Chapter 460

Christian lowered his lashes apologetically. "Mom, I'll reschedule with her next time we meet."

Sophia sighed softly. For now, this was the only option.

She rose to fetch water downstairs and was surprised to find Adrian standing in the living room.

"Adrian?" Sophia blinked in momentary surprise before regaining her composure. She knew he wasn't entirely to blame.

Years of friendship between their families kept her tone as warm as ever.

"Auntie, I came to see Christian." Adrian's voice was cool, though the shadows in his brow had lightened slightly.

Sophia gestured upstairs. "He's resting in his room. Go on up."

Tactfully giving them space, she instructed Victor to prepare tea before grabbing her car keys to leave.

Adrian had always been steady. Surely they could clear the air between them.

"Victor, you know where the kitchen is. Bring the tea up when it's ready." Sophia tied her scarf. "I have some errands to run."

Victor smiled. "Don't worry, Auntie."

The living room fell quiet.

After delivering the tea, Victor quietly shut the bedroom door behind him.

Inside, the two men sat facing each other in heavy silence.

Finally, Adrian spoke. "Christian, I'm sorry."

His Adam's apple bobbed. "I almost got you killed."

Christian's laugh was icy, his gaze sharp as blades. Adrian hadn't known—they'd both been pawns in Isabella's game.

"You know," Christian tapped his wheelchair armrest, "that video had no audio. But I heard every vicious word."

Suddenly he smiled. "Yet now, I should thank this ordeal."

"At least it woke me up. No more drifting through life." He looked out the window. "I'll stand again—to protect those who matter."

"Lastly," he met Adrian's eyes directly, "I wish you and her a lifetime of happiness."

Adrian's brow furrowed. "I only got close to her to investigate my father's death."

"Vincent Langley was the killer." His voice turned grim. "How could I ever be with her?"

Christian froze. This truth was news to him.

So Adrian had his reasons too. So the Langley father-daughter pair was truly monstrous.

"How did Mrs. Valentine know Vincent Langley?" Christian recalled the grisly scene of Adrian's father's death—and the revelation that Adrian wasn't his biological son.

Adrian's eyes darkened. "Overheard their phone call and followed the trail."

Christian shook his head with a self-mocking chuckle. "To think we were both played by the same woman."

He exhaled deeply. "Since we've cleared the air, brothers we remain."

Having brushed death, many things no longer seemed important.

The tension in Adrian's shoulders eased at last. "How's the leg?"

"Fine." Christian patted his knee. "Evelyn's skills are remarkable. Just needs time to heal."

He could walk haltingly now, though unsteadily.

Abruptly Adrian asked, "Have you seen my wife since waking?"

He'd overheard the mother-son conversation but clung to a sliver of hope.

After scouring all of Vienna, Evelyn's disappearance remained a mystery he couldn't unravel.