The atmosphere was thick with tension.
Elena stood facing Sophia, her eyes red, her chest heaving slightly. The silence after her question felt heavier than any shout.
“Where did the money go?” she repeated.
Sophia’s lips trembled. She looked at Margaret, then at Lucas, as if searching for rescue.
Lucas stepped forward at that moment, placing himself between the two sisters.
“Enough,” he said calmly. “What’s done is done. The money is gone.”
Elena turned to him sharply. “Gone?”
Lucas nodded. “It’s already been used. There’s no point shouting now.”
Sophia immediately grabbed onto his words like a lifeline.
“Yes! It’s gone!” she said, her voice rising. “Why are you yelling at me like this? Elena, aren’t I your only sister?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You’ve never given me enough money anyway. You always had everything. I just took a little to start something for myself. Is that a crime?”
Elena stared at her.
“A little?” she repeated in disbelief. “Do you even know how much that was?”
Sophia wiped her tears and cried louder. “Why are you so heartless? You care more about an outsider than your own sister!”
That was it.
Elena’s hand rose.
For a second, everyone thought she was really going to slap her.
Margaret gasped. “Elena!”
But Elena’s hand stopped in mid–air, trembling.
She looked at Sophia, her eyes full of disappointment and pain.
“I defended you,” she said quietly. “I trusted you.”
Her hand slowly dropped.
“I blamed the wrong person,” she whispered.
Sophia’s eyes flickered.
Lucas quickly stepped in again. “Alright, enough. This is a public place. Let’s not make it uglier.”
He glanced in the direction Adrian had left.
“He’s already gone. Arguing here won’t change anything.”
Elena clenched her fists.
Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
chopter na
+25 Bon
Meanwhile, Adrian had already gotten into the car.
Kai was in the driver’s seat.
The moment the door closed, Kai let out a long breath.
“That was… intense,” he said. Then he looked at Adrian through the rearview mirror and smiled. “But honestly? That was impressive.”
Adrian leaned back against the seat, his eyes closed.
“You didn’t have to expose all that,” Kai continued. “You could’ve just walked away. But you didn’t. You cleared your name.”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Kai started the engine.
“Still,” Kai said sincerely, “what you did back then… taking the fall for her? That was stupidly kind.”
Adrian opened his eyes slightly and looked out the window.
The car began to move.
Just then, Kai saw someone running out of the building in the side mirror.
“Wait,” he said. “Isn’t that-”
Elena.
She was running toward the car, her hair slightly messy, her face full of panic.
“Adrian!” she shouted.
Kai instinctively slowed down a little.
Adrian’s expression didn’t change.
“Don’t stop,” he said calmly.
Kai hesitated. “She’s calling you.”
Adrian’s phone was already vibrating.
Once.
Twice.
Again and again.
He looked at the screen.
Elena.
He said nothing.
“Adrian,” Kai said quietly, “maybe you should-”
“No.”
Adrian reached up, opened the door slightly, took out his phone, pulled out the SIM card, and threw it out onto the road.
Then he tossed the phone aside.
Behind them, Eien
She stood there, staring at the disappearing car, her chest rising anu
“Adrian…” she whispered.
But this time-
He didn’t look back.
The car disappeared into the night.
Kai didn’t speak for a long time after that.
Only when they were far from the banquet hall did he finally break the silence.
“Where to?” he asked.
“Home,” Adrian replied.
Kai nodded and drove straight toward the villa.
The city lights passed by outside the window, but Adrian’s gaze was calm, almost cold. The noise of the banquet, the accusations, Sophia’s crying, Elena’s shock–everything felt distant now, like a scene from someone else’s life.
When they arrived, Kai got out first to open the door for him.
“Get some rest,” Kai said. “You’ve had a long night.”
Adrian only hummed in response and went inside.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
He walked into the living room, poured himself a glass of water, and stood there for a moment, thinking.
Then he took out another phone.
This one still worked.
He dialed a number.
It rang only once before it was picked up.
“Reyes,” Director’s voice came through, calm and respectful. “Did you need something, Young Master?”
“Yes,” Adrian said. “Approve the Browns‘ request to see the Coles‘ chairman.”
There was a clear pause on the other end.
“..Didn’t you say you didn’t want to see them?” Reyes asked carefully. “You told me to block all their approaches.”
“I changed my mind,” Adrian replied flatly.
,,
Reyes hesitated. “The Browns have been trying every possible way. But if you meet them, they’ll definitely try to beg and explain
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Chapter no
“Ask them one thing,” Adrian interrupted. “Ask them what they’re willing to do differently to apologize.”
Another pause.
Then Reyes said, “Alright. I’ll reach out to them and see what they say.”
“Mm.”
Adrian hung up.
He put the phone down, went upstairs, and took a shower.
By the time he came back out, his expression was already composed again, as if nothing had happened.
He had just sat down when the phone rang.
Reyes.
He picked it up.
“Young Master,” her voice sounded… strange. Like she was trying very hard not to laugh. “They agreed.”
“Oh?” Adrian’s tone was indifferent. “Agreed to what?”
Reyes cleared her throat. “They said… they’re willing to kneel and apologize.”
She paused, then added, “They even said… if necessary, they’re willing to lick your feet.”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
More like a cold, amused arc.
“They’re quite sincere,” he said lightly.
Reyes couldn’t help but laugh softly. “That’s exactly what I thought. So should I arrange the meeting for a month?”
“No,” Adrian said.
Reyes was stunned. “why not?”
“Seven days from now,” he said calmly.
“…Seven days?” Reyes repeated, confused. “Why so quick?”
Adrian stood up and walked to the window, looking at the dark night outside.
“Because,” he said quietly, “it’s time.”
Reyes frowned. “Time for…?”
“I’m done playing hide and seek,” Adrian’said.
His voice was steady, but there was something heavy and dangerous beneath it.
“When we meet,” he continued, “I want it to be… very clear.”
Reyes felt a chill run down her spine.
“…Understood,” she said seriously. “I’m arrange it.‘
Adrian hung up.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
