Chapter 5 Threads Begin to Unravel

The morning sun bled through the blinds of Adrian's office, casting long golden streaks across his desk. But light couldn't touch the darkness curling in his chest.

Adrian sat unmoving, staring at a manila folder Clara had dropped off just hours ago. It was damning. Offshore accounts, tampered ledgers, and evidence linking both Caleb and Elena to the siphoned funds. Still circumstantial, but heavy enough to tip a scale if he played it right.

His phone buzzed-Liam.

"Hey," he answered, rubbing his temples.

"You're not coming to the board meeting?" Liam's voice sounded distracted, muffled by background chatter.

"I'll be late. Don't say anything. Just observe," Adrian said.

There was a pause, then a quiet, "Got it."

Adrian ended the call and opened the drawer, retrieving the flash drive again. He replayed the grainy footage-his father's voice still ringing in his ears. "You're not his father, Caleb."

A bitter truth twisted in Adrian's gut.

He had always known Caleb wanted more. More power. More recognition. More than what Adrian's father ever offered him. But he didn't realize Caleb was willing to kill for it. Not until now.

---

At the boardroom, Caleb stood at the head in Adrian's absence, charisma on full display.

"Elena will be joining the advisory team as strategic development liaison," he announced with a dazzling smile.

There were nods, murmurs of approval. Elena, standing poised in a navy-blue pantsuit, gave a modest smile and nodded at the board members like a perfect corporate queen.

Liam sat back, silent, watching everything with the precision of a hawk. He texted Adrian under the table: They're positioning her. Fast.

Adrian replied: Let them. I'm watching.

---

Later that evening, Adrian paid a visit to someone he hadn't seen in years-Detective Mira Holden, the lead investigator on his mother's "accidental" death.

He found her in a quiet bookstore café, flipping through a battered mystery novel.

"You're a hard woman to find," Adrian said, sliding into the seat across from her.

Mira looked up, blinking. "Mr. Vale... I'd say it's been a while, but that would be an understatement."

"I need answers about my mother. And my father."

She closed the book slowly. "Your mother's case was closed years ago. Declared an accident. You signed off on the cremation."

Adrian's jaw tightened. "There was no body."

"There was enough," she said quietly.

"No. There wasn't." He leaned in. "You missed something. Or someone made sure you did."

There was a flicker in her expression-hesitation. "There was... pressure. From someone high up. I didn't know who."

Adrian slid a USB across the table. "Watch this. Then call me."

He stood and left before she could say anything more.

---

At home, Liam found Adrian in the wine cellar-an odd place for him, given he rarely drank.

"You alright?" Liam asked.

Adrian handed him a half-full glass of red. "You ever think you know someone so well... and then you realize you don't know them at all?"

Liam took the glass but didn't drink. "You mean Caleb?"

Adrian nodded. "And Elena."

"You still love her?"

The question hit harder than Adrian expected. "I don't know what I feel anymore. Love, betrayal, regret... it's all starting to bleed together."

There was a long silence between the brothers before Liam said, "What are you going to do?"

"Wait. Watch. And when the time is right..." Adrian's voice lowered, dark. "I'll pull the thread and unravel everything."

---

Two nights later, Adrian hosted a charity gala-a calculated move. He wanted them in the open, comfortable, surrounded by flashing cameras and fake laughter.

Elena arrived in a crimson gown that turned heads the moment she stepped in. Caleb followed closely, always at her side like a shadow dressed in designer silk.

Adrian played his part perfectly-smiling, toasting, giving a speech that made the crowd swoon.

But beneath the charm, he watched.

He watched Elena's fingers graze Caleb's arm when no one else looked.

He watched how Caleb whispered too close to her ear.

And he watched how the public adored them both-never suspecting the venom underneath.

---

Later that evening, Elena cornered Adrian on the balcony, her expression unreadable under the moonlight.

"You've been avoiding me," she said.

"I've been busy," he replied coldly.

She moved closer, too close. "I miss you, Adrian."

He gave a bitter laugh. "Is that before or after you spend the night with my cousin?"

Her eyes widened-just for a fraction of a second-but it was enough.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I do," he said, voice low. "I know more than you think."

She tried to recover, placing a hand on his chest. "You're hurting. And you're pushing everyone away. I want to help-"

"Don't." His hand gently but firmly removed hers. "This act? It's over."

She stepped back, mask cracking, but still intact. "You'll regret this."

"No. You will."

---

The next morning, a package arrived at Adrian's office.

No return address.

Inside was a single photo.

His mother-alive.

Bound.

Terrified.

And the words scrawled on the back:

"You're too late."