Chapter 4 - The Betrayal Inside
Adrian reacted with terrifying speed and precision. He tackled me to the floor, pulling his jacket over my face to shield me from the toxic smoke. "Hold your breath!" he commanded, dragging me toward the hallway. The penthouse security alarms shrieked as heavily armed guards burst through the front doors. Adrian carried me into the safe room where Mia was already hiding with a terrified maid. The heavy steel door sealed shut, filtering the clean air into the bunker. I collapsed onto the floor, coughing violently as my lungs burned from the brief exposure. Adrian knelt beside me, his large hands frantically checking my face and neck for injuries. "I am fine," I gasped, pulling Mia tightly into my arms. Adrian’s face was a mask of pure, lethal fury. "The drone breached the thermal glass, which means someone gave them the exact frequency of my defense grid," he realized. "Someone inside my inner circle is actively trying to kill us." We spent the entire night locked in the underground bunker. By morning, the security team had cleared the penthouse and neutralized the chemical threat. Adrian’s chief of security, Marcus, handed him a tablet with the recovered drone data. "The signal originated from a burner phone inside the Kane Global building," Marcus reported. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. "David is inside your company," I whispered, terrified of my deceased husband's reach. Adrian shook his head, his eyes darkening with a horrifying realization. "David doesn't have the technical clearance to bypass my personal network," Adrian said slowly. "The only other person with that clearance is my stepmother, Victoria." Victoria Kane was a ruthless socialite who had always despised Adrian's claim to the family empire. If she could prevent the wedding, Adrian would lose the company, and she would seize total control. "She hired your husband to kill you," Adrian concluded, his voice dripping with venom. I stood up, determined not to be a helpless victim anymore. "Then we need to expose her before she tries again," I said firmly. Adrian looked at me with genuine admiration, clearly surprised by my sudden bravery. We formulated a plan to bait Victoria into a confession during the annual company gala that weekend. We arrived at the glittering ballroom, playing the role of the deeply in love, newly engaged couple. I smiled for the cameras, my hand gripping Adrian's arm tightly as we navigated the wealthy crowd. Then, a waiter bumped into my shoulder and slipped a folded piece of paper into my hand. I opened it secretly in the bathroom stall. The note read: "Bring the child to the roof in five minutes, or I detonate the bomb under Adrian's table."
