AWAKENED ADRIAN LACANSTER

CHAPTER 11- Power Play

The clerks exchanged subtle glances of annoyance but kept their expressions professional.

Within moments, the double doors of the courtroom swung open as the superior judge stormed in.

“What’s the issue here?” he barked.

Lucian crossed his arms, exuding arrogance.

“Your incompetent staff is delaying me and my fiancée. I don’t have all day.”

Annoyance flickered in the judge’s eyes, he opened his mouth to respond, then he took a closer look at the man standing before him.

His breath hitched. His brows shot up in shock.

The man standing before him was Lucian Grayson!

Heir to the Grayson family.

Newly appointed CEO of Astra Corp.

A man with immense influence and a bright future.

The judge’s heart pounded as he turned on his staff, his voice booming.

“Do you even know who this is?!” he roared.

The clerks flinched. The room fell into complete silence.

“Apologize! Now!” the judge barked.

The clerks scrambled, bowing their heads, their voices hurried.

“We deeply apologize, Sir. It was a mistake.”

The judge himself took a step forward, forcing a sweet smile.

“Mr. Grayson, please don't be offeneded. I didn’t know it were you. It was an honest mistake. Please forgive us. We will finalize the process immediately.”

Lucian, now pleased and enjoying the reverent stares, smirked and flicked his wrist.

Isabelle also held her head up high, as if she was the queen herself.

“That’s more like it,” Lucian’s voice dripped with superiority.

“Hurry up and finalize the divorce for my fiancé and her husband. Also, prepare our marriage license!” he ordered.

“Right away,” the judge replied with a flattering smile before leaving.

With the judge gone, Lucian brought his gaze to Adrian.

“You see that, Lancaster?”

“That’s the weight of my name. That’s what real power looks like... Something you will never be able to relate to in your miserable life.”

Adrian didn't respond.

Let them gloat while they still could.

Soon enough, they would understand what true power felt like.

But not now.

Moments later, the divorce decree was finalized and handed over.

Along with Lucian and Isabelles’ marriage license.

Isabelle beamed, clutching the papers like a prized trophy.

She turned to Lucian, her eyes shining with admiration.

She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body against his.

“You’re amazing, darling,” she purred sweetly, enjoying her moment of glory.

Around them, whispers filled the courtroom.

“She is so lucky. Landing Lucian Grayson after leaving that washed-up businessman.”

“What a catch. He’s rich, young, and powerful.”

“Her poor ex-husband... He lost everything.”

Pitying gazes flickered toward Adrian.

Some were filled with scorn, others with mockery.

Adrian, however, wasn’t affected in the slightest.

A scheming, shallow slut like Isabelle wasn’t worth salvaging.

As for Lucian, if he wanted to pick up someone’s leftovers, he was more than welcome to do so.

Two vipers tangled in their own poison.

Adrian's smirk deepened.

He knew something they didn't.

From the new skills he had acquired, he could already sense that Lucian had an interesting illness.

And as for Isabelle? She wasn’t exactly clean either.

A match made in hell.

The two of them might even have a future of mutual betrayal.

But since neither of them was a good person, let them rot together as long as they didn’t harm anyone decent.

Adrian had no intention of wasting another second in this courtroom.

He turned, gripping the divorce decree firmly, ready to walk out.

But just as he stepped forward, two towering bodyguards blocked his path.

Lucian let out a slow, taunting chuckle.

“You think this is over?” he murmured, his words laced with venom. “You’re nothing more than a weak, toothless stray dog. But you still need to pay for offending me.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened dangerously.

Lucian chuckled darkly.

“I would advice you to be smart, Lancaster. Clean up that pathetic sister of yours and deliver her to my mansion yourself. Be a good boy and maybe I will toss you a few coins and let you get a taste too.”

SMACK!

The slap echoed like a gunshot in the courtroom.

Lucian staggered back, crashing against a chair before stumbling onto the polished floor.

Adrian stepped forward slowly, his tone colder than death.

“I swear...” he said, voice controlled but seething, “If you ever threaten her again, I will end you myself.”

Gasps filled the air.

Isabelle’s eyes widened in horror.

“Lucian!” She rushed toward him.

Lucian clutched his cheek, his head still reeling from the force of Adrian’s slap.

His breath came in ragged gasps, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

He had expected Adrian to cower, to grovel but not to slap him.

His gaze snapped to the two bodyguards.

“What are you waiting for? Break him!”

The stunned guards sprang into action, they lunged toward Adrian with their fists clenched.

But Adrian Lancaster didn’t move.

He didn’t flinch.

Instead, he adjusted his cufflinks with a smirk on his lips as the bodyguards closed in.

He was more than ready to face them.

With his newly gained martial art skill, he could take down each of them with just a single blow.

But before any of them could land a single punch, there was a sudden screech of tires.

Gasps erupted from the crowd as a stretch, luxurious Rolls-Royce, flanked by two black Ford, rolled to a halt in front of the courthouse.

The air crackled with tension as the doors swung open.

Several imposing men in tailored black suits stepped out first, their movements precise and calculated.

They exuded an aura of absolute authority, their cold eyes scanning the scene.