Adrian confronted his father the same evening Elena finally understood the truth, though the two events were entirely unconnected — Marcus, having discovered Adrian's competing contract negotiations with the rival shipping conglomerate, summoned his son with the particular fury of a man watching his leverage disappear.
"You undermined me," Marcus said, "with a company I've spent thirty years positioning us against."
"I protected a family you were willing to sacrifice to cover your own debts," Adrian said, his voice steady despite the confrontation. "Debts you never told anyone about, including me."
Marcus's expression flickered, briefly caught. "How did you—"
"It doesn't matter how. What matters is that I'm done letting you decide who gets protected in this family and who gets used as
