Chapter 92

Adrian Valentine sat behind his expansive desk, his long fingers absently tracing the fountain pen.

His eyes were hollow and stormy, the whites streaked with red veins. A suffocating gloom radiated from his entire being.

When Julian Roscente pushed open the door, the icy aura nearly forced him back.

"Good lord!" Julian took an exaggerated step backward. "Who sucked the soul out of the mighty CEO?"

Adrian's condition was worse than he'd imagined.

Exhaustion carved deep lines into his handsome face. His suit was disheveled, his tie crooked—as if he'd just survived a brutal battle.

Julian swallowed hard and cautiously approached.

"Adrian, what happened?"

Adrian slowly lifted his gaze, eyes sharp as blades. "Why are you here?"

Julian steeled himself and sat down, choosing his words carefully. "Your father-in-law, Vincent Langley, came to see me."

Adrian's fingers stilled.

"He's asking about the whereabouts of that painting, Renaissance Masterpiece, at the auction house." Julian lowered his voice. "Is there something special about it?"

Adrian narrowed his eyes.

He had indeed seen that painting, but the details escaped him. Why was Vincent so fixated on it?

"Just some worthless canvas." Adrian's laugh was cold. "Worth your personal visit?"

Julian rubbed his arms. "Mr. Langley seemed desperate..."

"Then help him find it." Adrian's tone was flat. "After all, he's my father-in-law."

He bit down hard on the last word.

Julian exhaled in relief but couldn't resist prying. "I heard you sent Evelyn abroad?"

Adrian's grip on the pen tightened.

"That girl has no education—" Julian's words died as a glacial stare pinned him in place.

"Get out."

Julian forced a laugh and stood. At the door, he turned back. "Evelyn's actually quite pitiful—"

CRASH!

A crystal ashtray whizzed past his ear, shattering against the doorframe into a thousand pieces.

Julian fled.

Silence reclaimed the office.

Adrian stared at the wall clock, the ticking second hand grating against his nerves.

Suddenly, he remembered the look in Evelyn's eyes before she left.

A calm so unsettling it made his chest tighten.