Chapter 109
Adrian's POV
The tender's engine faded into the Manhattan night, carrying Evelyn away from me. Again.
I stood at the railing long after the running lights disappeared, my fingers wrapped around the cold steel hard enough to leave marks. The champagne-soaked laughter of my engagement party drifted across the deck behind me, but all I could see was her—soaked through and trembling, wrapped in Julian Russell's jacket, disappearing into the darkness with a man who had no right to touch her.
"Adrian?"
Isabella's voice pulled me back. Her hand found my elbow, gentle and tentative. "Are you all right? You've been standing here for—"
"I'm fine." The lie came easily after years of practice. I turned to face her, summoning the warm smile that usually came so naturally. "Just making sure everything's settled. Why don't you go freshen up? I'll handle the aftermath."
She searched my face for a moment, those earnest blue eyes trying to read past the mask. Then she nodded. "Of course. Thank you for believing me. About Scarlett and Vivian."
I hadn't believed her. Not entirely. But that didn't matter now.
I pressed a kiss to her forehead—automatic, perfunctory—and watched her retreat toward the ladies' lounge. The moment she disappeared, the smile died.
I made my way through the crowd with practiced ease, accepting congratulations and deflecting questions about the evening's drama. No one would guess that beneath the Brioni suit and careful composure, I was calculating exactly how much time I had before anyone noticed my absence.
My private suite was on the upper deck, accessible via a key-coded door. The moment it clicked shut behind me, I let the mask slip. I crossed to the bar and poured three fingers of Macallan 25, downing it in two swallows that burned but did nothing to dull the images playing on loop in my mind.
Evelyn, soaked and shaking, her lips bloodless and her eyes holding that terrible emptiness I'd seen once before. Five years ago, when they'd torn her away from me.
Evelyn, wrapped in Julian's jacket, her body curved into his with a trust she'd never shown me.
Evelyn, disappearing with a man who had no right to be the one she turned to.
The crystal tumbler hit the bar hard enough to crack. I stared at the hairline fracture splitting up one side, then turned away and began removing my cufflinks, my tie. The trappings of civilization suddenly felt like a straitjacket.
I'd played by the rules. Been the dutiful son, the responsible heir. Put family and duty above everything, even when it cost me her.
And where had it gotten me?
Standing alone while the woman I loved found comfort in another man's arms.
The rage that had been simmering since I'd seen Evelyn nearly drown crystallized into something cold and purposeful. Scarlett and Vivian had created this situation with their petty cruelty. They'd put her in danger for no reason beyond jealousy and boredom.
They thought themselves untouchable. Protected by family connections and social standing.
They were about to learn otherwise.
I pulled out my phone and opened the yacht's security app. A few taps brought up the live feed from the spa level—empty, the infinity pool's surface smooth as black glass. Perfect.
I texted the chief steward: Have the two ladies left on the tender yet?
The response came within seconds: No, sir. They've been stalling in the guest lounge. Claiming they need to collect their belongings. I was about to call security to escort them off.
Perfect. They were still here, still thinking they could delay the inevitable with excuses and entitlement.
I typed back: That won't be necessary. Please inform them I'd like to speak with them privately before they leave. The spa level, in fifteen minutes. Discretion appreciated.
Of course, Mr. Winthrop.
I set the phone down and crossed to the mirror. The face looking back was handsome in the way of old money and good genetics, refined by expensive schools and careful grooming. But there was something else there now. Something that had been lurking beneath the surface for years.
My father had seen it once, during a brutal negotiation. He'd pulled me aside afterward and said, "You have the instincts for this business, son. Just remember—we're the civilized ones. We don't get our hands dirty."
But some debts required personal collection.
I thought of Evelyn's white face as she'd handed Isabella that ring. The way her hands had shaken even as she'd maintained that brittle composure.
The last remnants of hesitation evaporated.
Fifteen minutes later, I stood in the shadows of the spa level. Through the one-way glass, I watched Scarlett and Vivian enter with nervous energy. They whispered to each other, glancing around the empty space.
I waited until they were both inside. Until the automatic door sealed shut with a soft hiss.
Then I stepped into their line of sight.
"Mr. Winthrop!" Vivian's voice pitched high with relief. "We came as soon as we got your message. We wanted to explain—"
"Explain what, exactly?" I kept my voice mild, conversational. I moved to the pool's control panel and began entering commands. "How you deliberately destroyed Evelyn's belongings? How you endangered her life? Or perhaps how you thought involving my fiancée was acceptable?"
Scarlett's face flushed. "We were just trying to help Isabella. Everyone knows your stepmother makes her uncomfortable—"
"The way she what?" My fingers paused over the panel. I looked up, meeting Scarlett's eyes with enough intensity to make her step back. "Please. Continue."
The silence was broken only by the soft hum of the pool's filtration system engaging. The water began to churn as the wave simulation activated.
They exchanged glances. Uncertainty replacing bravado.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding," Vivian tried. "We never meant—"
"You never meant for her to almost drown?" My tone remained pleasant. Somehow that made it worse. "You never meant for her to spend ten minutes trapped in a flooding corridor, convinced she was going to die?"
I pressed another button. The drainage system opened with a mechanical groan. Water began swirling toward the center. The wave generators kicked into higher gear, churning the surface into something dangerous.
"What are you doing?" Scarlett's voice cracked.
I smiled. The expression felt cold even to me. "Giving you a learning opportunity. Evelyn spent tonight fighting for her life in cold water. I thought you might benefit from a similar education."
"You can't be serious—" Vivian started toward the door. It didn't open. The electronic lock showed red. "Let us out. This isn't funny."
"No," I agreed. "It really isn't."