Chapter 12"What?" Adrian's voice came out sharp. "Fiancé?"He pulled back slightly from the embrace, his hands on Celeste's shoulders, looking at her face. "Aunt Betty had a fiancé?"Celeste nodded, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. "You didn't know. You've been gone so long, Adrian. A lot happened while you were away.""Tell me," Adrian said quietly. "Tell me everything."Celeste took a shaky breath. "After you left to join the military, Aunt Betty was so careful. We moved constantly. We moved to different cities, used different names, always looking over our shoulders. It was exhausting. Terrifying. But she never complained. She just... kept us safe."She paused, her voice softening slightly."About three years ago, we were living in Millbrook. Small city, quiet. Aunt Betty got a job at a local school again. And that's when she met him." Celeste's expression darkened. "A businessman. Around her age. Successful, charming. He owned some commercial properties. His name is

Chapter 14The Grand Celestial Hotel stood in the heart of downtown Greenville like a monument to excess. Thirty floors of glass and steel, with a facade that glittered under the city lights. The kind of place where a single night's stay cost more than most people made in two months.Tonight, it was lit up even more brilliantly than usual. White lights wrapped around every column. Red carpet stretched from the street to the entrance. A massive banner hung above the doors: "Congratulations Tony & Kris."Adrian's vehicle pulled up to the entrance.He stepped out first, then turned and offered his hand. Celeste took it, emerging from the car in her new outfit—the cream cashmere sweater, dark jeans, and white sneakers. Simple. Elegant. She'd showered and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She looked young and fresh. Beautiful in a way that had nothing to do with makeup or expensive styling.In Adrian's other hand, he carried the chains — same heavy chains that had bound Celeste in that

Chapter 16Adrian’s fist crashed into Liam’s face.The impact snapped Liam’s head back violently, teeth clicking together as blood burst from his mouth. Before he could even register the pain, the second punch landed.Bone cracked beneath Adrian’s knuckles. Liam screamed, or tried to, but the sound came out muffled and wet, strangled by the hand still locked around his throat.The third blow drove him sideways, his body slamming into a column before Adrian yanked him back upright. Blood sprayed across the pristine white floor, staining the marble in ugly streaks. Liam’s nose was no longer recognizable, crushed flat against his face. One cheekbone collapsed inward with a sickening crunch."Everyone in your family," Adrian said quietly, his voice steady, controlled, terrifying, punctuating each word with another brutal strike, "is trash."He released Liam without ceremony.Liam crumpled to the floor like a marionette with its strings cut, limbs folding awkwardly beneath him. Blood poured

Chapter 18"This is impossible," Anthony whispered, slumped in the couch, staring at Hitler's broken body. "He trained for twelve years. He's defeated masters. Regional champions. This can't…""There's nothing impossible about it." Adrian's voice cut through Anthony's denial like a blade. "I also severely injured his master tonight. The Rodrigez patriarch. And I killed his son."The words hung in the air.Anthony's head snapped toward Adrian, his eyes wide with disbelief. "The patriarch? You defeated... but that's... Trevor Rodrigez is dead?""Very dead." Adrian's expression remained cold, merciless. "Would you like to join him?""No… please…" Anthony's voice rose to a panicked pitch. "I didn't know… I swear I didn't know who you were…if I had known…""You dared to provoke my sister." Adrian took another step forward. "You helped kidnap her. Helped auction her. You betrayed my aunt. Used her trust. Reported her location to Natasha for money."Anthony's mind reeled. Nothing made sense

Chapter 20"Please! Please! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"The voice came from outside, muffled but desperate. It cut through the quiet morning air like a knife, slicing through the stillness of the room and pulling everyone's attention toward the window at once.Aunt Betty's head snapped toward the window. Her eyes widened. "That voice...""PLEASE! I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I WAS WRONG! SO WRONG!"The pleading continued, growing more frantic, more pathetic with each word — the sound of a man who had run completely out of options and knew it.Recognition dawned on Aunt Betty's face. The color drained from her cheeks as though someone had pulled a plug. Her hand flew to her mouth. "That's... that's Anthony."Adrian stood slowly, his expression calm. Almost casual. "Yes.""You…" Aunt Betty looked between Adrian and the window, understanding clicking into place piece by piece. "You captured him?""I did." Adrian moved to her side, offering his arm. "Would you like to see?"Aunt Betty hesitated for ju