flash
The grandfather clock in the master hallway chimed 2:00 AM. In the absolute silence of the Vale estate, I slipped out of my twin-sized guest bed—twenty feet away from Adrian’s sprawling king suite—and knelt beside the loose floorboard in the closet. / Chapter 2 / 10

Chapter 2 - Caught in the ActMy heart slammed against my ribs like a trapped bird. If Adrian saw the locket, everything would unravel. He would demand answers I wasn't ready to give—or worse, he would accuse me of digging up dirt for financial leverage.

"I dropped my earring," I lied smoothly, forcing my voice to remain steady as I held up a cheap gold hoop.

Adrian stepped closer, casting a towering shadow over me. He looked down with a gaze of pure disdain.

"This house is filled with maids, Mrs. Vale. You don't need to grovel on the floor like a servant—though given your background, old habits die hard."

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He turned on his heel, tossing over his shoulder, "Stay out of my study, and stay out of my way."

As the door clicked shut, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. He still had no idea. But tomorrow, the boardroom war would begin, and the truth wouldn't stay buried much longer.

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