Chapter 9: Two days to become a bride.

Earlier That Day — Spain

The mountain stood far beyond the busy streets of the city, surrounded by thick forests and an old stone path that only the Valdez family seemed to know well.

For generations, the women of the Valdez family had travelled there to perform a private family rite. It was a tradition that had survived through marriages, deaths, scandals, and changes in power.

Lucia had never missed it.

That morning, she called Camilla and asked her to come to her apartment so they could travel together.

When Camilla arrived, Lucia was already waiting, she walked toward the large black vehicle parked outside, carrying nothing but her handbag.

Camilla followed.

The moment they entered, the driver closed the door and started the engine.Neither woman spoke, the silence between them was not uncomfortable.

It was simply the kind of silence that existed whenever Lucia had something on her mind.

After several minutes, Lucia reached into her handbag and pulled out a cigar, she held it toward Camilla.

“Light it for me.”

Camilla took the cigar, lit it, and handed it back, Lucia placed it between her fingers and slowly inhaled.

She watched the smoke disappear toward the roof of the vehicle before turning her attention to Camilla.

“Do you know why Adrian's father is still being kept in that health facility?”

Camilla's expression changed.

“No.”

Lucia looked at her for another moment.

“Not even the reason his condition became so severe?”

“I was told his health deteriorated over the years. That's all.”

Lucia gave a quiet hum.

“He wasn't always like that.”

Camilla looked at her carefully.Lucia continued staring through the window.

“my husband used to be a powerful man. Everyone listened when he spoke. He made decisions for the family, the company, and even people who thought they were beyond his reach.”

She took another puff.“Now he barely remembers some of them.”

Camilla remained silent, she knew there was more to the story.There always was when Lucia spoke like this.

“Do you know what caused it?” Lucia asked again.

“No.”

Lucia slowly turned toward her.

“Because he stopped listening.”

Camilla frowned, the answer seemed strange.

“What does that have to do with his condition?”

Lucia's lips curved into the faintest smile.

“Nothing.”She looked away again.“Or perhaps everything.”

Camilla studied her, she suddenly understood that Lucia wasn't really interested in discussing Adrian's father.

She was talking about Adrian.

“Adrian doesn't listen to anyone either,” Lucia continued.

“Especially when he believes he has made the right decision.”

Camilla's fingers tightened around her handbag.

“You think he's going to stay away?”

“I think you should stop waiting for him to return simply because you are his wife.”

Camilla turned toward her.

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

Lucia looked directly into her eyes.

“You know him better than I do.”

A pause.“He may ignore me. He may ignore everyone else. But perhaps he won't ignore you.”

Camilla understood the message, Lucia wasn't asking her to beg, she was telling her to find something Adrian couldn't dismiss.

The rest of the journey passed quietly, but Camilla's mind was already somewhere else, she knew Adrian.

If she simply called and asked him to come home, he would ignore her as he had done countless times before, she needed a reason he couldn't refuse.

*****

Adrian's POV

My phone had been vibrating on the table for several minutes.

Camilla.

Again, I stared at her name before turning the phone face down, I already knew what she wanted, she wanted me back in Spain, I wasn't ready to leave.

There were still things I needed to finish in Montclair, and I hadn't come all this way to walk away before getting the answers I wanted.

The phone vibrated again.

Then again.

I finally picked it up.

Four missed calls.

Three messages.

I opened none of them.

Another call came through, this time, I answered.

“What is it, Camilla?”

“Where are you?”

“You know where I am.”

“And you're still refusing to come home.”

“I told you I'll return when I'm finished.”

“You don't understand.”

A faint crease appeared between my brows.

“Then explain it.”

There was a pause.

“Lucia knows you're investigating your mother's past.”

My expression hardened, I said nothing.

Camilla continued.

“She knows you've been asking questions about what happened before your mother died.”

My fingers tightened around the phone, that was information I hadn't expected her to have.

“What exactly did she tell you?”

“She didn't tell me everything.”

“Then why are you calling me?”

“Because she doesn't need to tell me everything for me to understand what she is planning.”

I leaned back slowly, Lucia had always been dangerous when she knew someone was searching for answers.

“What does she want?”

“She wants you back.”

I gave a quiet scoff.

“And you decided to become her messenger?”

“No. I'm giving you a warning.”

“I don't need one.”

“You might when you hear what else has happened.”

I waited.

“Your father wants to see you.”

My expression changed, that was different, my father rarely asked for me directly anymore.

His health had taken away much of his ability to manage things himself, and the people around him handled most of his affairs, and his influence had never disappeared simply because his health had declined.

“Why?”

“I wasn't given a reason.”

I looked toward the documents lying on my desk, I had come to Montclair to deal with my own business, not to be dragged back into family problems.

“I can't leave yet.”

“Then finish quickly.”

“I will.”

Camilla's voice became firmer.

“You have two days.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“Two days?”

“Yes.”

I could hear the determination in her voice.

“After that, you come home.”

I was silent for a moment.

“Camilla, you don't give me orders.”

“I know.”

“Then don't speak to me as if you do.”

“I wouldn't have to if you would answer your phone.”

A brief silence followed.She had a point.I had deliberately ignored her.But I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of knowing that.

“What exactly happens after these two days?”

Camilla didn't answer immediately.Then she said quietly,

“Lucia will tell your father everything she knows about what you've been doing in Montclair.”

My gaze hardened, she continued before I could respond.

“And if your father learns that you've been investigating your mother's past without telling him, you know what will happen.”

I did, It wasn't fear that made me silent, it was calculation.

My father's name was attached to too many of my business interests, several of my shareholders had connections to him, and losing his support could create complications not even now that Lucia is behind all his movements, I had no intention of dealing with that now.

But there was something else.I didn't want Lucia anywhere near the questions I had been asking.Not yet.

“Two days,” I finally said.

“Yes.”

“I'll finish what I came here to do.”

“And then?"

"you see me whenever you see me"

Camilla exhaled.

I was about to end the call when she spoke again.

“Adrian.”

“What?”

“Don't make me come looking for you.”

I almost smiled.

“You wouldn't like what you found.”

She was silent, then the call ended, I placed the phone on the table and stared at it.

I ended the call, for a moment, I remained seated.

Two days.

That was why I had told Victor the wedding would be this weekend, I already knew I couldn't stay in Montclair much longer.

Whatever I came here to accomplish had to be finished before I returned to Spain.

And Isabella had no idea that the man she had just agreed to marry was already working against a deadline she knew nothing about.