Chapter 16: Chapter 16.

Adrian's POV.

I couldn't get my mind off the gibberish Marcus dropped here today. There was Jane to deal with, and now him? They're really a family of trouble.

To wrap my mind around what is truly going on, I need my copy of the contract. With it not being here in my office, there were just two places they could be — my bedroom, and my study.

I rushed back home immediately, desperately searching hard for the contract.

After hours of flipping the whole room upside down, the bedroom door opened, and I didn't bother to look behind me. Only one person had the right and could come into this room without permission.

The door shut, and what followed was silence.

I didn't say anything to her, what was there to say to her anyway? But then something struck me. What if she was behind this? What if she was the reason behind why I couldn't find my copy of the contract anymore? What if...what if all of this is just her and her brother's game?

I turned, ready to accuse her, and then I froze, not expecting to find what's currently before me.

“Lydia?” My voice hardened instantly. “What are you doing in my bedroom? Who let you in?”

She laughed softly, like this was all a private joke between us.

“Acting like this is the first time we’ve shared a room,” she teased, stepping further inside.

I straightened slowly.

She was dressed deliberately in a skimpy skirt, silk blouse cut dangerously low, hair cascading over her shoulders like she’d prepared for a photoshoot. The scent of her perfume reached me before she did—sweet, heavy, and intentional.

She walked toward me without hesitation, hips swaying with calculated confidence.

“Lydia,” I warned but she didn’t stop.

Finally, she stood inches away from me and grabbed my shirt collar, her fingers curling into the fabric. “You look tense,” she murmured. “I could help with that.”

My jaw tightened.

I don’t do love, but I am a man...and she knew that.

Her fingers slid lower, smoothing over my chest. “You’ve been so distant,” she whispered. “Did you miss me?”

I caught her wrist mid-movement in a firm, and controlled grip. “Careful,” I said quietly.

She tilted her head, pretending innocence. “Or what?”

Her other hand trailed along my shoulder, nails grazing lightly. “You know,” she continued, voice lowering, “Jane isn’t here. And even if she was… would it matter?”

Yes, Jane wasn't here. But the thing I desperately wanted, Jane has given me, so Lydia... you're of no use to me any longer. And my throbbing down there would have to wait, I've got a contract to find.

I grabbed her hand, stopping it midway to my neck.

"Lydia," I called gently, and she smiled. "You need to leave..."

"I will eventually," she leaned in to kiss me, but I looked away, and her lips landed on my nape.

"...right now," I added and a flicker of horror flashed across her face.

Before she could do or say anything, I walked her out of the room only to come face to face with Jane in the hallway.

Her face drained of its colors as her eyes darted from Lydia to me. Without saying a word to either of us, she turned and descended the stairs.

That surprised me, I expected her to say something.

"Is she the reason?" Lydia's voice sounded me out. "Do you care now?"

Care? The word sound foreign to me.

Without a word to her, I walked her out of the house to her car. "We'll talk later," I said finally.

I turned to leave but she held me back, hugging me from behind immediately. "Why are you doing this to me?" Her voice came out low, clearly hurt.

I was about replying her, when a maid's voice cut through the air from inside the house. "Sir!!!!"

"Adrian..." Lydia was speaking, but I didn't pay attention to her. My ears were straining to pick the sound I had heard a few seconds ago.

"Sir!!!!!" It came again, louder this time, and wrapped in panic.

She finally came in view from inside the house, her face painted with fear. "Sir, madam is on the floor!" She shouted.

My ears rang, my mind went blank.

My legs moved before my mind, and I found myself sprinting into the house even though I didn't know where in the house she was.

"Where?!" I threw the question in the air frantically.

"She's in the kitchen, sir," the maid responded, and I made a turn to the kitchen.

Entering into the kitchen, I saw a few workers, trying closed around in a circle, trying so hard to do something.

I pushed through their circle and found Jane on the floor, a glass cup shattered on the floor just above her right hand, water splattered around the shattered glass.

And then...blood...blood from Jane's abdomen.