Chapter 53: The Tea Is Hot
Adrian's POV
The estate still looks like Versailles threw up on it.
Same hedges clipped within an inch of their lives. Same gravel that sounds like a threat under the tires of any car not worth six figures. Same doors that open slow—like they're thinking about whether you deserve it.
Henri's waiting in the solarium. Of course he is. He always hosts confrontations here, pretending they're tea parties. The sun filters through the glass roof like it's been told to behave. The whole space smells faintly of citrus and old money.
He gestures to the chair across from him, fingers barely moving. Power, distilled into a twitch.
I sit. Relaxed, maybe too relaxed. One leg crosses over the other. Arm sl
Chapter 61: Chemistry ReignitedElise's POVThe scent of alcohol wipes and bitter oils filled the air—comforting in a way that made my chest ache. I unwrapped a bundle of old lab tools from a towel I'd used during undergrad, the faded blue embroidery still barely legible: Ford. My name. My mother's.The penthouse living room had transformed overnight. Adrian's once-pristine space now looked like a hybrid between a startup lab and a 90s apothecary. Test tubes, vintage remedy books, solvent bottles, and microscope slides cluttered every flat surface.Luke sat cross-legged on the floor, half-buried in reference tabs and chemical databases. Isla was curled up on the couch, one arm draped lazily around a cold brew like it was h
Chapter 60: Fridge Creams and Quiet FearElise's POVThe Harper kitchen was warm in the way lived-in spaces often are—quietly cluttered, corners softened by use. The late sun spilled across the tile floor in golden rectangles, the scent of citrus dish soap lingering faintly beneath the air of domestic normalcy.Lara moved without fanfare, opening the fridge with a practiced hand. Her shoulders were slightly hunched, not with fear this time, but concentration."Let's see," she muttered, shifting jars and bottles. "Where did she put it…"She reached past a mason jar of chopped garlic, a nearly empty bottle of oat milk, and retrieved a small, unlabeled glass container."This one," she said, holding it up with both
Chapter 59: A Whisper of TruthElise's POVThe sunlight filtering through the leafy canopy above us dappled the garden bench in soft golden hues. It was late afternoon, the kind of still, gentle hour when shadows stretch long but nothing has yet begun to fade. Mateo sat beside me, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve, casting nervous glances toward the winding path where she'd arrive."She said she'd come," he muttered, barely above a whisper, his voice tinged with doubt.I reached out and gently squeezed his hand, trying to share some of my calm with him. "I trust she will," I said softly, voice warm and steady, the way I hoped would wrap around him like a gentle blanket. "But if she doesn't, we don't push. We have to let her feel safe first. That's the most important thing."
Chapter 58: Paper TrailsAdrian's POVThe soft clack of Vincent's shoes against the polished marble floor echoed through the corridor outside my office, each step measured and precise, like a metronome ticking off a rhythm only he could hear. The door opened with its usual quiet efficiency—no creak, no hesitation, just the subtle shift of hinges that marked his entrance."Morning, Mr. Laurent," Vincent said, placing a slim leather folder on my desk with the kind of ceremony reserved for a royal decree, rather than a week-old internal memo haul that probably no one else bothered to read. "Per your request—archived expense records for the lab division from Q1 to Q4, last fiscal year."I didn't look up right away. I hated confirming things with my eyes before my gut had time to whisper first, the way inst
Chapter 57: Beneath the SurfaceElise's POVI sat up a little straighter, my mind racing to catch up with the sudden revelation. "You're serious?" My voice came out steadier than I felt, but inside, a swirl of questions started bubbling.Adrian smirked, his usual dry humor momentarily replaced by something almost like respect. "Dead serious. Yvonne Harper."I frowned, confused. "But… how come I never really knew about her? How is it possible no one mentioned her before?"Luke exhaled with a slow nod, his calm and thoughtful nature shining through as he answered. "Yvonne's not exactly the social type. She keeps a really low profile. Doesn't mingle at the usual Laurent parties or their fancy charity galas. She's mostly buried deep in the lab, running tests and exp
Chapter 56: More Than Skin DeepElise's POVIt took me a while to break free from Rigo and Isla's teasing, their playful banter swirling around us like a light breeze on a warm evening. I couldn't help but smile, though—Adrian, you're on your own with this one.My attention shifted when I noticed Mateo sitting a little apart from the group, staring at his phone with a furrowed brow. That usual spark of mischief and humor was dimmed, replaced by something heavier. It pulled at me immediately."Hey, Mateo," I said gently, leaning in just a little, my voice calm and warm. "You've been quiet all night. Everything okay?"He blinked, like he hadn't realized anyone was paying attention. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… thinking."