Chapter 11: The New Enemy

The heavy wooden doors closed behind Sarah and Adrian, shutting out the noise from the reporters.

The penthouse became completely quiet.

Sarah leaned against the soft leather sofa.

Her chest was still rising and falling quickly beneath her black gown.

Her hands were shaking a little.

She could still see the image of Eleanor being taken away in handcuffs.

It was the victory Sarah had dreamed about for nine years.

But even though she had won, her body was still full of nervous energy.

The soft sound of Adrian's wheelchair came closer.

It stopped beside her.

“You did well out there, Aunt Sarah,” Adrian said.

His deep voice was calm, with a small hint of amusement.

Sarah turned toward him.

He was still sitting in his wheelchair.

To the rest of the world, he looked like the cold and powerful businessman everyone feared.

But Sarah knew the truth now.

She knew that Adrian could walk.

She knew how strong and dangerous he really was.

“Jason and Victoria are finished,” Sarah said.

Her voice was still shaking.

“The pre-orders are growing quickly. The board can't hurt us anymore.”

She paused.

“But Adrian…”

She looked worried.

“Did you see Victoria's face before they took her away?”

“She didn't look defeated.”

“She looked like someone who still had a secret weapon.”

Adrian did not answer immediately.

Instead, he placed his hands on the sides of his wheelchair.

Then, with one smooth movement, he stood up.

Sarah watched him rise to his full height.

He looked powerful in the dim light.

He slowly walked toward her.

“Victoria is like a trapped animal,” Adrian said.

His dark eyes locked onto hers.

“An animal only attacks when it thinks it has found a weak spot.”

He reached out and gently touched the neckline of Sarah's gown.

“Let her try.”

His fingers moved lightly across the fabric.

“Every asset she has left is being watched.”

Sarah swallowed.

His touch made her heart beat faster.

The rules of their contract marriage no longer felt clear.

They were connected by revenge.

They were connected by the secrets surrounding their mothers.

And now, something else was growing between them.

Something neither of them could ignore.

“What about us?” Sarah asked quietly.

She looked up at him.

“The contract was for one year.”

She paused.

“But we have already defeated most of the people fighting against us in less than a month.”

“What happens when there is no one left to fight?”

Adrian gave a small, handsome smile.

He leaned closer.

“Who says we are finished fighting, Sarah?”

His hands moved to her waist and gently pulled her closer.

“The business in our country belongs to us now.”

“But the global board is already making plans against us.”

Sarah looked at him carefully.

“Tomorrow, my grandfather is holding a private dinner at the family estate to celebrate the launch.”

Adrian paused.

“And I received some news this morning.”

“Someone from my past has just arrived at the international airport.”

Sarah's eyes narrowed.

“Someone from your past?”

“Vivian Vance.”

Adrian's voice became colder.

“She is my grandfather's adopted daughter.”

“She is also the woman the board has been preparing to replace me with if my disability had become permanent.”

Sarah's eyes widened.

“Vivian is an international supermodel and a very smart businesswoman.”

“She has the support of powerful European fashion groups.”

Adrian's expression became serious.

“She is not like Victoria.”

“She doesn't steal designs.”

“She buys entire supply chains.”

Sarah became silent.

This new enemy sounded far more dangerous than Victoria.

Before she could ask another question, Adrian's phone suddenly buzzed.

He looked down at the screen.

He still had one hand around Sarah's waist.

A secret message from his private security team appeared.

“Target Victoria Vance has made an emergency payment to a private medical facility in Switzerland. Patient name: Lin & Co. Archive File 09.”

Sarah saw the message.

Her blood suddenly felt cold.

Lin & Co. Archive File 09.

She knew those words.

That was the code her father had used for her mother's private medical records before the company went bankrupt.

“She's not using her last money to help Jason,” Sarah whispered.

Her eyes widened.

“She is buying the original medical records from Switzerland.”

Sarah's voice became tense.

“She wants to destroy the evidence that could connect Eleanor to your mother's death.”

Adrian's expression became dark.

His hand tightened around Sarah's waist.

“So the game is moving to Europe.”

He looked directly into her eyes.

“Pack your bags, my clever wife.”

Sarah stared at him.

Adrian gave a small, confident smile.

“We're taking the Phoenix Collection to Paris.”

**********************************************************

The private luxury jet flew smoothly at 35,000 feet.

The engines made a soft sound, but the cabin was quiet.

Sarah sat beside the window and looked at the endless white clouds below.

She was wearing a beautiful cream cashmere outfit that was both comfortable and stylish. But she was not thinking about clothes.

Her mind was still on the medical file in Switzerland.

On the table beside her was a glass of champagne that she had not touched. A tablet showed their flight path from New York to Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Across the aisle, Adrian sat in a large leather chair.

His wheelchair had been stored away.

He wore a dark charcoal turtleneck and wireless glasses. In front of him was a floating screen filled with financial information.

"You haven't slept since we left customs," Adrian said.

He did not look away from the screen.

His deep voice showed that he was still watching her closely.

"I can't," Sarah replied.

She turned toward him.

"Every time I close my eyes, I think about that file in Switzerland. Victoria is desperate. If she gets the original medical records before your team does, she'll destroy them to protect herself and Eleanor."

Adrian moved his hand across the screen.

The financial reports disappeared.

He stood up and walked toward Sarah.

Without the wheelchair, his tall and powerful body made the small space feel even smaller.

He sat on the edge of the leather chair across from Sarah and leaned closer.

"My team is already in Geneva," he said calmly.

His dark eyes locked onto hers.

"Victoria's money transfer was noticed as soon as it passed through the bank. She thinks she has a head start."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"But she actually showed us exactly where we need to look."

He reached for Sarah's hand.

His warm fingers closed gently around hers.

His thumb moved slowly across her knuckles.

A familiar warmth moved through Sarah's arm.

"Trust the system, Sarah," Adrian said softly.

"More importantly, trust your husband."

Sarah's breath caught.

Husband.

She looked down at their joined hands.

"Our contract is for the domestic board, Adrian," she said. "But now we're going into the territory of the European syndicates."

She looked back at him.

"You told me about Vivian Vance. If she's as dangerous as you say, she won't only attack our supply chain."

Sarah's voice became more serious.

"She'll attack our marriage too."

Adrian gave her a dangerous smile.

He leaned closer until his face was only inches from hers.

"Then let her try to prove that our marriage is fake."

His voice dropped to a low whisper.

"If she wants to watch us, we'll give her a performance she will never forget."

Sarah did not get the chance to answer.

The jet's intercom suddenly made a soft sound.

The captain's voice came through.

"Mr. Vance, Director Sarah, we have entered European airspace. We are facing strong headwinds, and we have also received an emergency update from our Paris ground team."

Adrian's expression changed immediately.

The warmth disappeared from his face.

His expression became cold and serious.

He released Sarah's hand and touched the communicator on his wrist.

"Speak."

The ground team's voice came through.

"Sir, it's Vivian Vance."

The man's voice sounded worried.

"She didn't wait for the family banquet tomorrow."

"She has bought the exclusive media rights for the entire opening week of Paris Fashion Week."

Sarah's eyes narrowed.

The man continued.

"She has also legally taken control of the Grand Palais venue."

He paused.

"The Vance Fashion House's Phoenix Collection has been removed from its showcase slot."

Sarah stood up immediately.

Her eyes flashed with anger.

"She blocked our runway before we even landed?"

Adrian stared at the flight monitor.

His face was now filled with cold anger.

"She didn't just block us."

He looked at Sarah.

His jaw tightened.

"She's testing us."

"She wants to see if the 'crippled heir' and his 'substitute bride' will beg her for help."

Sarah's hands tightened into fists.

Adrian touched his communicator again.

His voice became firm and powerful.

"Change of plans, Captain."

"Do not land at Charles de Gaulle."

"Reroute the jet to the private airfield in Geneva."

Sarah looked at him in surprise.

Adrian's eyes were cold.

"We are getting those medical files first."

He looked toward the front of the jet.

"If Vivian wants a war on the runway..."

His eyes returned to Sarah.

"...then we'll bring the ghosts of our past straight to her front door."

Sarah's heart beat faster.

Paris was no longer just a fashion trip.

It had become a battlefield.