Adrian Cole; Return of the Lost Heir

Who is he really?

Chapter Eleven

The moment Isabella Reyes stood in front of Adrian Cole, the entire banquet shifted. Silence wrapped around the room like a noose, and even those who had been mocking him minutes ago now looked uneasy, darting glances between Isabella and Adrian.

Mr. Graham, Armstrong’s manager, swallowed hard. His earlier arrogance vanished, replaced by something close to fear. Clearing his throat, he managed to say, “Miss Reyes… do you know this man?”

The question cracked through the hall like a whip. All eyes swung toward Isabella.

Before she could answer, Lucas Brown stepped forward, his tone sharper than usual, his pride bleeding through his words. “Manager Graham, who is this woman? Why is her presence suddenly changing the tone of this conversation?”

Graham turned toward him, frowning deeply. “You don’t know her?”

Lucas blinked. “Should I?”

The manager exhaled slowly, his voice dropping into something heavy, reverent. “That woman is Isabella Reyes—the Director of the Cole Conglomerate.”

The words sent a shockwave through the room. Murmurs exploded.

“Cole Conglomerate? She’s that Isabella Reyes?”

“My God, I thought she never attended these kinds of auctions.”

“She’s one of the most powerful women in the entire business world. If she’s here—then what’s going on with Adrian Cole?”

Lucas’s chest constricted. The blood drained from his face. Her? That’s her?

He forced a laugh, trying to cover his unease. “Well then, this is… this is perfect. Miss Reyes, I’ve been trying to meet you for months, but your office never approved my requests. I’m Lucas Brown, son of the Brown Group of Companies. Our firm has long admired your achievements, and we’ve been eager to gain shares in Cole Conglomerate. I’m certain we could cooperate—”

“Enough.” Isabella’s voice sliced through his eager rambling like a blade.

Lucas’s jaw snapped shut. His smile faltered.

Her dark eyes glimmered with disdain as she looked him over, head to toe. “The Brown Group?” she said coolly. “I’ve heard of it, yes. A company far too small to even whisper about acquiring shares in mine. And you…” She tilted her chin slightly, her words dripping with venom. “Before you dream of approaching giants, learn first how to treat people with decency—regardless of their supposed status.”

Her words landed like stones. The crowd hissed and murmured, their excitement returning with new intensity.

Lucas stiffened, his face burning under the weight of her rejection. “I… I haven’t been rude to you, Miss Reyes,” he said quickly, desperate to salvage his pride.

“You weren’t rude to me,” Isabella corrected coldly. She turned slightly, her gaze sliding toward Adrian, who remained silent but steady at her side. “You were rude to him.”

A stunned gasp ripped through the hall.

“What did she just say?”

“She’s defending him?”

“Wait—she actually knows Adrian Cole?”

The banquet was alive with shock, eyes bouncing between Isabella Reyes and Adrian.

Lucas’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his face twisting. “This man is nothing but a fraud! Everyone here knows it. He’s scamming us, and now even you’re falling for it? Miss Reyes, don’t tell me you’re going to be deceived by him too!”

The words had barely left his mouth when a sharp, resounding crack echoed across the marble floor.

The crowd gasped as Isabella’s hand struck across Lucas Brown’s face, sending his head snapping to the side. The mark of her palm glowed red against his cheek.

For a heartbeat, silence reigned.

Then Isabella’s voice, low and fierce, cut through the stillness. “Do not speak down on others, Lucas Brown. Especially not in front of me.”

The crowd erupted with whispers, the sound like a storm breaking.

“She slapped him!”

“In public! Isabella Reyes actually struck Lucas Brown!”

“He’ll never live this down.”

Lucas staggered, his pride crumbling, humiliation scorching every inch of him. Rage boiled in his chest, but when he turned his eyes toward her, he froze. Her expression was unyielding, her presence suffocating. He couldn’t even summon the courage to strike back with words.

Isabella shifted her gaze toward Adrian, softening only for a moment. She opened her mouth, as if ready to reveal something—his identity, perhaps, or a truth none of them expected.

But Adrian stepped forward. Calm. Certain. His eyes met hers, and he gave the faintest shake of his head.

Not now.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she nodded once, respecting his silent request.

Turning back to Lucas, her voice regained its edge. “You’ve humiliated yourself enough for one night. Get out.” She flicked her hand at the manager. “Call security.”

Mr. Graham, who had been silent in awe since Isabella arrived, snapped to action at once. He waved at the guards. “Escort him out immediately.”

The guards moved forward, seizing Lucas by the arms despite his sputtering protests.

“This isn’t over!” Lucas shouted as he struggled against their grip, his face blotched red from both rage and the sting of Isabella’s slap. “Adrian Cole—you’ll regret humiliating me like this! I’ll make you pay for it!”

His words echoed through the hall, but no one moved to support him. In fact, most looked away, unwilling to associate with his disgrace.

The doors slammed shut behind him as he was dragged out, his furious voice fading into nothing.

Inside the hall, the tension lingered, but now it was thick with awe rather than malice. All eyes turned back toward Adrian, Isabella, and Catherine, as if waiting for the next revelation.

Among them, Elena stood frozen, her face pale with confusion. 

Her eyes darted to Isabella Reyes, then to Catherine Moretti, both women radiant, powerful, respected. Why… why were women like them—women the entire society admired—standing up for Adrian?

Her lips pressed together tightly, and a bitterness she couldn’t control bubbled up inside her. She had once been his wife. She had once had his love. And yet, standing here now, she could feel the distance between them like a canyon. A jealousy she couldn’t admit to anyone else twisted painfully in her chest.

The whispers of the guests only made it worse.

“Adrian Cole… who is he really?”

“To have Isabella Reyes herself step in—that’s no small thing.”

“I thought he was a fraud, but now I’m not so sure.”

Elena lowered her gaze, nails biting into her palm.

Meanwhile, Isabella stood tall, her presence radiating control over the hall. She gave one last glance toward Adrian, as though daring anyone else to question him, then turned sharply on her heel.

.