At first, Recko’s mind held many questions—like who Adrian truly was. Of all the things he might have imagined, never would he have thought that he was Steve’s master. If Steve had said boss, he might still have found it hard to believe, but master suggested something far more—someone supreme, a leader above all.He also wanted to ask how Adrian came about being part of the Lanes family. He was aware of Adrian’s history with Lyra and how, to them, he once looked like a poor nobody. None of it sat right with him, but right now a sudden sweat broke across his forehead.Have I just been rude to even Mr. Steve’s master? Recko thought.He remembered how he casually skipped Adrian when he came in. He hadn’t been sure of his importance, and besides, Adrian’s look wasn’t the type that begged for greetings—it was cold, unreadable. But now, learning who he really was, Recko wasn’t sure how to react.Even though he bore a reputation as the most dangerou
The man’s stance was elegant; his huge posture towered over Adrian’s. He looked like the leader of the gang.His presence was dangerously terrifying. People in the room began to edge away when they recognized him.They were well known for silencing anyone whose life or money was on their ledger. These were Draco’s men—the mafia boss’s crew.Draco played by rules of his own making. He didn’t come after someone without reason, and he didn’t forgive those who offended him.Draco’s men didn’t care much for the law; they were almost untouchable given their established power.“We’ve come today to give you a fair warning. About someone you’re threatening.” The huge man spoke in a deep, ordered voice.Adrian’s face remained unreadable beneath the shadow that surrounded him and Lyra.There were fifteen of them in black suits.But it was the man’s ferocity that mattered. Even if Sam had hired someone to attack him, A
Adrian still found the whole thing awkward. Her dress suggested someone who was on a date.Although Adrian had dressed in a black suit that also matched her black dress, it made the scene look even more obvious—as if they were indeed on a date.He knew well that the possibility of her not being here for business was quite high, but then he couldn’t think of what else she had to tell him.For a moment, the awkward silence settled in, making the air feel heavy, almost difficult to breathe—for Lyra, at least.She was busy searching her mind for a conversation starter, something that wouldn’t seem odd, but nothing came.And just then, Adrian’s voice broke through.“So, I heard about Damian,” he said in a calm tone.Of course, the news was already spreading like rumor—that they weren’t together anymore.He already knew why. He didn’t need to ask. Earlier, he’d asked Steve to investigate how Lyra had gotten the o
Steve was unsure what to say next. With Adrian’s expression, he couldn’t quite tell if he was being mocked or if his concerns were simply disregarded as unimportant.What he feared most was that since he had requested his presence, he must not waste it with matters unworthy of his time.Adrian was his master, and it was his duty to confess any grave mistake to him first. For Steve, loyalty meant always being plain about his life.“Master, I’m sorry… if—if it sounded unimportant to you,” he said nervously.He had never been this nervous, not even before a battle. But now, unsure of how Adrian would react, he couldn’t help himself from trembling.“Ahh—let me tell you. It’s fine,” Adrian replied.His expression was calm, even holding a faint smile—unlike the one he showed others. With Steve, he was more of a best friend.“You’re not indebted to be my servant anymore. I’ve always warned you of that. So, for you getting a woman pregnant… you have my permission to make things right,” Adrian
At the Xanders’ family home, Jacob’s face flushed red with anger as he learned the men he’d sent to beat Adrian up were as useless as anything he could name.He paced back and forth in his room, itching to smash Adrian’s face in—if only he were brave enough to match his fury. Growing up, he’d never bullied anyone; not from kindness, but from fear of getting hurt, of marring his skin. That timidity had made his father think he was a good kid. If only the old man knew.After circling through a dozen half-formed plans, Jacob still couldn’t land on anything that felt close to backing off his revenge.“You’ll pay for what you did to me,” he snarled through gritted teeth, as if Adrian stood right there.Then a thought dropped into place. His eyes lit up.“Yes. You’ll suffer for this,” he hissed, dialing a number. He steadied his voice—one quick rehearsal under his breath—just before the call connected.“Hello, Recko?” he said in a
Ronan had assumed, at most, that Adrian might be connected to Steve — he couldn’t find a clear trace of Adrian on his own, and Steve’s name kept surfacing around the edges of his searches. Still, the idea that they might be brothers didn’t sit right; Steve was known as one of the wealthiest men in the city, and he had never once claimed Adrian as kin. Curiosity, sharpened by suspicion, is what had finally pushed Ronan to make this visit.Hearing that Adrian was Steve’s master wasn’t something Ronan had expected. He masked the shock — or the doubt — that stirred at the corner of his eyes and forced his voice steady. “So why is he here in disguise? And you too… no backstory, no relatives, nothing. Just a wealthy man in Vereluxe, right?” he asked, probing for answers.“I don’t owe you an answer to that,” Steve said, his voice precise and cutting. And his deep voice was always the same anytime he spoke.“Who is Adrian Foster? Why is he pretending to be an