Chapter 1 - The Cold Truth“Daddy... my feet hurt,” Mia whispered, her body trembling against Adrian’s leg.
Adrian didn’t look down. His gaze remained locked on the man standing across the room—a man wearing an expensive tailored suit, holding a crystal glass as if he owned the very air in the mansion.
“You have three seconds to get out of my house,” Adrian said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
Vanessa let out a sharp, melodic laugh. She took a slow sip of her red wine, leaning back against the leather couch. “Your house, Adrian? Check your phone. Or better yet, ask Julian here. He’s the new legal owner of the Vanguard Estate.”
Adrian’s chest tightened. He pulled out his phone with a hand that refused to shake. A notification flashed on his screen—a confirmation from his corporate bankers.
ACCOUNT NOTICE: Vanguard Estate deed transfer finalized. Primary owner: Julian Vance.
“What did you do?” Adrian growled, stepping forward.
“I did what you failed to do for years—I took control,” Vanessa spat, her eyes flashing with cold malice. “You spend months overseas for your business, leaving me with these ungrateful brats. Do you think I was going to sit here playing loyal wife forever?”
Julian took a step toward Adrian, a smug, relaxed smirk on his face. “You’re trespassing, Mr. Vance. Leave quietly before I call security to toss you and your daughters into the rain.”
Adrian looked down at Lila, who was crying silently, and Mia, whose face was pale from the freezing cold outside. Anger, red and burning, surged through his veins. But as he looked at Julian’s face under the candlelight, a strange realization hit him.
The facial structure. The cold gray eyes.
May you like
“Julian... Vance?” Adrian murmured. “You’re my half-brother.”
Vanessa’s smirk faded into a chilling, wicked smile. “Meet the real heir to the empire, Adrian.”
