Tarnished Armor
Part 164

Chandler Mansion. Living room.

Liza is headed up the stairs. Adam comes out of his study.

The doorbell rings.

Liza comes back down the stairs, glaring at Adam.

Liza goes to the door and opens it. Adrian is standing on the other side.

Liza: Adrian. Please come in.

Adrian stares at Liza, and then moves past her into the living room.

Hayley comes out of the study.

Hayley: Hi, Adrian. How are you doing? How are you holding up?

Adrian: It’s good to see you, Hayley. But I need to talk to your father and Liza privately. Could you give us some time alone?

Hayley looks from Adrian to Adam and Liza.

Hayley: Sure.

Hayley makes her way up the stairs. Adrian makes sure that Hayley is gone.

Adam: What’s going on, Adrian? Is this about the scholarship fund?

Adrian: In a way.

Adam: Please. Sit down.

Adrian: No, thank you.

Adrian slowly looks around the room, taking everything in.

Adrian: You know, I’d heard a lot about you two. And my personal experience with you hadn’t been too pleasant. But Belinda... Belinda made me think there was more to you. Both of you. And then when the chips were down, you both really came through for her. When I think of the way you, Adam, brought her mother to her, and you, Liza, made your last visits with her more than she could have wished for, I feel indebted to you.

Liza: There’s no need to --

Adrian: I’m not finished.

Liza: I’m sorry.

Adrian: I thought that it was amazing how Belinda could see through all of the hype and history to what was really deep down inside of you. But then, I always knew that Belinda had that gift. And then, today, I had a visit from Jake. You see, he has this problem. It turns out that Colby isn’t his child. And imagine how surprised I was to learn that part of the information he was basing this new knowledge upon was that AFP test we had discussed so long ago.

Adam: Adrian --

Adrian: No. It’s your turn to be quiet now. I didn’t say anything. I looked at all of the facts. I checked everything out. I saw the handiwork that went into changing every single fact. Except one. The DNA test. That was done by an outside lab. Months ago. So I know. I know that Colby isn’t Jake’s child.

Adrian turns to Liza.

Adrian: How could you? He believed he was that little girl’s father. For all of these months. And you lie to him like it’s all a game. Like he’s not even a person with real feelings and real dreams.

Adam: It’s complicated, Adrian.

Adrian: I don’t care what it is. It’s wrong. My God, Liza, I can’t even believe that you could do something like this. Everything that Belinda loved about you, and trusted about you. Everything she stood for and she made everyone believe that you stood for, you just threw that away. And I don’t care what your reasons were. All I know is that I don’t want either one of you anywhere near any of my family again. And I don’t want your blood money. Not for the scholarships. Not for anything.

Adam: Don’t be foolish. Just take the money.

Adrian: I don’t know how you were raised, Adam, but let me give you a lesson right now. There are some things that are too unspeakable. You don’t get to treat Jake -- a kind, decent man -- like that, and then get to cleanse your image by putting your money behind something that stands for Belinda.

Adam: It’s not what you think. Think what you want of me, but please know that Liza --

Adrian: It’s both of you. Damaged goods. That’s all you are. I’m sorry it’s been my misfortune to know you both. I’m glad Belinda isn’t alive to see this.

Liza doesn’t speak.

Adrian: I don’t know what good it would do to tell anyone about everything I know, since it wouldn’t change the worst of it. So I’ll keep it to myself. I’ll also keep it to myself out of respect for all you did for Belinda. But if you ever do anything to hurt any member of my family again, I’ll make sure that everyone knows what really went down.

Adrian looks at Adam and Liza for a moment. And then he leaves.

Liza slowly climbs the stairs. After a moment, Adam follows after her.

 
Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Sixty Three
Part One Hundred and Sixty Five