Adrian’s POV
The moment the door to Sophie’s room clicked shut hours ago, I knew she wasn’t going to stay there.
She thought she was careful—keeping to shadows, avoiding the cameras—but this was my house. My city. Nothing moved under my roof without me knowing.
And yet I let her walk out.
I should have stopped her. Dragged her back. Locked her in the gilded cage she insists on rattling. But the truth was, I wanted to see how far she’d go. How much she’d risk just to defy me.
Because Sophie Hart wasn’t afraid of me. Not enough.
My hand curled around the glass of whiskey on my desk, untouched. Every nerve in my body thrummed like a wire pulled too tight. I could still smell her in here—sweet, sharp, maddening. I could still hear my own words echoing in the silence.
Next time… I won’t
