Chapter 39 Chapter 39.

Chapter 39 Chapter 39.
Adrian's POV.

I buried myself in work, trying to drone myself out from everything but the memories wouldn't cease. They clawed at my mind like ghosts demanding justice.

Jane...

I don't want to think about her now, it'll only lead to emotions I don't want to feel right now.

But seriously, how did I get ruined by the very woman I saved?

In my next life, I'll try as much as possible to not get tangled up with a woman. No woman, no trouble.

With that note in mind, I resumed back to work only to pause immediately.

I really am an asshole.

But she's the one who couldn't get my heart, why am I getting blamed for it?

The door burst open, and a garbage I didn't want to see walked in, flanked by one of my housekeepers.

"Sir," the housekeeper bowed, trembling. "I tried to stop him, sir. I tried to make him wait while I inform you of his presence first but he didn't let me. He..." the rest of her words droned out in the air as something else hit me.

"I didn't let her," I blurted out unconsciously. "She couldn't get my heart because... I didn't give her the chance to."

"Did losing everything you have make you go haywire?" His voice sounded me out of my thoughts.

I looked up at him, my gaze calm even in the turbulence. "Get out," I spat with the last remnant of calm in me.

He shook his head like an elder who's gone bored by a child's continuous silly act. "Did losing everything affect your head so much that you no longer know how to greet your cousin?"

"Provoke me one more time, and your head would be off your neck," I threatened.

"Oh..." he cowered himself. "...I'm really scared," he laughed hysterically.

His laughter pricked at my skin, twisting my stomach. I clenched my fists, trying my best to not give him the one thing he wants: seeing me get mad.

"Why are you here, Brandon?" I asked calmly.

He stopped laughing, and looked at me. "To take what is mine," he replied.

I raised an eyebrow at him. What nonsense was he talking about?

"This house belongs to the CEO of Blackwood Holdings, and you're no longer the CEO so..." he paused his explanation midway.

"The company belongs to my child," I still forced myself the give a cool reply.

"And I'm its caretaker until your child comes of age which means I get to make every decision for now until he comes of age," he replied.

"Well, I doubt he'll ever come of age," he added quietly but I heard him.

My ears rang, and I leaned over the desk, grabbing his collar. I don't think I can sit still anymore, he had crossed the line.

"If you so much as lay your filthy hand on a strand of my child's hair, I'll —"

"You should state that threat to yourself, not me," he cut me off. "You are who you should be worried about, not me. From the look of things, you'll kill both the child and the mother before he even comes into the world."

"You can fool the world, Adrian, but there are some distinct people you cannot fool," he added with a smirk.

My hand balled into a fist, and I sent it across his face.

His head snapped to the side from the impact, but instead of anger, laughter spilled from his lips again.

That laugh… It grated against my nerves like nails on glass.

Slowly, he straightened, wiping the corner of his lip where a faint line of blood appeared. He looked at it, then back at me, amused.

"You’re still the same," he said, shaking his head lightly. "Violence when words fail you."

My chest rose and fell, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white.

"Get. Out." I repeated, slower this time, each word laced with warning.

"Oh, I will," he nodded casually. "But not before I do what I came here for."

Before I could react, he turned to the housekeeper. "Call the rest of the staff," he ordered.

She froze, her eyes darting between us nervously. "S-sir…?"

"I gave you an order," he said, his tone dropping into something colder. "Or do you want to lose your job before the day ends?"

She flinched and hurried out immediately.

My jaw tightened. "You don’t give orders in my house."

He chuckled softly. "Correction… not anymore."

Something dark flickered in my chest.

Minutes later, footsteps filled the hallway as the rest of the staff gathered, whispering among themselves, confusion evident on their faces.

Brandon stepped forward, slipping his hands into his pockets like he owned the place.

"From today onward," he began, his voice loud enough to carry across the room, "I’ll be taking over all responsibilities concerning the Blackwood estate."

A ripple of murmurs spread among the staff.

I laughed, a low, dangerous laughter. "You really think you can walk in here and take over?" I asked, my voice almost calm.

"I don’t think," he replied, glancing at me. "I was authorized."

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a document, tossing it onto the desk in front of me. "Signed by your father."

My eyes dropped to it, and for a second, just a second, everything went silent.

I picked up the paper, and every word blurred together, but the meaning was clear.

Authority transferred, access revoked, control… gone.

My grip on the paper tightened.

"So," Brandon continued, turning to the staff, "you all answer to me now."

A heavy, uncomfortable stretched in the room. No one moved, no one spoke.

Then—

"Yes… sir," one of them said hesitantly.

That was all it took. One by one, they nodded.

"Good," Brandon smiled, and something inside me snapped quietly.

Everything I built reduced to this.

"To start," Brandon continued, glancing around lazily, "clear out his things from the master office and bedroom. I want everything reset by tonight."

That did it, he had crossed another line.

"Try it," I said, my voice low.

The room stilled, and Brandon looked at me, amused again. "You’re in no position to make threats, Adrian."

I stepped closer to him, slow, controlled. "Touch anything that belongs to me…" I paused, my voice dropping even lower, "…and I’ll forget you’re family."

He held my gaze for a moment then smiled coldly, and mockingly.

"You already lost everything," he said quietly. "The only thing left for you to lose…" He leaned in slightly. "…is her."

My breath hitched.

Jane.

For the first time since he walked in that name didn’t just anger me, it hurt.

Brandon straightened. "Get to work," he ordered the staff, before walking past me like I was nothing, liike I didn’t exist.

Footsteps moved, voices murmured, drawers opened. My space was being taken apart piece by piece.

I didn’t stop it, I couldn't. I just stood there watching, breathing... breaking.