11

Adrian

No. I refused to accept it. I would not let Vivian or my child suffer in poverty while Elena sat comfortably on her father’s fortune.

“We sweet-talk her into naming my family as sole beneficiaries of the trust,” I said, my voice turning icy. “And if she refuses, we kill her.”

Vivian gasped, clutching her chest. “Kill her? Adrian... what if the police trace it back to us?”

“Trace what?” I spat. “She has no living relatives. Who is going to demand an investigation?”

“You’re forgetting that crazy friend of hers,” Lucas warned. “Roxy. She was here yesterday, acting like a guard dog, staring at us like she could smell every lie in the air.”

“Roxy...” My eyes narrowed. That girl was an unwanted variable.

“We can control the narrative,” I insisted, leaning over the table. “We tell the media she was so consumed by grief over my sudden death that she took her own life. A tragedy. People buy romantic suicides every day.”

“It’s too risky to rush it,” Father interrupted coldly. “We’ve already pushed her to see the family lawyer. We wait and see if she complies first.”

“Your father is right, son,” Mother agreed. “If we eliminate her before the trust paperwork is modified, the entire estate could end up locked in probate with her lawyer. All our work would be for nothing.”

“I don’t have time to wait!” I gritted my teeth. “I need to clear out of the country tonight and start our life in Europe before someone spots me!”

I wrapped my arm tightly around Vivian’s waist, pulling her flush against my side, taking in her familiar perfume. God, I had missed her.

“That loan money alone won’t sustain us forever,” I muttered. “I need the capital from selling the holding company too.”

“Not while the lawyer is watching her every move,” Father reiterated firmly.

Frustration boiled over inside me. My grip on Vivian’s waist tightened so hard that she let out a sharp cry.

“Adrian! You’re hurting me!” she squealed, shoving my chest.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, letting go. “I didn’t mean to.”

If I had known this could happen, I would have liquidated everything and transferred the money overseas before faking my death.

“Calm down, son,” Mother said, taking my hand gently. “Elena will never kick us out of this house as long as I’m alive. I will make sure she hands the company management over to Lucas. We will drain her dry, piece by piece. And once the debts are settled and the trust is ours...” Mother’s eyes flashed with venom. “I’ll poison her myself. You and Vivian leave now. I can’t wait to hold my grandson.”

Mother was right. The groundwork was already laid.

“Let’s go, Vivian,” I said, grabbing her hand. Her eyes lit up with relief as she nodded.

“Mother,” I added, turning back toward the door. “When Elena comes back, tell her my body has already been privately cremated. Lucas thinks she’s getting suspicious—if she starts digging around mortuaries, we can’t risk her finding an empty casket.”

“Consider it done,” Mother assured me. “Send word the moment the baby is born.”

“And Lucas,” I called out, looking at my younger brother. “Don’t forget to wire my cut from the company account every month.”

“Of course, brother,” Lucas smiled smoothly.

I studied him for a second. I didn’t trust my brother for a fraction of a second, but Mother insisted he was the only one capable of managing the local operations.

I walked over to him, leaning in close so only he could hear my words.

“Elena is all yours,” I whispered softly. “Do whatever you want with her.”

Lucas’s eyes widened, a sickening spark of excitement lighting up his face. “Really? You mean that?”

Hook, line, and sinker. I knew exactly how to keep my brother obedient.

“She’s worthless to me now,” I whispered back with a cold smirk. “And no matter what you do to her, she’ll never carry an heir. So enjoy yourself... don’t worry about getting caught.”

I patted his shoulder, turned back to Vivian, and walked out, leaving Elena to the wolves.