CHAPTER TWO THE BILLIONAIRE’S OFFER
488 Words
Elena stepped back quickly, wiping her tears in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, trying to move past him.
But Adrian’s voice stopped her.
“Answer me.”
The hallway felt colder instantly.
Elena swallowed. Everyone knew Adrian Kingston. The man no one challenged. No one disrespected. No one survived disappointing.
“It’s nothing,” she said weakly.
His eyes didn’t leave her face.
Before she could escape, the door opened again. Jason appeared.
“Uncle Adrian—”
Everything changed.
Jason stiffened under Adrian’s gaze.
The billionaire’s attention shifted slowly toward the scene behind Jason. Vanessa. The robe. The truth.
His expression darkened slightly.
“I can explain,” Jason said quickly.
“No,” Adrian replied calmly. “You cannot.”
Silence.
Vanessa forced a smile. “This is a misunderstanding—”
“Be quiet.”
Two words. Enough to silence her.
Elena felt her breath shake.
Adrian’s presence filled the room like pressure.
Jason tried again. “Uncle, it’s my relationship—”
“No,” Adrian interrupted. “It was.”
The correction hit harder than any insult.
Elena looked away. She just wanted to disappear.
“I should go,” she whispered.
But Jason grabbed her wrist.
“Elena, stop acting emotional.”
The air shifted instantly.
Adrian’s gaze dropped to Jason’s hand.
“Remove it,” he said quietly.
Jason obeyed immediately.
Elena blinked. Why was he protecting her?
Vanessa scoffed. “She’s not innocent either.”
Adrian looked at her briefly. Disgust.
“How unfortunate,” he said. “You chose betrayal over dignity.”
Vanessa went pale.
Jason clenched his jaw.
Adrian turned to him again. “You humiliated your fiancée on the night of your engagement.”
Jason looked away. “It’s complicated.”
“No,” Adrian said. “It’s stupidity.”
Elena felt her chest tighten.
She turned to leave again.
But Adrian stepped into the elevator with her.
The doors closed.
Silence.
Only her shaking breath remained.
He handed her a handkerchief.
She hesitated… then took it.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You loved him,” Adrian said.
Not a question. A fact.
Elena laughed bitterly through tears.
“I thought he loved me too.”
A pause.
Then Adrian spoke again.
“People like him only understand loss.”
The elevator stopped.
Below, the celebration continued. Life continued. Except hers.
“I can’t go back there,” she whispered.
Adrian looked at her. Quiet. Controlled.
“Then don’t.”
She blinked.
“What?”
He stepped closer.
“Come with me instead.”
Her heart stuttered.
“I don’t understand.”
“I need a wife.”
Silence swallowed her.
A contract marriage.
Revenge. Protection. Power.
Adrian extended his hand.
“Do you want revenge, Elena?”
And for the first time that night…
She hesitated not because she was afraid.
But because she was finally being offered a way out.
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