Chapter 5 - THE COUNCIL CONVENES
Adrian walked over to his grand mahogany desk, opened a concealed side drawer, and pulled out a small black flash drive and a sleek silver smartphone. He turned on the phone; the screen lit up with dozens of unread encrypted messages from his global intelligence network—messages he had ignored for three years while wallowing in dark depression.
He placed the silver locket around his neck, tucking it beneath his shirt, then walked to the door and unlocked it with a heavy click.
He pulled the oak door wide open.
Standing in the hallway was Marcus Kane, dressed in an expensive tailored suit, flanked by four heavy enforcers and the estate's chief administrator. Downstairs, the clinking of champagne glasses and soft piano music echoed—the thirty council members and regional elite had already arrived for the grand evening summit.
Marcus stared at his nephew in utter disbelief. "Adrian... you're dressed. You're out."
"It's my house, Marcus," Adrian said, his voice cold and steady as steel. "I go where I please."
Marcus's eyes shifted past Adrian's shoulder, landing on Claire, who stood near the fireplace holding Nora tightly in her arms. Marcus's eyes narrowed as he registered the child's features, then locked onto Claire's face.
"Who is this maid?" Marcus demanded, stepping forward, his voice dripping with venom. "Security reported a child wandered up here. Why haven't they been escorted off the property?"
"This 'maid' is Claire Bennett," Adrian announced loudly, his voice echoing down the corridor. "Evelyn's sister. And the child in her arms is Nora Kane—my daughter and the sole legal heir to the entire Kane estate."
Marcus turned pale, taking an involuntary step back. "What nonsense is this? Evelyn died three years ago! She was burnt in a car! This is an imposter trying to extort the family money!"
"Is she?" Adrian asked, taking a menacing step toward his uncle. "Because I have the locket Evelyn wore the night she fled. And inside it is the DNA record and birth certificate signed by the attending physician."
Marcus's hands twitched near his coat pocket. He realized instantly that if this child was proven to be Adrian's legitimate heir, every contract, every asset transfer, and every offshore account he had manipulated over the last three years would be rendered null and void by the probate court.
"You've lost your mind, Adrian," Marcus sneered, trying to maintain his composure. "Three years in a dark room has made you delusional. Guards! Detain this woman and take the child into protective custody!"
The four enforcers stepped forward, pulling their weapons.
"Try it," Adrian said softly.
May you like
He pressed a button on his silver smartphone. Instantly, heavy iron security shutters slammed down over every window in the wing, and six tall men dressed in tactical gear stepped out from the hidden service stairwell behind Marcus, pointing high-caliber rifles directly at Marcus's men.
"Did you really think I spent three years doing nothing, Uncle?" Adrian whispered into Marcus's ear. "I knew you were stealing from the company. I was just waiting for a reason to care enough to destroy you. And now, you've given me one."
