Chapter 4: The Trap for Jason

The National Fashion Gala had caused a huge storm.

By the next morning, almost every important business and fashion magazine was talking about one person:

Sarah Vance.

One headline read:

“From Substitute Bride to Fashion Star: Aria Lin’s Daughter Exposes Fashion Fraud!”

Another said:

“Vance Enterprises Crushes Major Business Scandal!”

Sarah stood inside the new Vance Fashion House.

The office was modern and beautiful.

Large glass windows showed the busy city below.

On the desk behind Sarah were many beautiful flower arrangements.

They had been sent by famous fabric companies that wanted to work with her.

The glass doors opened.

Adrian entered in his wheelchair.

He was wearing a dark gray suit, and his dark hair was neatly styled.

Even in a wheelchair, he had a strong presence that made people take him seriously.

"You haven't touched your coffee," Adrian said.

Sarah turned toward him.

She smiled a little.

"I'm still trying to understand everything, Adrian."

She shook her head.

"Yesterday, I was a poor assistant. Today, I have my own fashion company, and the Vance family is paying for it."

"You earned it," Adrian said.

He moved his wheelchair closer to her desk.

His dark eyes looked directly into hers.

"Embarrassing Chloe at the fashion gala was only the beginning."

Sarah listened.

"We have also removed most of Jason's power over the family's fashion investments."

Adrian's expression became serious.

"But don't become too comfortable."

"Why?"

"Victoria is furious," he replied.

"And an angry person who feels trapped can be very dangerous."

Sarah nodded.

"I know."

She picked up her phone.

"My stepmother, Eleanor, has been calling me all morning."

"What does she want?"

"She wants me to drop the lawsuit against Chloe."

Sarah's face became hard.

"She even tried to make me feel guilty by talking about my father's poor health."

"Let them beg," Adrian said coldly.

"The lawsuit stays."

Sarah looked at him.

"If you stop the lawsuit now, they will think you are weak. The Vance board members may also think they can control you."

Before Sarah could answer, her new company phone suddenly rang.

It was a security alert.

Sarah quickly checked the security camera.

The screen showed the lobby of Vance Tower.

Jason was there.

He was arguing with three large security guards.

His expensive suit was wrinkled.

His hair was messy.

He looked tired and desperate.

"Let me go upstairs!" Jason shouted.

"I need to see Sarah!"

He pushed against one of the guards.

"She's my fiancée! This is a family matter!"

The head guard blocked him.

"Mr. Jason, your security access to this building has been removed."

Sarah watched him with disgust.

"He still thinks he can control me."

Adrian's eyes became cold.

A small, dangerous smile appeared on his face.

He pressed the intercom.

"Security."

The guard answered.

"Sir?"

"Let him come upstairs."

Sarah quickly turned toward Adrian.

"Why would you let him come here?"

Adrian looked at her.

"Because, my dear wife, a trap works best when the person walks into it by himself."

Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"Let's see what he wants."

Five minutes later, the penthouse doors opened.

Jason walked inside.

He was breathing heavily.

But the moment he saw Adrian sitting beside Sarah, his confidence disappeared.

Fear appeared on his face.

Jason had always been afraid of his older brother.

"Adrian... Sarah," he said nervously.

He tried to fix his wrinkled jacket.

Then he looked at Sarah.

"Sarah, please. We need to talk."

Sarah said nothing.

"You have to drop the charges against Chloe."

Jason sounded desperate.

"She's losing all her business sponsors. My mother's reputation in high society is also ruined."

Sarah crossed her arms.

"Why should I care about your mother or Chloe?"

Jason became quiet.

"When you stole my mother's journals, did you care about my feelings?"

"It was a mistake!" Jason shouted.

He quickly stepped forward.

But Adrian gave him a cold look.

Jason stopped.

He lowered his voice.

"Sarah, think about the three years we spent together."

Sarah stared at him.

"I loved you."

Jason continued.

"I only got close to Chloe because my mother forced me to find a rich family to help me keep my position in the company."

"I did it for our future."

He looked at her desperately.

"If you drop the lawsuit and come back to me, we can leave this city."

"We can start over."

Sarah almost laughed.

He wasn't really sorry.

He was only trying to make her feel guilty and come back to him.

Before Sarah could answer, Adrian moved his wheelchair forward.

He stopped directly between Jason and Sarah.

"You did it for your future?" Adrian asked quietly.

Jason swallowed.

Adrian's voice remained calm, but there was danger in it.

"You are standing in my wife's office, under my roof, and you are asking my wife to leave me?"

Jason's face became tense.

"Adrian, she doesn't love you!"

His desperation made him angry.

"You forced her into this marriage because of Grandfather's will!"

Jason pointed at Sarah.

"She's only using your money!"

"And you're only using her as a shield!"

He shouted,

"She's mine!"

The room became completely silent.

Adrian slowly reached for Sarah's hand.

He held it firmly.

"Whether this marriage is a contract or something more is none of your business."

His eyes became cold.

"But understand this."

"Sarah is a Vance now."

He looked directly at Jason.

"She is my wife."

"Everything she owns, I will protect."

"Everything she needs, I will provide."

Adrian's voice became even colder.

"If you ever speak her name in a disrespectful way again, I won't only investigate your department."

"I will make sure your family loses its place in the Vance family."

Jason's face turned pale.

He stepped backward.

He looked at Sarah, hoping she would become the weak girl he used to control.

But Sarah didn't look away.

Instead, she held Adrian's hand tighter.

"Get out of my office, Jason."

Her voice was firm.

"And the next time you speak to me, call me Aunt Sarah."

Jason looked shocked.

He couldn't believe what he had heard.

Then he quickly turned around and left the office.

The glass doors closed behind him.

Silence filled the room.

Sarah finally breathed out.

She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath.

She looked down.

Her hand was still in Adrian's.

She suddenly noticed how warm his hand felt.

Sarah gently tried to pull away.

But Adrian held her hand for one extra second before letting go.

"You handled that well," he said.

His voice was calm again.

Sarah smiled slightly.

"I had a good shield."

Her heart was beating faster.

But this time, it wasn't because of Jason.

It was because Adrian had been standing so close to her.

Adrian noticed her reaction.

A small smile appeared on his lips.

"The shield is always ready."

He paused.

"Now, prepare yourself."

Sarah looked at him.

"Tomorrow, international fabric companies will arrive."

His expression became serious.

"Victoria's people on the board will be watching your first major production very closely."

Sarah nodded.

Adrian's eyes held hers.

"Let's show them what a diamond can do."

And for the first time, Sarah wondered if the man who was supposed to be only her shield was slowly becoming something much more dangerous to her heart.