Adrian stood still as the tailor made a few final adjustments to his custom-made suit. The shop was quiet, with only the hum of distant chatter filling the space. Blinks was nearby, getting measured for his own suit, while Raymond was flipping through a magazine, looking like he would rather be anywhere else. Even though they had an unsettling past, they'd become pretty close ever since they actually had to fight each other. Adrian was still very cautious of Raymond, always believing that people rarely change but he also understood that the former person had little understanding of the world.“So, how’s it been?” Adrian asked, breaking the silence. He glanced over at Raymond, who seemed to be deep in thought.Raymond sighed, lowering the magazine. “It’s been… different,” he said, his voice a mix of frustration and resignation. “I thought being a board member would be more exciting, you know? But most of the time, I’m just following Mr. Desmond around, learning the ropes. He’s a good m

Adrian stood outside the grand estate of the Helmonts, taking a deep breath before making his way to the front door. He had spent the entire night thinking about Mrs. Helmont’s call and what it could mean for his future with Rose. He needed answers, and there was only one person who could give them to him—Mr. Helmont himself.After a few moments, a butler opened the door and welcomed him inside. Adrian was led through the familiar hallways, the grandeur of the house never failing to impress him, though today, it all felt a little more intimidating. When they reached the dining room, Mr. Helmont was already seated at the head of the table, sipping his morning coffee.“Adrian!” Mr. Helmont greeted him warmly, standing up to shake his hand. “It’s good to see you, son. Come, sit down. We’re just about to have breakfast.”“Thank you, Mr. Helmont,” Adrian replied, forcing a smile as he took a seat across from the man. Despite his nerves, he tried to keep his tone light and casual.They spen

Adrian was lying on the couch, his head resting on Rose’s shoulder while she worked on her laptop. The soft clicking of the keyboard filled the quiet room as Rose focused on the screen. She was helping Adrian with some security checks for his company, something she had taken an interest in since they got married. Her fingers flew over the keys with ease, and Adrian couldn't help but admire how capable she was.The entire thing on the screen felt like gibberish to him, he was enjoying the little moment they had together so he didn't mind, he just rested his head on her, feigning that he was dozing off. However the reason he was doing this was because he loved the smell of her hair. “Should I start charging you for this?” Rose teased, her eyes never leaving the screen.Adrian chuckled, turning slightly to look up at her. “If you do, I’ll be broke in no time. Besides, I thought we were in this together now.” he said, rolling his eyes. “You are wife now, remember? Mrs Richards.”Rose gri

Adrian and Blinks left Adeline behind, still flustered from the earlier interruption. As they got into the car, the atmosphere was tense, but there was also a sense of determination between them. This meeting with Lazzaro had to go differently. They were done with the games, the dancing around the truth. It was time to confront him head-on.They didn’t say much during the drive, each lost in their thoughts. Adrian kept his eyes on the road, his grip on the steering wheel tight. Blinks, sitting in the passenger seat, occasionally checked the guns they had hidden in their clothes. They were careful not to draw any attention, but they were prepared for anything.As they approached the place where they’d last met Lazzaro, Adrian felt a strange calm wash over him. It was as if the weight of everything that had happened was finally settling, and now, it was time to deal with it. They parked a little way off, scanning the area before getting out of the car. “Ready?” Adrian asked, glancing a

Adrian spent most of the week wrapped up in Rose’s warmth, a sense of peace settling over him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. It was like a honeymoon, even though they hadn’t officially planned one. They didn’t need to travel anywhere exotic or do anything extravagant. Just being together, away from all the chaos that had surrounded them, was enough.The days were simple. They talked a lot, sharing stories about their lives before they met, their hopes for the future, and even the small, silly things that made them laugh. Adrian learned things about Rose that he never knew, because their time together had been short. She told him about her childhood dreams, the ones she had before her life became so entangled with family expectations and business dealings. Adrian, in turn, opened up about his fears, the pressures he’d felt growing up, and how much he wanted to carve out a life that was truly his own.Each night, they’d fall asleep in each other’s arms, the worries of the outside w