The storm finally broke that night.
Not outside.
Inside Adrian.
The Kingston mansion was unusually quiet after sunset.
Too quiet.
Elena sat alone in the library staring blankly at unfinished sketches spread across the table, but her concentration was gone.
Every hateful comment from earlier still echoed inside her head.
Fraud.
Manipulator.
Talentless.
She hated how words from strangers still found ways to hurt.
A soft creak interrupted her thoughts.
Adrian entered silently.
No phone.
No tablet.
No work.
Just him.
And somehow that alone told her something serious had changed.
He walked toward the bar cart slowly, pouring himself whiskey without a word.
Elena watched carefully.
His movements looked controlled.
But beneath that control—
Tension.
Dangerous tension.
“You
