Adrian Carter's Silent Dominance

CHAPTER 4

Monica stood frozen, unable to process what she had just witnessed.

Her mouth was slightly open, her eyes unfocused, and all the color had drained from her face.

She looked as though her entire understanding of the world had been ripped apart in one moment.

Adrian gave her a single, cold glance.

His voice was low, steady, and dangerously calm as he spoke.

“If I ever hear you insult Lily again,” he said slowly, “I will make you pay for it.”

Monica’s knees weakened.

She tried to respond—tried to defend herself, tried to speak—but no sound came out.

Her throat tightened, and she could only stand there in silence, trembling.

She watched helplessly as Adrian lifted Lily into one of the luxury cars.

The car door closed with a muted click.

One by one, the engines started, and the entire convoy rolled away from the house in perfect formation.

Only after the last car disappeared around the corner did Monica finally snap back into herself.

Her shock twisted instantly into rage.

“There’s no way,” she muttered, her steps quick and restless as she paced back and forth.

“There is absolutely no way that was real. Adrian? Adrian? That useless man?”

Her voice rose in disbelief, her hands flying up in frustration. “Luxury cars—actual luxury cars—showing up for him? No. Impossible. That doesn’t happen. Not to someone like him.”

She grabbed her phone so hard her fingers shook.

“He definitely stole money from Vanessa,” she growled, her hands balling into fists as she paced.

“He must have taken her cards—maybe even emptied one of her accounts. There’s no other explanation. Those men… those cars… they have to be actors. Paid. Hired. Borrowed. Something. Because who else would show up to pick him up?”

She pressed Vanessa's number and held the phone to her ear, forcing her breathing to stay steady long enough to sound pitiful.

The call connected.

“Vanessa—” she began, making her voice tremble.

Before she could continue, Vanessa's annoyed voice cut in. “Monica? What happened? You sound like you’re crying.”

“He hit me,” Monica said immediately, lifting a hand to her cheek even though Vanessa couldn’t see it. “Adrian… Adrian actually hit me.”

Vanessa's tone sharpened instantly. “What? Why would he hit you? Monica, what happened?”

Monica hesitated for half a second, remembering what she had said about Lily.

There was no way she could admit that.

So she swallowed the truth and changed it entirely.

“…I tried everything to make him sign the papers,” she whispered, her voice trembling just enough to sound believable.

“I tried persuading him, reminding him how much better your future would be if you moved on, but he wouldn’t listen. He got angry. Really angry.”

She swallowed, letting the moment stretch.

“And then he… he hit me.”

She lowered her gaze as if the memory itself weighed her down, letting silence do the rest of the work.

Silence that invited sympathy, outrage, and exactly the reaction she wanted.

Vanessa gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as if the truth had finally clicked into place.

“I knew it. I knew he was pretending. I knew that whole talk about divorce wasn’t real. He’s after my money. All of it.”

Monica wiped nonexistent tears from her cheek. “Exactly. He was furious because he thinks he can get something out of you,”

“Vanessa, you’re about to sign that cooperation agreement with the Rand family. The company is about to double in value. Of course he wants to cling to you now.”

Vanessa scoffed loudly. “Unbelievable. I’m at the most luxurious hotel in the city right now. The  Rand family is supposed to meet me here. And now I find out Adrian is becoming violent. This is unacceptable. I’ll call him and make him apologize.”

Monica nodded even though Vanessa couldn’t see. “Yes, you should. He needs to understand you’re not someone he can intimidate.”

Vanessa hung up immediately, barely containing her anger.

—

Meanwhile, in the lead car of the convoy, Victor Rand couldn't stop wiping his eyes.

“Young master,” he said, sniffing loudly, “you have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment. All these years… I only had phone calls. That’s all I had. And I hoped—every day—that you would meet me one day.”

Lily leaned forward from her seat, watching the old man with wide, curious eyes.

Victor continued, his voice warm with emotion.

“I was once just a servant in the North family. A nobody. And you—” he turned to Adrian, his voice trembling again,

“—you lifted me up. You changed my fate. You helped me become the head of the Rand family. The most powerful family in this city. I would not be here without you. Not even for a second.”

He cleared his throat and gestured toward the young woman sitting across from them.

“This,” he announced proudly, “is my granddaughter. Iris Rand. The most outstanding member of our family.”

Iris lowered her head shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she stole small glances at Adrian.

She spoke softly, almost whispering.

“It’s… it’s very nice to finally meet you.”

Adrian nodded politely. “You too.”

Victor smiled widely, pleased by the exchange. “She studied in the finest schools abroad. No one there knew her identity. No one troubled her. No one dared approach her for the wrong reasons.”

Iris is completely pure. Clean.

And the moment Victor heard Adrian was leaving Vanessa today, he knew it was time.

Knowing that Adrian was leaving Vanessa today, he quickly called Iris back.

If she could become Adrian's wife, the Rand family would rise to prominence.

“But enough talk!” Victor said, his voice booming with excitement, eyes shining as he waved a hand expansively.

“I have already prepared a banquet—the finest banquet in the most luxurious hotel in the city. Every detail has been arranged with care, from the food to the decorations, everything perfected for this occasion,”

“Everything is ready, waiting, and everyone—every single member of the family—is eager to welcome you home. You don’t have to lift a finger. All that matters is that you step inside, and the rest is taken care of.”

Lily gasped happily. “A banquet? With real food? Real desserts?”

Victor laughed. “Real food, my little princess. More than you can imagine.”

Lily bounced slightly in her seat, her earlier tears forgotten.

Everything seemed perfect.

The car was warm. Lily was smiling. Victor  was emotional. Iris was shy but hopeful.

Everything was peaceful—until Adrian's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

Vanessa.

His jaw tightened, and he answered without emotion.

“Adrian!” Vanessa's voice burst through the speaker.

“Why did you beat up Monica ? Have you completely lost control? Do you have any idea how violent and greedy you’re becoming? You need to apologize to her right now or I will never forgive you!”

Victor fell silent.

Iris froze.

Lily looked at Adrian worriedly.

Adrian closed his eyes for a brief moment, more disappointed than angry.

His voice came out calm.

“Yes,” he said. “I hit her.”

Vanessa inhaled sharply, ready to explode—until Adrian continued.

“If you want to call the police,” he said calmly, “go ahead. Do whatever you want. I won’t say another word to you.”

And he hung up.

Just like that. No hesitation. No regret. No explanation.

The car returned to silence.