CHAPTER 2 — THE FALL OF ADRIAN VALE
CHAPTER 2 — THE FALL OF ADRIAN VALE
By sunrise, Adrian Vale was no longer the man everyone admired.
He was a headline.
"Billionaire CEO Accused of Violent Attack Against Wife."
The same reporters who once followed him into luxury events were now waiting outside his mansion.
The same investors who shook his hand yesterday refused to answer his calls today.
And the same people who praised Vanessa as his future wife suddenly pretended they had never heard her name.
But Adrian still refused to accept reality.
He stormed into my father's headquarters.
Ashford Tower.
The tallest building in the city.
The place where presidents and CEOs waited months for meetings.
Adrian walked inside like he still owned the world.
"I need to see Charles Ashford."
The receptionist calmly looked at him.
"Do you have an appointment?"
He laughed.
"Tell him Adrian Vale is here."
The receptionist didn't move.
"Mr. Vale..."
She looked at him carefully.
"Your appointment was canceled three years ago."
Adrian froze.
"What?"
She lowered her voice.
"Your marriage gave you access to opportunities you never earned."
The elevator doors opened.
My father stepped out.
Charles Ashford.
Silver hair.
Perfect suit.
A man whose presence silenced the entire lobby.
Adrian immediately approached him.
"Charles, listen to me. This is a misunderstanding."
My father looked at him.
Not angry.
Not emotional.
Just disappointed.
"Twenty times."
Adrian went silent.
My father continued.
"Twenty times you struck my daughter."
"I lost control."
"No."
My father's voice became colder.
"You revealed your character."
Adrian's face turned pale.
"I love Evelyn."
My father shook his head.
"No. You loved what being Evelyn's husband gave you."
That afternoon, Adrian discovered the truth.
Every company he built...
every contract he won...
every door that opened...
had one invisible hand behind it.
Mine.
My father had quietly invested in Adrian's company years ago.
Not because Adrian was brilliant.
Because he wanted to test him.
And Adrian failed.
Completely.
Meanwhile, Vanessa disappeared.
She stopped answering calls.
She stopped posting photos.
She stopped pretending she was the future Mrs. Vale.
Because she discovered something terrifying.
She wasn't pregnant.
The doctor confirmed it.
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The child she claimed belonged to Adrian...
didn't exist.
