The Son-in-law's Secret

handelier light-an unassuming band of gold, simple yet symbolic. I

move in a long,

e string quartet's notes as they moved across the marble floor. Adrian wore his usual mask: warm smile, relaxed posture, attentive eyes. To the guests

feigned warmth, his heartbeat was met

st marry Ele

thing to do

ng who it was. Marcus Vance-father of the bride, CEO of Vance Holdings, and the man who unknowingly se

son," Marcus add

smile. "Still getting

l. "Let's get something straight before the speeches and toasts and all this sacch

't waver. "And I lo

ected, his tone low. "Only m

the air for a second. "The

in and look beneath the charm. "I don't know where you came from, Cross

amount of confidence bleed through his voice.

"Watch your step. My daughter may love blind, but I d

needed to. The man didn't scare him-not anymore. Not a

ant in her champagne-colored gown, looked

g into the loving husband. "Of course.

God, he's so i

ave n

d away. The weight of vengeance, the anger simmering in his veins-it all d

it all the m

when he held her and thought maybe he could be that man. The one who loved without an ulterior motiv

-

ized the layout months ago when he first visited the Vance estate. Tonight, with t

. A wall of bookshelves disguised a secure cabinet, and behi

he corner, then pressed his fingers beneath the lip of t

boasted she knew her father's security better than anyone. She hadn't realized how quickly

18

, a few USB drives, and a pistol. Adrian ignored the weapo

Vance-Sealed Assets."

Cro

fa

ly despite himself. The folder was thick-documents,

an had always known it wasn't that simple. Now, holding evidence that Marc

Adrian shoved the folder inside his jacket, shut the saf

e slipped into the shadow

as M

drink, then turned toward the desk. Adrian didn't move. He could feel his heart pounding, but

call, and said, "Check the cameras near the east wing. I

s jaw t

tered, "Let's see what y

n service corridor. He moved quickly through the hallway, rejoining the party just

isappe

smoothly, kissing her te

ghed. "

ad taken everything from him. His revenge had just begun. But the one variable he hadn't accounted for was alrea

drian's chest, her fingers curled gently around his. The wa

disa

e was here. Why he had sacrificed everything-his real name, his past, even his peace of mind-to in

for we

k at him, her eyes soft and searching, his

" she wh

mm

've been... tense all day.

breath. "Wedding

don't get jitters. You'r

urved. "Yo

-cool and calm under pressure.

know the

said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind he

ltered. Just

?" he

es I wonder... if I was

a flicker of light

t cold. "What mak

hing happened so fast. One year ago, you were just this mysterious guy who c

't suspicious-just vulnerabl

his voice drop into something quieter, heavier. "My parent

hand. "I'm sorry.

ngue as smooth as silk. "My past isn't something I share e

something slow and romantic, and guests began to take their partners to the floor. Adrian spun he

s- Clos

in his small apartment just weeks after a hostile corporate takeover bankrupted the research lab

ther's body. The empty bank accounts. The f

he first real proof. Marcu

, the silk tie of his tux loosened, jacket gone. The celebration had long since died down. The esta

deeply. He didn't smoke often

a false bottom. He hadn't had time to read it all, but one name

sorbed five years ago and

had worke

't smoke," came a

tumbler of scotch in hand. Marcus's right-hand man. COO of Vance H

n replied smooth

y start

ng

tching Adrian with a predator's patien

ompliment or

Just an ob

e cigarette. "Do you always watch the gr

illion-dollar empire. Forgive m

nds like Marcus sent

careful man. He's built an empire. He

ere for hi

y heir. And that makes you dange

as a lo

raceable past, no family, no one to vouch for you?

nd crushed the cigarette un

lerate snakes in his garden. He burns them out. So if you're

, leaving Adrian alone wi

, curled up on her side in the massive bed. She looked peaceful. Unt

d a T-shirt. Then, with a soft click, he opened the hidden compa

leather armchair by the fi

after

icals. Specialized in gene therapy research-experimental treatments for autoimmune diseases. Brilliant, obsessed w

from Vanc

d rep

stil

ject sh

ch des

laid

whistleblower-discredited, au

ghtened around the

expose them. And they

one page, redacted, unsigned. But the ini

tian

tard ha

e... reg

s a photo-faded and grainy. A group of men in suits at a press conference. R

anner: GREYWELL INN

er. They had worked togeth

t there were still too many shadows. Too many names missing. He need

g to play the part of

r

ping peacefully, her chest risi

hould feel something. But a

he ground," he murmured, "if that