Chapter 7
“Jumping to conclusions seems a bit hasty, don’t you think?”
“No matter how clean someone’s account looks, there’s always a digital trail. Facts speak louder than accusations.”
Adrian walked up beside me and squeezed my hand tight.
“Don’t worry. Data recovery isn’t rocket science. This will be quick.”
Another plot twist – everyone crowded around us again.
Ethan’s face suddenly went dark.
He stepped toward us like he wanted to do something, but seemed scared of making it worse.
Finally, he just glared at Adrian:
“Real classy move, Adrian. Get kicked out of the company and now you’re using tabloid drama to stage a comeback?”
At his words, Adrian just smirked:
“Just here to back up my girl. And just can’t stand watching her get bullied. Why so nervous, my… nephew?”
Ethan’s face turned bright red.
He whipped around to glare at me:
“When the hell did you start sleeping with him? Do you have any idea what you’re doing? He’s just some pathetic bastard who’ll never amount to anything. Being with him makes you look pathetic too.”
“I’m giving you one last chance. Come back to me right now and I’ll forget this ever happened. Otherwise…”
His eyes burned into mine, but before he could finish his threat, I turned to Adrian and kissed him softly.
Adrian’s whole body went rigid. Right then, one of the tech guys spoke up:
“All recovered, sir. Everything’s still here. Please check it out!”
Ethan was about to explode, but got cut off as everyone rushed toward the laptop.
All my detailed records appeared on screen, every single entry restored for everyone to see.
Not just “Heart of True Love” – every design I’d slaved over for Ethan these past four years was right there.
All the work that made him somebody at Cross Industries. Everything that built his reputation.
I turned to Adrian, crying happy tears for the first time in forever.
Ethan and Emma bolted like their asses were on fire. The paparazzi chased them all the way to their car, getting every embarrassing second on camera.
Cross Industries went down in flames after that. The Whitmores were so mortified so they packed Emma off to Europe again.
I was so grateful to Adrian, I wanted to prove I was worth his investment:
“I’m all yours now. Whatever you need – clients, designs, I’m ready to go.”
Chapter 7
But Adrian went quiet on me, which was weird and made me anxious.
Was he pissed I kissed him? Did I totally overstep?
I tested the waters:
“Look, if you don’t want me around, I can just go.”
Adrian was quiet for a long time before he finally spoke:
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Twelve years ago, on that cliff… the person who saved you…”
My eyes went wide. My heart literally stopped.
“Back then, my reputation was shit. I was just some teenager who’d been dragged into the Cross family, Hell, I was barely older than my own nephew.”
“Everyone talked trash about me. I started believing it myself that I was a mistake, that I was worth less than everyone else.”
“So when you asked my name, I panicked and said Ethan’s. He had this perfect life, you know? Nothing like some bastard kid who didn’t belong anywhere.”
I reached for his hand without thinking.
My heart was racing.
“Actually, I was planning to kill myself that day. When I found you, I figured I’d save you first, then go through with it”
“But your parents seemed to read my mind. They wouldn’t let me leave that night and kept me there for two whole days.”
“Later, when I got into Cross Industries, your parents helped me behind the scenes. Gave me connections, resources. Sometimes they’d even back down from deals just to give me a shot.”
“Ethan’s dad, well, my half-brother – saw me as a threat. Convinced our father to ship me off to the overseas branch.”
Adrian looked at me, his eyes distant.
“When your parents died, I flew back as fast as I could. But I was too late. You were already with Ethan, and it was obvious you were crazy about him.”
“I didn’t want to mess with what you had. But I never stopped investigating your parents’ deaths.”
“I found proof, Mia.”
