Adrian sat in his office, his fingers drumming impatiently on the sleek mahogany desk. His mind had been churning ever since he left the ball, the tension from his encounter with Clara still fresh in his veins. The private investigator he had hired to dig into the Caldwells had promised updates, and Adrian knew deep down that the arrangement Richard had with them wasn’t just a simple business deal. There was something more, something much darker.
The soft chime of his phone broke the silence, and Adrian immediately picked it up, his heart rate quickening.
“It’s me,” the private detective’s voice crackled through the speaker, calm and measured. “I’ve got the information you were looking for.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair, steeling himself for what he was about to hear. “Go on.”
“There’s something big going on with the Caldwell step-siblings, Henry Jr. and Elena,” the detective said. “Turns out, they’ve been involved in some sort of incestuous affair.”
Adrian’s heart froze for a moment. He had sensed there was something off about the two of them. But this—a whole incestuous relationship? Sounded insane.
“They’ve been romantically involved for years,” the detective continued, “and the Caldwells have been doing everything to hide it. I’ve got sources who say Henry’s ‘romantic’ life has been carefully orchestrated for quite some time. The engagement to Clara sounds like it’s just the latest in a string of attempts by Mr. Caldwell to cover it up.”
Adrian’s thoughts raced as he processed the information. It all made sense now. The way the marriage between Henry and Clara had been pushed so forcefully, the way he couldn’t quite understand what the Caldwells were getting from that deal. It wasn’t about business. It was about keeping up appearances.
“Henry and Elena’s relationship… you’re sure of this?” Adrian asked, though he already knew the answer. The pieces fit too perfectly.
“Positive,” the detective confirmed. “But there’s more. Last year, Henry was engaged to another girl—Kayla. She’s from a pretty average family, nothing to do with the high society types the Caldwells normally associate with. The engagement was called off not long after it was announced and they act like it never happened.”
Adrian frowned. “Kayla?”
“That’s where it gets interesting,” the detective said, her voice lowering slightly. “I tracked Kayla down. She told me the reason Mr. Caldwell pushed her into the engagement was because Mr. Caldwell himself was her lover. The engagement to Henry was just a cover to keep her close without raising suspicions.”
“This whole thing,” Adrian muttered, his voice tight with disgust, “it’s all just a façade then. Caldwell is trying to use Clara to protect his family’s dirty secrets.”
“That’s my assessment too,” the detective said. “Henry’s engagement to Kayla was Caldwell’s first attempt to cover up his children’s relationship. When that fell apart, they shifted focus. Clara’s the next target—an easy choice. Her family’s struggling, and Mr. Caldwell probably figured she’s easy to manipulate due to the lack of money and connections. Like Kayla.”
Adrian’s grip on the phone tightened. Richard had insisted the engagement was about business, about securing Clara’s future. But now Adrian knew better. It wasn’t just about saving Richard’s sinking ship—it was about keeping the Caldwells’ twisted secrets hidden, all while dragging Clara into their web.
The detective’s voice softened. “Do you want me to keep digging, or is this enough?”
Adrian paused, his mind racing. He knew what he had to do. “Keep going. I want everything you can find. Every single detail.”
He ended the call, his mind churning with fury.
Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides as he stood outside Richard’s house, the tension already palpable in the air. He knocked on the heavy door, the weight of the confrontation pressing down on him. When Richard opened it, his expression shifted quickly from surprise to cold calculation. Adrian didn’t waste time.
“We need to talk,” Adrian said, his voice tight with anger as he pushed past Richard and into the house.
Richard shut the door behind him, his face hardening as he turned to face Adrian. “What the hell is this about?”
Adrian didn’t even hesitate. “I know about Henry and Elena Caldwell.”
Richard’s eyes flickered, but he remained composed. “So what? You think that’s news to me?”
Adrian’s chest tightened. “You knew? You knew they were involved in some sick incestuous shit, and you’re still pushing Clara into this marriage? How could you do this to her?”
Richard’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Of course, I knew. I’ve known for a long time. But it’s all for a greater good, Adrian.”
Adrian took a step closer, his voice laced with fury. “Greater good? You’re sacrificing your own daughter for this twisted arrangement. How is that for the greater good?”
Richard’s eyes darkened, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “I dedicated my entire life to raising Clara without her mother. I’ve done everything for her. The least she can do for me is this—marry Henry, secure her future, and help me rebuild what I lost.”
Adrian scoffed, his anger boiling over. “You didn’t raise her, Richard. Your underpaid housekeepers did. You’ve been too busy wallowing in your own failures to even notice what kind of life you’ve forced her into.”
Richard’s face reddened with anger, his voice rising. “And what was I supposed to do, huh? I was forced to sit back and watch you rise while I sank! You made a fortune while I lost mine. Do you have any idea what that’s like?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Whose fault is that?”
Richard’s eyes flashed with fury. “It doesn’t matter whose fault it is! What matters is that I finally have a chance to make things right, to raise my empire again. Clara is part of that plan, whether you like it or not.”
Adrian stared at him in disbelief. “You’re insane.”
Richard stepped closer, his face inches from Adrian’s, his voice low and bitter. “This is the best life I can give her. A respectable name, a fortune, and a life where she doesn’t have to worry about anything except throwing galas and hosting dinners. She’ll have everything.”
Adrian shook his head, disgust filling him. “You’re acting like you’re doing this for her, but you’re not. You’re using her.”
Richard’s face twisted in anger, his voice rising to a near shout. “So what if I am? She’s my daughter! Why do you care so much?”
Adrian froze, taken aback by the venom in Richard’s voice. But before he could respond, Richard let out a cold laugh, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Adrian. “I’ve seen the way you look at her, Adrian. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
Adrian’s blood ran cold as the words hit him like a punch to the gut. His mind raced, searching for something to say, but Richard didn’t give him a chance.
“For a long time, I wondered if my own brother would be capable of taking certain… liberties with my daughter,” Richard said, his voice dripping with malice. “And honestly, if things were different, if this wouldn’t harm my reputation beyond repair, I’d gladly let you have her. But you’ve already won everything, haven’t you? While I lost everything, you made billions. You have the world at your feet, Adrian, but I’ll be damned if I let you take my daughter too.”
Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides, his whole body taut with anger. “Is that all you care about? Appearances? Status?”
Richard sneered. “I want my place back at the top. I don’t just want the money. I want the status, the glory of my name back where it belongs. And Clara’s marriage is part of that.”
Adrian stepped forward, his voice low and seething with fury. “You’re an asshole, Richard. Clara should be able to decide what to do with her life. The same way you once decided to destroy your own.”
Richard’s face twisted with rage. “She’s too young and soft for decisions like this. That’s why I’m making them for her. It’s what any father would do.”
Adrian shook his head, disgusted. “You’re not doing this for her. You’re doing this for yourself. Don’t pretend it’s anything else.”
Richard’s eyes flashed with fury, and he jabbed a finger toward Adrian. “Stay out of this, Adrian. Stay out of my business, and stay away from Clara. This is none of your concern.”
Just as the tension between them reached its breaking point, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Both men froze, their argument hanging in the air as Clara appeared in the doorway, completely oblivious to the storm she had just walked into.
“Hi!” Clara said, her voice bright as she smiled at them both, unaware of the tension that had filled the room just moments before. “What’s going on?”
Adrian and Richard both stared at her, the weight of their confrontation still heavy between them, but neither spoke. Clara’s innocent question cut through the tension like a knife, and for a brief moment, both men were rendered speechless.
Clara looked between them, her smile fading as she sensed the strained atmosphere. “Did I… interrupt something?” she asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Adrian forced a smile, though his heart was still pounding with the weight of what had just been said. “No, Clara,” he said softly, his eyes locking with Richard’s in a silent warning. “Everything’s fine.”