Fury.

Adrian's POV

I stood at the end of the hallway, every drop of blood in my body turning to pure, boiling lava.

My eyes were fixed on Milan’s hand, his fingers were casually wrapping around Victoria’s delicate wrist, his thumb brushing over her skin as if he had every right to touch her. He was leaning into her space, whispering into her ear while she stood there, letting him hold her.

A dark, dangerous fury exploded behind my ribs, raw, territorial, and completely out of my control. Old friend or not, I was done with this overstepping bastard.

“What the hell is going on here?” I growled out.

Milan slowly released her hand, turning to face me with a relaxed, mocking smile. Victoria gasped softly, taking an immediate step back, her wide green eyes locked on mine in sheer terror.

I marched down the hallway, not stopping until I was towering right over Milan. The air between us cracked with lethal tension.

“Adrian, relax,” Milan said smoothly, adjusting his suit jacket. “We were just admiring the painting. And I was telling Victoria how much Paris seems to have changed her.”

I stepped into his personal space, forcing him to look up at me. “And who are you to notice what Paris did to her? She is my wife, Milan. And you will not lay your filthy fingers on her.”

Milan’s face broadened in a fake ass smile, his dark eyes flashing annoyingly. He took a step back, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Of course. My apologies, Adrian. I wouldn't dream of stepping on the toes of the great Adrian Kingsley.”

He turned his gaze back to Victoria, his lips curving into a subtle smirk. “Goodnight, Victoria. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other very soon.”

I watched him till he walked out the door. The second the doors slammed shut, the remaining board members quickly excused themselves, sensing the deadly air radiating from me.

Once the foyer cleared, I turned around to face Victoria. She was standing by the bottom of the staircase, her breath hitched, her fingers clutching the silk fabric of her dress.

“Upstairs. Now,” I commanded, my voice low and dangerously quiet.

Without waiting for her reply, I grabbed her wrist firmly, enough to show her there was no room for argument, and guided her upstairs.

We got to my bedroom, and I pulled her in and slammed the doors behind us.

“What were you doing with him?” I demanded, turning to face her. My chest heaved as I tried to regain control over the storm raging inside me. “Why was he holding your hand, Victoria?”

She flinched at the harshness in my tone, but then her expression hardened. She pulled her chin up, her eyes flashing with a sudden, fiery defiance that caught me off guard.

“I wasn't doing anything with him, Adrian.” she snapped back, her voice trembling with emotion. “He walked up to me while I was looking at the art. I was trying to be polite.”

“Polite?” I let out a harsh, bitter laugh. “The man was practically breathing down your neck, touching you right in my face! You should have shoved him away the second his fingers touched yours!”

“I didn't know how to handle it!” She yelled back, her voice cracking as tears glistened in her eyes.

She took a step towards me, her small fists clenched at her sides. “And why do you even care so much? You made it crystal clear down at that dinner table what I am to you!”

Her words hit me straight in my gut. I narrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“I sat there at the table listening to you describe me to your mother!” She cried out, a tear finally slipping down her cheek. “You said I was just a deal! That I was just convenient and nothing more!”

A tight knot twisted in my gut. I had said those exact words to silence my mother and keep the board focused on business, but seeing the genuine pain raw on her face made something inside my chest ache violently.

“I said what I had to say to shut my mother up, Victoria,” I said, my voice dropping an octave as I stepped towards her. “That was the best way to get her off my tail.”

“And did you even consider my feelings when you were getting her off your tail?” she shouted, her breath hitching. “You treated me like an object! So don't act like a jealous husband now just because another man looked at me!”

Something inside me snapped.

In two quick strides, I closed the distance between us. I grabbed her waist and pulled her body firm against mine, backing her up until her spine hit the wardrobe.

Victoria gasped, her hands resting flat against my chest. Her chest heaved against mine, her warm breath fanning over my lips.

“I don't care about the board, and I don't care about my mother,” I growled, leaning down until my mouth was hovering just millimeters from hers. My gaze dropped to her trembling lips before snapping back to her eyes. “No other man touches you. Do you understand me? I hated seeing his hands on you. It drove me out of my damn mind.”

The air between us charged with thick, suffocating electricity. The anger in her eyes melted into something raw, intense, and deeply desperate. Her heart was beating so fast against my chest I could feel the rhythm of it through my suit jacket.

For weeks, I had tried to tell myself this marriage was purely a transaction. But looking down at her right now, wrapped in silk, diamonds, and pure fire—I knew I was lying to myself.

I leaned closer, my thumb tracing her cheekbone as I tilted her head up. “Say it, Victoria. Tell me you understand.”

“Adrian…” she whispered, her voice barely a breath.

I lowered my head, my lips brushing against hers, ready to completely consume her—

BRRRRRNG.

The sharp, loud vibration of my phone shattered the silence.

I froze, my forehead resting against hers as we both panted for air. The phone in my inner pocket buzzed continuously, a specific ringtone I reserved only for top-tier security emergencies.

With a deep, frustrated growl, I pulled back slightly, reaching into my jacket and answering the call without looking at the screen.

“This better be life-altering, Gerald,” I snapped into the speaker, keeping my eyes fixed on Victoria's dazed face.

“Boss,” Gerald’s urgent voice came through the speaker. “You need to look at the security feed from the foyer right now. I just watched the footage of Mr. Rojer and your wife standing by the painting.”

I frowned, my posture instantly straightening. “What about it?”

“When Mr. Rojer was holding her hand,” Gerald explained, his tone heavy with suspicion, he discreetly slipped a small, folded piece of paper into the pocket of her gown.”

My blood instantly ran cold.

My gaze dropped from Victoria’s face down to the side pocket of her white silk dress.

“Check her dress, boss,” Gerald urged. “Whatever is on that paper, Rojer didn't want you to see it.”