Chapter 2 - The House of Spies
Adrian felt a cold, calculating clarity wash over his mind for the first time in years.
The seven hours of uninterrupted sleep had rebooted his predatory instincts.
He carefully picked up the poisoned cup and poured the contents down the drain of his private bathroom.
Clara clutched a sleeping Lily to her chest, her entire body trembling with fear.
Adrian asked her why her daughter was wandering the dangerous halls of the estate past midnight.
Clara swallowed hard, tears welling in her exhausted eyes.
She confessed that she had hidden Lily in the corridors because someone had been searching their small servant quarters.
Clara had found her meager belongings completely ransacked when she returned from her evening shift.
Whoever was looking for something in her room belonged to Dominic's faction of the family.
Adrian realized with sickening certainty that his weakness had allowed his brother to plant loyalists in every corner of the house.
He instructed Enzo to quietly secure the perimeter of his personal wing without alerting the regular guards.
Suddenly, the heavy sound of approaching footsteps echoed down the marble hallway outside.
It was far too early for the morning staff to be awake.
Adrian quickly messed up his hair, slumped his shoulders, and ordered Clara to hide inside the massive walk-in closet.
The bedroom door swung open without a simple knock.
Dominic stood in the doorway, dressed in a sharp Italian suit, a fake smile plastered across his face.
He looked eagerly toward the desk, noticing the empty teacup.
Dominic feigned deep concern, asking his older brother if the tea had finally helped him rest.
Adrian forced his hands to tremble violently, playing the part of the broken man perfectly.
He whispered weakly that he still had not slept a single minute.
Dominic’s fake smile widened slightly, a flash of pure triumph dancing in his eyes.
Dominic stepped closer, his voice dropping into a cold, menacing whisper.
May you like
He told Adrian that the housekeeper's noisy brat was becoming a massive liability to the estate's peace and quiet.
Dominic casually announced that he had already made arrangements to have Clara and her child permanently removed from the property today.
