Chapter 3 - War with the Coles
The next morning, the news hit the financial headlines like a bomb.
“HASTINGS EMBARS ENTIRE EMPIRE: ADRIEN HASTINGS CALLS OFF ENGAGEMENT TO VANESSA COLE AT ANNUAL GALA.”
Tabloids and financial papers were having a field day. Photos of Vanessa being escorted out of the estate by security guards were leaked online, sending the Cole family’s public relations team into a frenzy.
By 9:00 AM, Adrien was sitting at the head of the mahogany conference table at Hastings Holdings headquarters downtown. Across from him sat Richard Cole, Vanessa’s father, a ruthless real estate tycoon whose face was purple with rage.
“You embarrassed my daughter!” Richard roared, slamming his heavy palm onto the table. “You dragged our family name through the mud in front of the most influential people in the country! Over what, Adrien? A power trip? A sudden bout of cold feet?”
Adrien sat back, calmly sipping his black coffee. “Your daughter publicly assault a three-year-old child in my home, Richard. She demonstrated a total lack of empathy, basic human decency, and self-control. I will not tie my name, my fortune, or my future to a woman like that.”
“It was a maid’s kid!” Richard barked dismissively. “You pay those people to scrub floors, not to pollute our social circles! Vanessa was just putting the help in their place!”
Adrien’s eyes hardened into dark ice. “That ‘maid’s kid’ has more class in her pinky finger than your daughter has in her entire body. And if you ever speak of them in that tone again, Richard, I will ensure you never build another skyscraper in this country.”
Richard scoffed, though a flicker of fear passed through his eyes. “You think you’re invincible, Hastings? I hold thirty percent of the supply chain contracts for your new riverfront developments. If I pull out today, your construction halts. You lose hundreds of millions.”
“Then pull out,” Adrien said instantly, not a single trace of hesitation in his voice.
Richard blinked, stunned. “What?”
“Pull out your contracts,” Adrien said, leaning forward. “Do it today. Because while you were busy trying to cover up your daughter’s disgraceful behavior this morning, my team bought up the debt on three of your primary holding companies. If you break our contract, I will foreclose on those debts by 5:00 PM. You won’t just lose a merger, Richard. You’ll lose Cole Enterprises.”
Richard’s face drained of color. He realized, too late, that Adrien hadn’t just called off an engagement—he had prepared for war.
“You’re crazy,” Richard whispered. “You’re burning down a billion-dollar alliance over a servant!”
“Get out of my office,” Adrien replied coldly.
Meanwhile, back at the Hastings estate, Rosa was packing her small bag in the staff quarters. Although Adrien had promised to protect them, she was terrified. She knew how powerful the Cole family was. Vanessa was vindictive, and now that the engagement was shattered, Rosa feared that she and Mia would become targets of Vanessa’s revenge.
Suddenly, her bedroom door opened. It wasn’t Adrien, but Marcus Vance, Adrien’s head of security and private investigator.
“Miss Delgado?” Vance said politely, stepping into the room. “Mr. Hastings asked me to move you and Mia to the main mansion’s east wing immediately.”
“The east wing?” Rosa stammered. “But... that’s where the family lives. The master suites are there.”
“Mr. Hastings’ orders,” Vance replied with a small smile. “He has also assigned two full-time personal guards to you and the child starting today. And Miss Delgado? The preliminary DNA results came back an hour ago.”
Rosa held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. “And?”
Vance’s expression softened. “It’s a 99.9% match. Mia is Elena Hastings’ biological daughter. She is Adrien Hastings’ niece.”
Rosa sank onto the bed, tears overflowing. The secret was out. There was no going back now.
Within hours, Rosa and Mia were relocated from the cramped, basement-level staff rooms to a massive, sunlit suite on the top floor of the estate. The room featured high ceilings, plush velvet furniture, a balcony overlooking the private gardens, and a king-sized bed covered in silk sheets.
Mia ran around the room in absolute awe, jumping on the soft carpet and giggling as she touched the silk curtains. “Mommy! Is this a castle? Are we princesses now?”
Rosa smiled sadly, kneeling down to hug her daughter. “No, baby. You’re a princess. Mommy is just keeping you safe.”
That evening, Adrien returned home. He didn’t go to his office or his master bedroom. He went straight to the east wing.
When he opened the door, he saw Mia sitting on the floor, playing with a brand-new, massive wooden dollhouse that his staff had delivered earlier. Rosa was sitting nearby, reading a book.
Adrien walked in, taking off his suit jacket. He dropped to his knees right beside Mia.
“Hey, little one,” Adrien said gently.
Mia looked up at him, her eyes bright. “Look, mister! The house has a tiny kitchen!”
Adrien smiled, a warm, genuine smile that hadn't touched his face in three years. “It does. But you don’t have to call me mister anymore, Mia.”
Mia tilted her head, her dark curls bouncing. “What should I call you?”
May you like
Adrien swallowed the lump in his throat, looking up at Rosa, who gave him a tearful nod of approval.
“You can call me Uncle Adrien.”
