Chapter 7 - ADRIANA’S LAST OFFER
Adriana did not make it upstairs.
Building security stopped her in the lobby.
Victor went down alone.
She stood near the front doors wearing a camel coat and sunglasses.
No diamonds.
No wedding gown.
Still composed.
“You came quickly,” Victor said.
“I knew today mattered.”
“How?”
Adriana smiled.
“Elena told me about the letter.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“Years ago?”
“Before she died.”
“You stayed in contact.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she was useful.”
Victor felt disgust.
Adriana continued.
“She knew things your father hid.”
“And you wanted the trust.”
“I wanted security.”
“You had security.”
“I had you.”
She smiled bitterly.
“Which turned out to be less stable.”
Victor ignored it.
“Why did Elena trust you?”
“She didn’t.”
That answer surprised him.
“She used me too.”
“For what?”
“To watch you.”
Victor frowned.
Adriana continued.
“She wanted to know whether your life had changed enough for Luca to meet you.”
Victor felt his chest tighten.
“So you reported back.”
“For a while.”
“What changed?”
“I realized Luca’s trust was enormous.”
There it was.
No excuse.
At least not yet.
Adriana looked toward the elevators.
“Where is he?”
“None of your business.”
“He knows me.”
“He fears you.”
Her face changed.
“Did he say that?”
“He doesn’t want you near him.”
Adriana’s composure cracked.
Only slightly.
“I paid for his school.”
“With money routed through a foundation tied to his own trust.”
That information had come from Evelyn’s preliminary audit.
Adriana’s face went pale.
Victor continued.
“You weren’t supporting him.”
He stepped closer.
“You were spending his money to make him dependent on you.”
Adriana said nothing.
“You planned to marry me, become co-trustee, gain access to Luca’s restitution assets, and control Lily’s inheritance too.”
“No.”
“Then explain.”
Adriana’s voice sharpened.
“I wanted one structure.”
“For yourself.”
“For all of us.”
Victor almost laughed.
“There is no us.”
She looked toward his hand.
No ring.
Her expression hardened.
“You think you can simply walk away.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
She pulled an envelope from her purse.
Victor did not take it.
“What?”
“A petition.”
“From whom?”
“Marcus Bell.”
Victor remembered Elena’s letter.
Old Santoro attorney.
Supposedly retired.
The petition challenged the Restoration Trust.
Claim:
Luca was not legally entitled because Angelo had created it for “recognized issue,” and Victor had never acknowledged Luca during Angelo’s lifetime.
Adriana smiled.
“If Marcus wins, the trust returns to the Santoro holding company.”
“Then we fight it.”
“You need me.”
“No.”
“I have Elena’s correspondence.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“What correspondence?”
“Emails confirming she understood the trust conditions.”
“Give them to Luca.”
“Marry me.”
Victor stared at her.
Even now.
After the carriage.
After exposure.
She believed everything had a price.
Victor stepped back.
“No.”
“You could lose eighty million dollars.”
“It isn’t mine.”
“Luca could lose it.”
“Then we’ll help him fight.”
“And if you fail?”
Victor shrugged.
“He’ll still be my son.”
Adriana froze.
For the first time, she seemed to understand the problem with her leverage.
She had built everything around inheritance.
Victor had begun separating inheritance from family.
Adriana whispered:
“You’ve changed.”
“Yes.”
“Because of Lily.”
“Partly.”
She looked almost jealous of an infant again.
Victor’s voice hardened.
“Stay away from her.”
“I would never hurt—”
He stared.
Adriana stopped.
Victor turned toward the elevator.
She called after him.
“Victor!”
He looked back.
“Marcus isn’t working alone.”
Victor waited.
Adriana swallowed.
“He has someone inside your house.”
That mattered.
“Who?”
“Give me something.”
Victor laughed quietly.
“No.”
Adriana’s face tightened.
He continued:
“You’ve traded information for control so long you forgot people can tell the truth because it’s right.”
She said nothing.
Victor entered the elevator.
Before the doors closed, Adriana shouted one name.
“Anthony!”
Victor froze.
The doors shut.
May you like
His security chief.
The man currently guarding Lily.
