Chapter 43: Chapter 43.

Adrian's POV.

I looked at the house, sucking in a deep breath. This used to be mine, but now it's going to become someone else's.

I glanced at my wristwatch — 04:35pm. I had an appointment with someone.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone, and dialed a number.

After two rings, an old raspy voice rang out. "Hello, sir,"

"Is it ready?" I asked.

"Yes, sir. It's ready," the voice answered.

"I'll be there soon," I said.

"Yes, sir, I'll be waiting." the voice replied and I hung up.

I slid my phone back into my pocket. Taking a final look at the house, I turned to my car. I'd have to give it up soon too. It's under the Blackwood name.

"Adrian!" I heard a familiar voice... Lydia's voice, I turned and found her running towards me.

Reaching me, she engulfed me in a hug. "Oh, my God," she breathed.

"Lydia..." I tried to break free but she hugged me tighter.

"Let's just stay like this," she pleaded, her voice soft.

I stayed still, and to be honest this what I really needed now at the moment... a hug. I need someone to hold me really tightly now... before I lose myself.

Finally she pulled away, looking at me with worried eyes. "How... how are you?"

How was I? I didn't have an answer to that question. I don't know how I feel currently.

She hugged me again, "you must have been suffering so much alone without any support or comfort," her voice broke.

Of course. How much I was suffering now, I don't think any scale can measure it. I am suffering so much that I realize the true meaning of that word at each passing second.

She looked up at me. "How long has it been?" She asked.

I couldn't look back at her, I just stared blankly... blankly into the open space.

"Don't worry," she snuggled in my embrace. "I'm here for you. You'll get through this."

Getting through this... that's an impossible thing. I would never rise from this, I fallen too low to rise up again.

"I won't," I finally spoke.

She snapped up, looking at me with wide eyes. "Don't say that..." she shook her head. "I know the way seems dark and heavy..."

The way... it was beyond dark and heavy.

"...but you'll get through this," she finished off. "You're not gonna die, you'll scale through this illness."

A bubble burst in my head. What illness?

I peeled her off my body, "what are you talking about?"

Slowly she reached for my face, her thumb stroking my cheek softly. "You don't have to pretend that you're fine in front of me just so that I wouldn't get worried."

What?

I threw her hand off my face. "I'm not pretending, woman, I'm really fine!" I snapped at her.

"What?" She seemed genuinely confused. "If you're really fine then..." she trailed off.

"Then what?!" I pressed.

"Then is it fake news?" She responded but it was more like a question.

"What? Fake news?" I was more confused than ever at this point.

She just stared blankly, too stunned to speak or do anything.

I quickly reached for my phone and checked through the internet. If she said news, then it should definitely be on the internet.

My phone almost slipped off my hand after I read the new breaking news.

"Billionaire CEO, Adrian Blackwood, steps down temporarily from his position as CEO of the Blackwood Holdings due to his sudden illness. He steps down to take care of his health and will return when he's fine again."

What in the world...

"Who wrote this?" I muttered.

"Isn't the news true?" Lydia asked.

Whether or not the news was true wasn't my problem now. It was who put up the news and why they did it, that was my problem now.

Without saying a word to Lydia, I entered my car, and drove off, hearing her scream at me to stop.

Two people came to my mind... two culprits, two suspects. It was either my father or Brandon.

But it could never be my father... never. Not with the way he looked at me that day in the hospital. Not with the way he spoke to me. Not with the ruthless decisions he's been taking against me... It can't be him.

I took my phone, and dialed a number. Within a few minutes a voice rang out. "To what pleasure do I receive this call, cousin?"

"Are you home?" I asked.

"No," he answered. "I'm too busy here in the office. You need anything?"

My heart burned from his response. That should have been me saying that.

"Meet me at the nearest restaurant to the company," I commanded.

"Hey, how dare you order around the CEO?!" He hissed at me.

"You are not the CEO," I replied, emphasizing on each word.

He laughed, a laughter that twisted my guts. "Oh, cousin, you are still so silly," he laughed again.

"If you really want to meet me, come to the company," he said, and hung up.

The call ended, but the sound of his laughter lingered in my ears long after.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my jaw clenching as I pressed harder on the accelerator.

The company building came into view faster than I expected, Blackwood Holdings.

My chest tightened at the sight of it. For years, that building stood as proof of who I was… what I built… what I controlled. Now?

I pulled into the parking lot, stepping out of the car without sparing it another glance.

The moment I walked in, the atmosphere shifted. Eyes turned, whispers followed. Some shocked, some curious, some pitying.

Pathetic.

I ignored them all, my steps steady as I made my way toward the elevator.

"Mr… Blackwood?"

The hesitation in the voice almost made me laugh but I didn’t stop walking.

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped in, pressing the button to the top floor, each second feeling heavier than the last.

Ding, the doors slid open into my floor that had now become his.

I walked straight down the hallway, my reflection staring back at me through the glass walls—still composed, still intact… but hollow.

Without knocking, I pushed the office door open, and there he was, seated behind my desk in my chair like he belonged there.

Brandon didn’t even look surprised. He simply leaned back, a lazy smile spreading across his face. "Well," he drawled. "Look who decided to crawl back."

My fists clenched at my sides, but I didn’t move further in. "Get up," I said coldly.

He chuckled, spinning slightly in the chair. "Still giving orders?" he mused. "Old habits die hard, I see."

"I said, get up."

"And I heard you," he replied calmly. "I just chose not to listen."

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.

I took a step forward. "Did you do it?" I asked.

He tilted his head slightly. "Do what?"

"The news," I said, my voice dropping. "The illness. Was that your doing?"

For a second, just a second, something flickered in his eyes then he laughed. Not his usual mocking laugh, this one was… genuine, and that annoyed me even more.

"You think I’d do something like that?" he asked, amusement lacing his tone.

"I don’t think," I replied. "I know how far you’re willing to go."

He leaned forward now, resting his elbows on the desk, studying me. "If I wanted to destroy you," he said slowly, "I wouldn’t hide behind some… fake illness story."

My brows furrowed slightly.

"I’d do it openly," he continued, his voice dropping. "So you’d know exactly who to blame."

The words settled heavily in the air. I stared at him, searching his face for any sign of deception but Brandon wasn’t subtle. He enjoyed chaos too much to hide behind lies like that which meant it wasn’t him.

My jaw tightened.

"Surprised?" he smirked. "Seems like you have more enemies than you thought."

I ignored that, my mind already racing.

If it wasn’t Brandon… then who?

My father?

No.

…Or someone else entirely?

"Why are you really here?" Brandon’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I looked at him, my gaze hardening again. "That chair," I said. "You look uncomfortable in it."

He laughed, leaning back again. "Funny because it fits me perfectly."

"For now," I added.

His smile sharpened. "You’re in no position to threaten me."

"I’m not threatening you," I replied calmly. "I’m reminding you."

"Of what?" He raised a brow.

"That nothing you have right now is truly yours.” I replied.

Something dark flickered in his eyes this time.

Good.

I turned, already heading for the door.

"Adrian," he called out, and I paused, but didn’t turn back.

"You really think you can walk away from all this?" he asked.

I let out a quiet breath. "I already have." And this time… I meant it.

I stepped out of the office, the door closing behind me with a soft click. But my mind wasn’t on Brandon anymore.

The news, the lie, the intention behind it. Someone was trying to control the narrative. Someone was moving pieces behind the scenes.

This isn’t over.