Chapter 4

Mrs. Hart-Wells, do you believe your father was murdered?”

The reporter’s question exploded through the crowded conference hall like a gunshot.

Cameras flashed instantly.

Microphones pushed forward.

The entire room seemed to hold its breath.

Elena stood at the center of the storm in a black tailored dress that hugged her grief-stricken body like armor. Diamonds glimmered faintly against her throat, but nothing about her looked soft tonight.

She looked dangerous broken and beautiful.

And for the first time since her father’s death

Beside her, Adrian Wells remained still and unreadable in a dark charcoal suit worth more than most people’s yearly salary. His broad shoulders radiated quiet power, his cold gaze sweeping across the reporters crowding his wife.

Protective.

“Elena”

One of the board members tried to interrupt nervously, but Elena stepped forward before anyone could stop her.

Her pulse thundered violently.

She could still hear Marcus Reed’s words from the previous night.

Victor Kane is cleaning up evidence.

A witness had disappeared.

Vanished.

Just hours after agreeing to speak.

Coincidence?

No.

Not anymore.

Elena slowly lifted her chin toward the cameras.

“The truth,” she said steadily, “will come out soon.”

A sharp silence followed.

Then chaos erupted.

“Are you accusing Victor Kane?”

“Was your father involved in illegal dealings?”

“Do you believe Kane Holdings is connected to his death?”

Questions flew from every direction.

Elena’s fingers curled into fists.

Across the room, she noticed Richard Wells watching her carefully.

Not stopping her.

Supporting her.

His expression held concern, almost fatherly pride.

And somehow, that gave her strength.The strength she needs

“The people responsible,” Elena continued coldly, “will pay for what they’ve done.”

Boom.

The tension inside the room became explosive.

Adrian stepped closer immediately, one possessive hand settling against the small of her back.

The touch was subtle.

Protective.

And deeply intimate.

“We’re done here,” he announced calmly.

But before security could escort them away

A deep voice suddenly cut through the room.

“Interesting accusation.”

Everything stopped.

Elena turned sharply.

And saw Victor Kane for the first time since the funeral.

The man looked even more intimidating in person.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Powerfully built beneath an expensive midnight-black suit.

His silver hair was perfectly styled, his sharp jaw tense with controlled anger. Every movement about him radiated authority and danger, the kind powerful men developed after years of destroying competitors without mercy.

Yet what unsettled Elena most was how calm he looked.

Not nervous nor afraid but offended

Victor Kane slowly removed his leather gloves as he approached the crowd.

The reporters instantly moved toward him.

“Mr. Kane, how do you respond to Mrs. Hart-Wells’ statement?”

Victor’s cold eyes remained fixed on Elena.

“Grief,” he said smoothly, “makes people reckless.”

The words struck her like a slap.

Elena stepped forward immediately.

“You should know a lot about recklessness.”

Adrian’s hand tightened subtly against her waist.

Warning her.

But Elena was too angry to stop.

Victor studied her for a long moment.

And for one strange second

Something flickered in his eyes.

Pain

Gone too quickly to fully understand.

“You’re hurting,” Victor said quietly. “But accusing me won’t bring your father back.”

Rage exploded violently inside her chest.

“My father trusted you.”

Victor’s expression hardened instantly.

“And your father made enemies long before me.”

The room fell silent.

That sentence hit differently.

Heavier and more personal.

Elena felt a sudden chill crawl down her spine.

“What does that mean?” she demanded.

Victor looked at her carefully.

Almost like he wanted to say more.

But then his gaze shifted briefly toward Richard Wells standing nearby.

And something changed.

The atmosphere tightened strangely.

Victor’s jaw clenched.

Then coldness returned to his face.

“Be careful who you trust, Elena.”

Adrian immediately stepped between them.

The movement was smooth.

Threatening.

“Stay away from my wife.”

Victor’s eyes darkened.

“And if I don’t?”

For one dangerous second, it genuinely looked like the two billionaires might destroy each other right there.

The air practically burned with tension and power

Then Victor glanced back toward Elena one final time.

“You’re chasing the wrong monster,” he said coldly.

And walked away.

The moment they entered the limousine, Elena shattered.

“He’s lying,” she whispered angrily.

Her chest rose unevenly.

“He killed my father.”

Adrian loosened his tie slowly beside her.

“He provoked you intentionally.”

“I don’t care!”

Tears filled her eyes again.

“He stood there acting innocent while my father is dead.”

Adrian’s expression softened immediately.

Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms.

The warmth of him wrapped around her instantly safe and comforting.

Elena buried her face against his chest, breathing in the expensive scent of his cologne mixed with rain and whiskey.

“I hate him,” she whispered shakily.

Adrian’s hand slid gently into her hair.

“I know.”

“I want him to suffer.”

A pause.

Then quietly:

“He will.”

His lips brushed softly against her forehead.

And the warmth of that touch feels soothing

“You’re exhausted,” he murmured.

“No,” Elena whispered bitterly.

“I’m becoming someone else.”

Adrian held her tighter and for one brief moment ,guilt flashed across his face.

Later that night, Elena sat alone inside her father’s old study.

The room still smelled like him.Leather books, cuban cigars expensive cologne.

Pain stabbed through her chest instantly.

Slowly, she picked up the framed photograph from his desk.

Her father smiled brightly beside a much younger Elena at her graduation ceremony.

Tears blurred her vision.

“You promised you’d always stay with me,” she whispered brokenly.

Memories crashed into her violently.

Her father teaching her how to ride a bicycle,helping her prepare for law school, holding her daughter for the first time.

Protecting her. Loving her.

Gone.

All gone.

Anger slowly replaced grief.

So Cold, heavy, and deadly.

“I’ll destroy the man who took you from me,” she whispered.

And somewhere deep inside revenge finally awakened completely.

Across the city, Daniel Brook stared intensely at the security footage playing on his laptop screen.

Rain hammered against his apartment windows.

The blurry footage showed Victor Kane entering the hospital parking garage the night Elena’s father died.

At first glance, it looked damning.

But Daniel frowned. ,something felt wrong.

He replayed the footage again.

And again.

Then suddenly

His eyes narrowed sharply.

The timestamp.

Part of it had been corrupted.

Not naturally.

Edited.

Daniel’s heartbeat quickened.

“No…”

He leaned closer to the screen.

Someone manipulated this footage.

Someone wanted Elena to believe Victor Kane was guilty.

His pulse began racing violently now.

Immediately, he grabbed his phone.

He needed to warn her.

Fast.

But before he could dial

A sharp sound came from behind him.

Daniel froze.

Slowly, he turned toward the dark apartment doorway.

Empty.

His instincts screamed danger instantly.

“Who’s there?”

Silence.

Then a shadow moved too fast

Pain exploded violently across the back of Daniel’s head.

The phone slipped from his hand.

His vision blurred instantly as he crashed hard against the floor.

Heavy footsteps approached slowly through the darkness.

Daniel struggled weakly to focus.

A tall figure stood over him.

Face hidden.

Watching him.

Waiting.

Then the stranger spoke one chilling sentence before everything went black.

“You should’ve minded your business.”