Chapter 24 – The First Proof
Morning light spilled across the curtains, washing the bedroom in pale gold. Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, the unopened file resting beside him like a ghost. He hadn't slept—couldn't. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw pages dripping with blood, faces blurred out, Leon's smirk, Adrian's shadow.
When the door opened, he didn't look up.
Adrian stepped inside, dressed in his sharp black suit, tie loosened as though he'd been pacing for hours. His eyes lingered on Ethan's pale face before hardening with resolve.
"Get dressed," Adrian said. "We're leaving."
Ethan finally lifted his gaze. "Where?"
Adrian didn't blink. "To see proof."
---
The ride was silent. Ethan kept his eyes on the passing city, but his thoughts were loud, chaotic. The limousine's tinted glass reflected his face—uncertain, fragile, but burning with determination.
Adrian sat across from him, hands folded, gaze fixed on him in a way that made Ethan's skin prickle. There was no trace of his usual arrogance, only a quiet intensity.
When the car finally pulled into a discreet alley, Ethan frowned. This wasn't one of Adrian's towering corporate buildings or glittering penthouses. It was an old brick structure tucked behind warehouses, almost invisible from the main street.
"This is where you'll see the truth," Adrian murmured, stepping out first.
Ethan followed hesitantly.
Inside, the air smelled of disinfectant and metal. The walls were plain, the halls quiet. Guards bowed slightly at Adrian's presence, but their eyes flickered curiously at Ethan.
Ethan's steps faltered. "Where are we?"
Adrian's voice was low. "The rehabilitation wing."
---
They entered a wide room with large glass panels. Ethan froze. Behind the glass were Omegas—dozens of them. Some reading quietly, some working on art projects, some simply resting with peaceful expressions.
But what struck Ethan wasn't their activities—it was their calmness. Their safety. Their lack of fear.
A nurse bowed to Adrian. "Sir, everything has been running smoothly. Therapy sessions continue as scheduled."
Adrian nodded before gesturing toward Ethan. "Tell him what this place is."
The nurse glanced at Ethan kindly. "This is a recovery center for Omegas who were… part of the early trials. When the project dissolved under Mr. Zhou's orders, he relocated survivors here. Many had nowhere else to go. This place is fully funded to help them rebuild their lives."
Ethan's throat closed. He pressed his palm to the glass, watching a young Omega smile faintly as he painted a sunrise. The sight pierced him with unexpected warmth.
He turned sharply toward Adrian. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Adrian's expression was unreadable. "Because you weren't ready to believe me."
Ethan's breath hitched. "So this is your proof? That you're not as much of a monster as Leon says?"
Adrian's eyes darkened. He stepped closer, his words a low rumble. "This is my proof that I've been dismantling his empire while protecting the ones he hurt. If I had exposed him openly, the board and half the officials he owns would've buried the truth. So I chose another way."
Ethan wanted to argue. To scream. To accuse him of still playing god with people's lives. But the sincerity in the nurse's voice, the hope in the survivors' eyes… it all pressed against his anger until cracks formed.
Still, doubt lingered. "You could've staged this."
Adrian's lips twitched in a humorless smile. "You think I'd go this far for a lie? If so, you don't know me at all."
Ethan glared, though his voice trembled. "You're right. I don't."
---
As they left the recovery center, Ethan's chest was heavy with conflict. He wanted to hate Adrian for everything—but every piece of proof tangled the hatred into something messier.
In the car, Adrian broke the silence. "This is only the first step. I'll show you more. You'll see Leon's mask for yourself soon enough."
Ethan turned away, his reflection fractured in the glass. "…And when I've seen it all? What then?"
Adrian's gaze softened, barely noticeable. "Then you'll decide whether to walk away… or stay."
Ethan's heart skipped painfully, but he didn't answer.
---
Elsewhere, Leon sat in a dim office, swirling a glass of wine. His assistant placed a report before him.
"Adrian took him to the rehabilitation center today."
Leon smirked. "Of course he did. Always parading his noble façade when it suits him. Ethan may be touched now, but soon he'll realize Adrian only shows him carefully chosen truths. That hesitation will fester."
He leaned back, sipping slowly. "And when Ethan's doubts boil over, that's when I'll strike."
His eyes glinted with cold amusement.
---
That night, Ethan lay awake again, the images of smiling Omegas burned into his mind. His heart twisted painfully. Was Adrian truly dismantling the system—or simply rearranging the pieces?
He clutched the file against his chest, whispering to the darkness.
"Who am I supposed to believe?"
And in the silence, the bond between Alpha and Omega pulsed faintly, as though mocking his uncertainty.