Chapter 4 - The Domestic Theater
The sun was barely touching the horizon when Evelyn unlocked the front door of the house in the hills. The scent of fresh coffee drifted from the kitchen—Adrien’s preferred blend, brewed with clinical precision.
She dropped her keys into the silver bowl on the console table, exactly as she had done every morning for two years.
“You’re up early,” Adrien’s voice floated from the dining room.
He stood by the French doors, wearing a bespoke linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up, reading the financial section of the morning paper. Sunlight caught the gold band on his left ring finger—the ring that supposedly proved he was bound to her by law.
“Couldn't sleep,” Evelyn said, walking past him toward the kitchen.
Adrien folded the paper and followed her, leaning against the doorframe with an easy, practiced charm. His dark hair was perfectly styled, his smile warm and reassuring. It was the face he used for boardrooms, charity galas, and the woman he was slowly destroying.
“Is everything alright, darling? You seemed a bit distant at dinner last night,” he said, stepping closer to wrap his arms around her waist.
Evelyn felt his chest rise and fall against her back. She smelled his cologne—expensive, cedar-heavy, bought with funds siphoned from her father’s legacy.
“Just tired, Adrien. The charity board meeting ran late,” she lied smoothly, leaning into his embrace just enough to sell the performance.
“You work too hard for those committees,” he murmured, kissing the nape of her neck. “You should leave the heavy lifting to me. That’s what a husband is for.”
Husband.
The word tasted like ash in her mouth.
“Speaking of the holdings,” Evelyn said, turning around within the circle of his arms and looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes. “Have the attorneys finalized the restructuring documents for the Hart family shares yet? You mentioned something about transferring the voting rights last week to simplify tax season.”
Adrien’s eyes flickered with a sudden, sharp greed. He masked it instantly with an indulgent laugh, tapping the tip of her nose.
“You and your paperwork,” he chided playfully. “Always worrying about corporate logistics. But yes, actually. The final paperwork is almost ready. I’m meeting with the board’s notary tomorrow afternoon to execute the transfer. Once that’s signed, you won't have to worry about a single shareholder meeting ever again.”
“Tomorrow afternoon?” Evelyn asked, feigning surprise. “So soon?”
“Well, you know how these things go. Efficiency is key,” Adrien said smoothly, stepping back to check his watch. “Speaking of which, I have an early breakfast meeting with some investors downtown. I’ll be back late tonight.”
“Drive safely,” Evelyn said, kissing his cheek.
She watched him walk out to his car through the front window. She watched him check his reflection in the rearview mirror before backing out of the driveway.
May you like
He had no idea that while he was planning to execute the final theft of her fortune, Luca Moretti’s legal team was already rewriting the backend of the corporate transfer protocol.
Adrien was walking straight into a trap, and he believed he was the hunter.
