marcus had helped him translate the old writing. Marcus had lent him money when he was hungry. Marcus had sat beside him on the night his grandfather's old house was sold.

"You are lying," Adrian said.

"Am I?" Victor opened the door for him. "Go home. Think about it. You have three days."

Adrian walked out of the study without another word. The hallway felt very long. His legs moved, but he did not feel them. He passed Helen, who was waiting near the stairs, and she called his name, but he could not hear her properly. He only walked. Down the stairs, through the garden, past the stone wall he had climbed an hour ago.

He did not stop until he reached the small servants' room in the back of the house, the one the Fengs gave him because he was not worth a better one. He closed the door, sat down on the narrow bed, and put his face in his hands.

Marcus. It could not be Marcus.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

He jumped. For a moment, he was afraid to look. Then he took it out with shaking fingers.

The screen said: Marcus.

Adrian stared at the name. His thumb hung above the button. He wanted so badly for it to be nothing, to be just a friend calling late at night to ask if he was alright.

He pressed the button and lifted the phone to his ear.

"Adrian?" Marcus's voice was low and fast, almost a whisper. There was wind in the background, and the sound of water. "Adrian, listen to me. I do not have much time. They know everything. Everything. You have to leave the Feng house tonight."

"Marcus, where are you?"

"The old pier. Please, come now. Come alone." Marcus's voice broke. "And Adrian, whatever you do, bring the jade. It is the only way I can save you."

The line went dead.

Adrian sat very still, the phone in his hand, the half jade burning against his chest.

A friend in danger. Or a trap with a friend's voice.

And he had no way to tell which one.