Chapter 19

Adrian’s POV

It pains me to have to leave my wife back at home. It felt like I was being detached from my other half, like Velcro strips.

A part of me wants to return back, hug her, kiss her and make sure she doesn’t feel as distressed as she was about her family. I couldn’t do that though, I had to handle business, settle scores, that is her family and their transgressions.

Tonight being the most important night for us. Our wedding night. I should have her held against me with a long embrace, inhaling her scent with my hands in her beautiful and soft hair.

But someone decided to cause trouble and with my wife being bothered and restless, there was no way she would relax enough for us to have a beautiful night rest. And so, I had to drag myself out the house.

Barrett appears from the corner of the house as I stepped into the cool of the evening. The guests were now long gone. I’d told the staffs to clear everyone out once my wife and I left.

“Sir, she is now at the back house .” Barrett stated as he caught up to me.

“Let’s go then.”

“And her father?” He asked.

“He would be calling me once he has a response,” I said with a smirk. “You sent the proposal right?”

“Yes, I sent it immediately.”

“Good,”I beamed. “Let’s go.”

After a short while, we finally arrived at the house—Emily’s prison. I’d instructed Barrett to bring her here as hostage.

Yes, I lied to Brianna, but it was all for her sake. She would have to understand that.

The familiar building came into view, looming and silent, its walls heavy with the weight of those who had been kept here before her.

“Hello, Emily.”

Her head snapped up, recognition flashing across her face before it twisted into fury. “You… you’re the one who had me locked up here?”

“Yes.” I let the word settle, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Who else would? I’d hate for someone else to take credit for my work.”

“You bastard, let me go this instant!” She spat, her eyes blazing, red-rimmed with fury as she glared at me like daggers could fly out of her eyes.

If I were an ordinary man, I wasn’t, I’d be shaking in my boots. She was quite intimidating in a way. Good for her, but sadly it won’t work on me.

Instead, I bend towards her where she sat on the chair, her hand tied behind her back. She must have made a fuss about being held here in the house.

I didn’t instruct for her to be tied to a chair as long as she doesn’t cause a disturbance.

No wonder, she hasn’t made a jump to hit me, she seemed seconds away from doing it. The possibility of her sending a shot of spit at me was dangerously high though.

“Oh! …..No, you’re not leaving here anytime soon,” I stated, checking my watch. If her father didn’t send a suitable respond, she’d be here for a while.

“You devil,” she cursed, her face contorting with fury. “Don’t you know you’ve been deceived?”

I turn to her wondering what the hell she is on about.

She smirked, thinking she got my attention. “Brianna isn’t the one you were meant to marry. That would be me, I am the youngest daughter that was promised to you.” She spat, a glimmer in her eyes as she continued, “but then I ran away to escape getting married to a demon like you.”

Silly girl.

I decided to indulge her a bit. I crossed my arms, a faint crease in my brows as I pretend to be interested in her silly confession. “Oh!” I exclaimed. “Is that so?”

I watched her unravel, letting every word spill out of her like it meant something—like it would change anything.

“Brianna was sent as a substitute,” Emily snapped, her voice rising with each word. “A replacement bride to take my place to avoid your wrath. I’ll tell my father to revoke everything. I’ll take back my place.”

I tilted my head slightly, studying her, and for a moment, I almost pitied her.

What a silly girl.

She still didn’t seem to catch the drift. She continued.

“You do know she’s adopted, right?” she pressed on, desperation bleeding into her tone. “She has no real place as your wife. I’m the biological daughter—you have far more to gain from me than from Brianna. She has no purpose.”

That was where she made her mistake.

My expression hardened, the last trace of amusement vanishing as I took a step closer.

“Listen carefully,” I said, my voice dropping into something cold, something final. “I don’t know what you think happened, or who you thought I wanted… but Brianna was always the one.”

Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

“Brianna has always been the one,” I continued, my gaze locking onto hers. “I never knew if you until we told me herself. When I asked for the youngest Stewart daughter, I meant Brianna Stewart. And nothing or no one is going to change that.”

I guess he ample time to digest what I just said. She was slowly getting it. Her lips parted in shock, a slow but steady stream of mortification easing into her previously smug expression.

“We are married,” I added, each word deliberate. “And that is not changing.”

A flicker of something, likely fear and brutal realization, finally crossed her face.

“So you’d do well to speak properly about my wife,” I went on, my tone sharpening, “or face the consequences. And while you are still sitting in that chair, I suggest you watch your tone when you speak to me.”

The shift in her was immediate. The anger was still there—but now, it had something else tangled in it.

Uncertainty? Good!

I took another step closer, lowering my voice just enough to make it dangerous.

“And if you decide to test my patience…” I paused, letting the weight of it settle. “I might just have to inform your father about your little escapade.”

Her breath hitched. “What….what do you mean?”

“Yes,” I said softly, almost thoughtfully. “The frat boy. The nights you thought no one knew about.”

Her face drained of color.

“Or perhaps,” I continued, “he’d be more interested in how you helped yourself to the family jewels. The gold. The diamonds.” A faint, humorless smile touched my lips. “Tell me, Emily… how much did you get for them when you pawned them off just to survive the past week?”

This time, she didn’t speak.

She couldn’t. I had made myself clear enough.

But Emily was a girl, she retorts after a few seconds. “You devil bastard!”

Ah! I see I have her right there!