Chapter 5 - Shadows of revenge
The press conference blew the scandal completely wide open, but in the opposite direction than Vanessa Cole had intended.
Overnight, public opinion flipped entirely. Vanessa became the most hated woman in the country—a spoiled, heartless heiress who had attacked an orphaned child and slandered a devoted mother. Advertisers dropped their sponsorships with Cole Enterprises, board members resigned, and the Cole family’s net worth plummeted by hundreds of millions in less than forty-eight hours.
Inside the luxurious Cole penthouse, Vanessa was screaming, throwing crystal vases against the wall while her father, Richard, sat at his desk, staring blankly at his collapsing stock portfolio.
“We’re ruined!” Richard shouted, rubbing his temples. “The banks are freezing our credit lines! Adrien is buying up our suppliers! In two months, Cole Enterprises will be bankrupt, Vanessa! All because you couldn’t keep your damned mouth shut!”
“It’s not my fault!” Vanessa shrieked, her eyes wild with obsession and hatred. “That maid planned this! She’s been holding that kid like an ace up her sleeve, waiting for the right moment to ruin me! I won’t let her win, Dad! I won’t!”
“What are you talking about?” Richard asked, looking up nervously.
Vanessa’s expression turned sinister. “If Adrien wants to play family, let’s see how he plays when his precious little niece disappears.”
“Vanessa, no!” Richard warned, standing up. “Adrien has private security everywhere! If you do something illegal, he’ll bury us alive!”
“He already destroyed us!” Vanessa yelled back. “I have nothing left to lose!”
Meanwhile, life at the Hastings estate had transformed completely.
Rosa was no longer permitted to work as a maid, much to her initial discomfort. Adrien had hired a full team of tutors, nannies, and personal assistants for her and Mia. Rosa was given an office in the mansion, where Adrien encouraged her to pursue her passion: non-profit work for low-income mothers.
As the weeks passed, an undeniable closeness began to form between Adrien and Rosa.
They spent every evening together, having dinner with Mia, playing board games in the living room, and talking late into the night over glasses of wine. Adrien found himself captivated by Rosa’s resilience, her sharp mind, and her quiet, unyielding grace. She was unlike any woman he had ever met in his elite social circles. She was real.
And Rosa, who had spent years guarding her heart against everyone, found herself falling deeply for the man beneath the billionaire facade. She saw his pain over losing his sister, his fiercely protective nature, and the gentle, loving way he played with Mia every single day.
One evening, after Mia had fallen asleep, Adrien and Rosa were standing on the balcony, watching the city lights of Chicago in the distance.
“You’ve done so much for us, Adrien,” Rosa said softly, her shawl wrapping tightly around her shoulders in the cool night breeze. “I don’t even know how to begin thanking you.”
Adrien stepped closer to her, his shoulder brushing against hers. “You don’t have to thank me, Rosa. You brought Elena back to me. You brought Mia into my life. To be honest... you brought life back into this empty house.”
Rosa looked up at him. The atmosphere between them shifted, growing thick with unspoken tension. Adrien reached out, his long fingers gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch sent a shiver down her spine.
“Rosa...” Adrien whispered, leaning in slightly. “I—”
Suddenly, Adrien’s phone buzzed loudly in his pocket, breaking the moment.
He pulled it out, annoyed, but his expression instantly turned serious when he saw the caller ID: Marcus Vance.
May you like
“Vance, what is it?” Adrien answered.
“Sir,” Vance’s urgent voice came through the speaker. “We just intercepted a series of encrypted phone calls from Vanessa Cole. She’s reached out to a criminal syndicate in upstate New York. She’s hiring mercenaries, Adrien. She’s planning to kidnap Mia.”
