THE BILLIONAIRE’S TEMPTATION

BEFORE MIDNIGHT

The photograph remained on the screen between them, and for several seconds nobody spoke. Amara stared at the frightened girl sitting in the chair. Lydia. Her sister. The sister she had never known existed. The sister who had suddenly become the center of a dangerous game she didn't understand. Behind Lydia stood an older man with silver hair, a hard expression, and eyes that seemed cold even through the photograph. Adrian had recognized him immediately. His grandfather. A man who had supposedly died decades ago. A man whose name had never been spoken inside the Sterling family for as long as Adrian could remember. Amara slowly turned toward him. “You know him.” Adrian's eyes remained fixed on the screen. “I remember him.” “You said he died.” “That's what my father told me.” “And now he's alive.” Adrian nodded slowly. “Apparently.” Amara's voice trembled. “He has my sister.” Adrian finally looked at her. “Yes.” “Then we have to go.” “We will.” “Before midnight.” “Yes.” “Then why are you standing there?” Adrian immediately moved toward the desk. “Because walking into an obvious trap without a plan isn't going to save Lydia.”

Amara followed him. “What plan?” “We don't go alone.” She pointed at the message. “It says without security.” “I know.” “It says without police.” “I know.” “Then what are you going to do?” Adrian picked up his phone. “Ignore that part.” Marcus entered the room. “Sir?” Adrian showed him the photograph. Marcus's expression changed. “That's the man?” “Yes.” Marcus studied the image. “We've never had a confirmed photograph of him.” “You do now.” Adrian handed him the phone. “I want every piece of information we can find on the old Sterling estate.” Marcus nodded. “I'll start immediately.” “And I want surveillance drones positioned around the perimeter without anyone knowing they're there.” “Understood.” Adrian looked at him. “No uniforms. No visible weapons unless absolutely necessary.” Marcus nodded. “What about the police?” “Keep them out of sight.” Amara looked at Adrian. “And if they hurt Lydia because they see the team?” “They won't.” “How can you be sure?” Adrian looked at her. “Because I'll make sure they never know we're not alone.”

Margaret remained seated in the corner, watching them. “You shouldn't go to the estate.” Adrian turned toward her. “Why?” “Because your grandfather never invites anyone there.” “Then why invite us now?” Margaret's face tightened. “Because he wants something.” Amara stepped closer. “What?” Margaret looked at her. “You.” Amara's stomach dropped. “Me?” “Your mother spent years keeping you away from the Sterling family. Now you've walked straight into their hands.” Adrian immediately moved beside Amara. “She's not going anywhere without me.” Margaret shook her head. “That's what they want.” “Then what do they want from me?” Amara asked. Margaret hesitated. “Your mother knew where the original Sterling records were hidden.” Adrian frowned. “What records?” “The records that could destroy your family.” “My mother had them?” “She had part of them.” “Where?” “She never told me.” Amara looked down. “Then why would they need me?” Margaret's voice softened. “Because she left the final key with you.”

Amara immediately thought about the small key she had found beneath the floorboard. The number seventeen engraved into it. “The key.” Adrian looked at her. “You still have it?” She reached into her bag and pulled it out. Margaret's eyes widened. “That's it.” Adrian took the key and examined it. “You recognize it?” Margaret nodded. “Your mother wore it around her neck for years.” Amara stared at the key. “She never told me.” “She was afraid.” “Of Victor?” Margaret shook her head. “Of everyone.” Adrian looked at the number. “Seventeen.” Margaret's expression changed. “No.” “What?” “It's not seventeen.” She turned the key over. “Look closely.” Adrian held it beneath the light. The engraving was faint, almost worn away. It looked like 17, but there was another small mark beside it. “It's not a number,” Margaret whispered. “It's a letter.” Amara frowned. “Which one?” Margaret answered, “R.” Adrian's eyes narrowed. “R17.” Margaret shook her head. “No. R-17.” Adrian stared at the key. “A room?” “Maybe.” “Or a file.” Amara looked between them. “Then we need to know what R-17 means.”

Marcus returned with a tablet. “Sir, I found something.” Adrian took it. “What?” “The old Sterling estate has an underground archive.” Amara's heart began beating faster. “Where?” “Beneath the east wing.” Adrian looked at the key. “Room R-17?” Marcus froze. “How did you know?” Adrian looked at Amara. “Her mother left us the key.” Marcus quickly opened the property plans. “There are seventeen documented rooms in the archive.” “And R-17?” “Not documented.” Adrian's expression hardened. “Then that's where we're going.”

The hours moved painfully slowly. By ten thirty that night, the security team had established a hidden perimeter around the estate. Adrian refused to let Amara out of his sight. She changed into dark trousers, a fitted long-sleeved top, and boots. Adrian looked at her when she walked into the living room. “You're not wearing that.” She frowned. “What's wrong with it?” “It's too thin.” “We're going to an abandoned estate, not a fashion show.” He picked up a dark jacket and handed it to her. “Wear this.” She rolled her eyes but took it. “You're becoming controlling.” “I'm trying to keep you warm.” “You could have just said that.” “I thought you'd understand.” “I don't.” He smiled faintly. “I know.”

For a moment, the tension between them became lighter. Amara slipped on the jacket. It smelled faintly of his cologne. She noticed and looked away quickly. Adrian noticed her reaction. “What's wrong?” “Nothing.” “You're blushing.” “I'm not.” “You are.” “Stop looking at me.” He smiled. “Why?” “Because we're supposed to be saving my sister.” “I know.” “Then act serious.” He stepped closer. “I am serious.” His voice became quieter. “Very serious.” Their eyes met. Amara's heartbeat increased. “Adrian…” He reached for her hand. “Whatever happens tonight, stay close to me.” “I will.” “If something goes wrong, don't try to be brave.” “I'm always brave.” “I know.” He gently squeezed her fingers. “That's what worries me.”

At eleven fifteen, they left.

The drive to the old Sterling estate was silent. The road became darker as they moved farther from the city. Tall trees lined both sides, their branches creating shadows across the headlights. Amara stared through the window. “Do you remember coming here?” Adrian nodded. “Once.” “What happened?” “My father brought me here when I was about ten.” “Why?” “He said it belonged to my grandfather.” “Did you meet him?” Adrian paused. “Yes.” Amara turned toward him. “What was he like?” “Cold.” “Did he ever speak to you?” “He told me something.” “What?” Adrian's expression became distant. “He said power was the only thing that protected people.” Amara frowned. “That's a strange thing to tell a child.” “I didn't understand it then.” “And now?” “Now I think he was warning me about himself.”

The estate appeared ahead. The enormous iron gates were already open. Adrian immediately became alert. “Someone knew we were coming.” Marcus's voice came through the hidden communication device. “Sir, we're in position.” Adrian touched his earpiece. “Stay hidden.” “Understood.” They drove through the gate. The house stood at the end of a long driveway, massive and dark against the night sky. Several windows were illuminated. Amara's stomach tightened. “Someone is inside.” “Yes.” Adrian parked near the entrance. “Stay behind me.”

They entered,the front doors opened before Adrian touched them.A voice came from the darkness.

“Welcome home, Adrian.”

He froze.

Amara felt his hand tighten around hers.An old man stepped into the light.He was tall despite his age, dressed in a dark suit. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his eyes were sharp. He looked at Adrian without emotion.Adrian stared at him.

“Grandfather.”

The man smiled faintly.“You've grown.”

Adrian's voice was cold. “You're supposed to be dead.”

“So is your father.”Amara's heart pounded.

The old man looked at her.“And you must be Elena's daughter.”

Amara stepped forward. “Where is my sister?”

The man's gaze moved to her.“You have your mother's courage.”

“Where is Lydia?”

“Safe.”

“I want to see her.”

“You will.”

“Now.”

He smiled slightly. “You have her mother's temper too.”Adrian stepped between them. “If you touch her”

“I didn't bring you here to threaten her.”

“Then why?”

The old man looked at Amara.“Because your mother left something behind.”

“What?”

“A choice.”

Amara frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You can take your sister and walk away from the Sterling family forever.”

She stared at him.“Or?”

“Or you can learn the truth.”

Adrian's expression hardened. “What truth?”

The old man looked at him.“The truth about your father.”“You're going to tell me he isn't dead.”

“He is.”

Adrian frowned,But the man you buried wasn't him,the old man continued.

Silence filled the room.

Amara felt confused.You're saying Victor was alive after the funeral?

“Yes.”

“Where is he now?”The old man smiled.You'll find him beneath this house.

Adrian's face changed.The archive.

“Exactly.”

Amara immediately remembered the key.The old man noticed.“You have it.”

She instinctively closed her fingers around the key.

“Where is Lydia?”

“First, you open Room R-17.”Adrian shook his head. “No.”The old man looked at him.

“You don't understand.”

“I understand enough.”

“No. You don't.” The old man's voice became harder. “Your father built an empire on secrets. Your mother discovered those secrets. Your sister inherited them. And now you have the key.”

Amara stared at him.Why me?Because Elena trusted you.She never told me anything.

“She wanted you to have a normal life.”

Amara's eyes filled with tears. “She failed.”

The old man looked at her for a long moment.“No. She protected you for as long as she could.”

Amara stepped forward.“You said my mother is alive.”“I said nothing about that.”

“But someone told us she was.”

He smiled.“People tell you many things.”

Adrian's patience broke.“Enough games. Take us to Lydia.”The old man nodded toward the staircase.“She's downstairs.”

Adrian immediately moved toward it.“Wait,” the old man said.Adrian stopped.

“If you go down there, you may not come back the same.”

Adrian looked over his shoulder.“I haven't been the same since you supposedly died.”

The old man's expression changed slightly.“Perhaps you really are your father's son.”They descended the stairs.

The lower level was cold and dark. Old pipes ran along the ceiling. The air smelled of damp concrete. Adrian kept one hand around Amara's while holding a flashlight with the other.

They reached a steel door.A small keypad was attached to it.Adrian looked at the key.“There.”Amara inserted it.The door unlocked,inside was a long corridor.Then they heard a voice.

“Amara?”

She froze.

“Lydia?”

The voice came again.

“Amara!”

She ran forward.

Adrian grabbed her hand.

“Wait.”

They moved carefully until they reached a room at the end of the corridor.Lydia was there,She was tied to a chair, but she was alive.Amara's eyes filled with tears.

“Lydia.”

The girl looked at her.For a moment, neither spoke,then Lydia whispered, “You're real.”Amara's heart broke.“Yes.”Lydia began crying,she said she thought they were lying.

“Who?”

“Everyone.”

Amara rushed toward her.Adrian quickly cut the restraints.Lydia stood but immediately stumbled,Amara caught her.“You're okay.”

Lydia stared at her face.“You look like Mom.”Amara hugged her tightly,I've been looking for you.Lydia cried against her shoulder,I've been waiting for you.

Adrian stood nearby, watching them,then he noticed something on the wall a large metal door.The words R-17 were engraved above it.He looked at the key.“This is it.”

Lydia suddenly pulled away from Amara.“No.”

Everyone looked at her.

“What?” Adrian asked.

“Don't open that door.”

Amara frowned.“Why?”

Lydia's eyes filled with fear.“Because that's where they kept Mom.”Amara froze.“She's here?”Lydia nodded.“She was here.”

“Where is she now?”Lydia shook her head.“They took her.”

“Who?”

Lydia looked toward Adrian.

“Your father.”

Adrian's face went pale.“When?”

“Yesterday.”

“Where?”

“I don't know.”Lydia began trembling."He said he was taking her somewhere safe.”

Adrian looked at the door.“Then why are you here?”Lydia's voice dropped.“Because I wasn't supposed to tell you.”A sound suddenly echoed from the corridor.

Footsteps.

Adrian immediately pushed Amara and Lydia behind him.The lights went out.A man's voice came through the darkness.

“Adrian.”

Adrian's body went rigid.He knew the voice,he had heard it in his nightmares.His father's voice.

“Dad?”

The lights came back on.Nobody was there,Only a phone lay on the floor.It began ringing,Adrian picked it up,A video appeared.Victor Sterling was sitting in a dark room.Alive,Older but unmistakably Victor.

Adrian stared at the screen.His father looked directly into the camera.“Hello, son.”Adrian couldn't breathe.

Amara watched his face.

Victor continued.“I know you have questions.”Adrian's hand tightened around the phone.Where is my mother? Amara asked.

Victor's eyes shifted toward the camera.Elena?

“Yes.”

“She made her choice.”

“What choice?”

Victor smiled.The same choice your mother has been making for fifteen years.

Amara stepped closer.What does that mean?

Victor looked directly at her.It means she chose to protect you.

The screen went black.Then a final message appeared.

IF YOU WANT ELENA ALIVE, BRING AMARA TO ME.

Adrian stared at the screen,Amara's heart pounded.Lydia grabbed her hand.

“No.”

Amara looked at her.“No what?”Lydia's eyes filled with tears.Don't go to him.

“Why?”

“Because Mom told me something before they took her.”

What?

Lydia swallowed.She said if Adrian ever brings you to Victor…She stopped.Amara's heart raced.What did she say?

Lydia looked at Adrian.“She said…”

Her voice broke,Don't trust the man you love.”Adrian went completely still.Amara slowly turned toward him.

And for the first time since they had begun searching for the truth, doubt entered her eyes.