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CHAPTER 12

Author: ROWAN VALE
last update publish date: 2026-09-11 18:27:34

I couldn't stop thinking about Zoe.

Maya had promised to call me as soon as she knew more, but hours had passed. Nothing.

I sat at the kitchen island in Adrian's penthouse, staring at my untouched tea. Liam was attacking me from every direction. First, the photograph. Then the paternity claim. Now the rumors about my pregnancy. And somewhere in the middle of all of it was Zoe — a girl who looked terrified enough to believe Liam could destroy her.

I heard footsteps behind me. I turned. Adrian walked into the kitchen. His expression was unreadable.

"Where are you going?"

He picked up his coat from the back of a chair. "To see Liam."

My stomach tightened. "Why?"

"He needs to hear something from me."

"Adrian, don't."

He looked at me. "I'll handle it."

"That is exactly what worries me."

A faint smile touched his mouth. "You think I'm going to hurt him?"

"I think you're angry."

"I am."

"At him?"

"At everything." He walked closer. "Especially at the fact that you keep getting dragged into problems you never created."

I stood. "You don't have to fight every battle for me."

"I know."

"Then why are you going?"

"Because Liam thinks he can use you to get to me." His eyes hardened. "He's wrong."

I watched him leave. For some reason, I had a terrible feeling about what would happen next.

---

Liam was waiting in a private lounge at one of the Vance properties. When Adrian walked in, Liam barely looked up from his drink.

"I wondered when you'd come."

Adrian closed the door behind him. "You've been busy."

Liam smiled. "Have I?"

"The photograph."

"Not mine."

"The rumors."

"People talk."

"The lawyer."

Liam's smile disappeared. "My lawyer is doing his job."

Adrian walked toward him. "You're making this personal."

Liam gave a quiet laugh. "You're only realizing that now?"

Adrian stopped across from him. "Tell your lawyer to withdraw the paternity claim."

"No."

"Stop spreading lies about Chloe."

"No."

"Leave her alone."

Liam leaned back. "And if I don't?"

Adrian reached into his coat and placed a folder on the table. Liam glanced at it. "What is that?"

"Your future."

Liam slowly opened the folder. Inside were financial documents. Accounts. Properties. Investment records. Enough money to disappear.

Adrian's voice remained calm. "Take it."

Liam looked up. "What?"

"You want money? I'll give you enough to leave the country. Start over somewhere else. You'll never have to answer to me again."

For several seconds, Liam said nothing. Then he laughed. "You're serious."

"Yes."

"You think you can buy me?"

"I think you want something."

Liam's expression changed. "What makes you think you know what I want?"

"Because you keep attacking Chloe."

"I hate her."

"No." Adrian's voice was quiet. "You hate me."

Liam's jaw tightened. Adrian pushed the folder closer. "Take the money and disappear."

Liam looked down at it, then back at his brother. "You'd really give me all this?"

"Yes."

"Just like that?"

"Yes."

Liam picked up one of the documents and studied the number. A small smile appeared. "For someone who supposedly hates me, you're being generous."

"I don't hate you."

Liam looked at him. "I don't trust you."

"You should." Adrian's eyes hardened. "Because this is the last offer you'll ever get from me."

Liam slowly closed the folder, then pushed it back across the table. Adrian didn't move.

"Take it."

"No."

"Think carefully."

"I already did."

Liam stood. The smile was gone now. "You still don't understand."

Adrian stared at him. "Understand what?"

Liam stepped closer. "All these years, you thought I wanted what you had." He shook his head. "You were wrong."

Adrian's expression remained cold. "Then what do you want?"

Liam's eyes burned with something I couldn't see from across the room. Not greed. Not jealousy. Something darker — something that had been growing for years.

He leaned closer to his brother. "I don't want your money, brother." His voice dropped. "I want to watch you lose everything."

Adrian's face hardened.

Liam smiled. "The way you've always taken everything from me. And I want you to stay away from her. None of your business — her and the pregnancy. Get lost, brother."

Liam walked away.

I was in the office that moment, listening to all of it. But Adrian had already told me not to get involved.

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  • The Brother boss’s obssession    CHAPTER 16

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  • The Brother boss’s obssession    CHAPTER 15

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  • The Brother boss’s obssession    CHAPTER 14

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  • The Brother boss’s obssession    CHAPTER 12

    I couldn't stop thinking about Zoe.Maya had promised to call me as soon as she knew more, but hours had passed. Nothing.I sat at the kitchen island in Adrian's penthouse, staring at my untouched tea. Liam was attacking me from every direction. First, the photograph. Then the paternity claim. Now the rumors about my pregnancy. And somewhere in the middle of all of it was Zoe — a girl who looked terrified enough to believe Liam could destroy her.I heard footsteps behind me. I turned. Adrian walked into the kitchen. His expression was unreadable."Where are you going?"He picked up his coat from the back of a chair. "To see Liam."My stomach tightened. "Why?""He needs to hear something from me.""Adrian, don't."He looked at me. "I'll handle it.""That is exactly what worries me."A faint smile touched his mouth. "You think I'm going to hurt him?""I think you're angry.""I am.""At him?""At everything." He walked closer. "Especially at the fact that you keep getting dragged into pr

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