Jennifer sat curled up on her velvet armchair, the room dim except for the faint glow of the bedside lamp. Her hands trembled as she pressed her phone against her chest, her eyes swollen from tears.
"Why, Marie?" Her voice broke as she looked at her friend. "Why does he do this to me? Every time he comes close, every time I feel he truly wants me... he just-" her voice cracked, "-he just leaves."
Marie knelt beside her, stroking her hair gently. "Jenny... maybe he's fighting something inside. Men like Adrian... they don't open their hearts easily. Maybe he cares too much, maybe too little. I don't know. But he's hurting you."
Jennifer shook her head fiercely. "No. He feels something for me-I know it. I see it in his eyes when he looks at me. But then..." she swallowed hard, "he turns cold. Like I don't exist."
Her phone screen lit up again-Call Failed. She had tried calling him sixteen times, but every attempt ended in silence.
Marie's brows furrowed. "He's ignoring you, Jenny. Maybe you should stop-"
Jennifer cut her off, clutching the phone tightly. "No. I can't. He may not answer, but I can't let go."
Her sobs filled the room, her heartbreak echoing against the cold silence Adrian had left behind.
Meanwhile, Adrian's Office.
The contrast was stark. Where Jennifer's world was unraveling, Adrian Hale's was consumed by war. His desk was buried in documents, financial models, and strategy papers. His assistant, Charles, stood opposite him, flipping through a thick folder.
Adrian's phone buzzed on the desk, Jennifer's name flashing on the screen. He glanced at it once, then turned it face down, setting it on silent.
Charles caught the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "Do you want me to handle that, sir?"
Adrian's jaw tightened. "No. She'll understand eventually. Right now, this is what matters." He tapped the file. "The Metro Expansion Project."
Charles opened the report. "Peter Smith's company has underbid aggressively. He's banking on volume and his long-standing relationships with the city council."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. "Smith thrives on influence, not innovation. If we let him dominate infrastructure, he'll tighten his grip on the city. We can't allow that."
Charles nodded. "I've run the numbers. If we cut costs through supply chain restructuring, we can beat his price by 6%. But we'll need a stronger narrative for the council-why they should choose Hale Group over Smith & Sons."
Adrian's eyes sharpened. "Narrative wins contracts, Charles. Facts seal them. We'll position ourselves as the future of sustainable urban development-smart transport hubs, green construction, international expertise. Smith only knows the old ways. We'll make him look outdated."
Charles flipped to another page. "We'll also need leverage with the press. Public opinion favors Smith as the 'local family legacy.' If we don't counter that-"
Adrian cut in, his voice low, precise. "Then we buy the narrative. Arrange for feature stories about my international projects. Push the angle of a 'new generation leader bringing global innovation to the city.' By the time the council votes, the public will demand Hale Group as the face of progress."
Charles hesitated. "It'll be costly."
Adrian's lips curved into a cold smile. "Victory always is. But think, Charles-if we win this project, Smith's empire cracks. Once that happens... everything else will fall into place."
The phone buzzed again. Jennifer's name. Adrian's hand hovered over it for a second, his chest tightening. Then, with visible restraint, he pushed it further away and refocused on the documents.
Charles watched him silently, but wisely said nothing.
Adrian's voice dropped, almost to himself. "No distractions. Not now."
The Hale Group tower loomed like a fortress of steel and glass against the city skyline. Jennifer's heels clicked furiously against the marble floor as she pushed past the receptionist, eyes still red from crying.
"Ma'am, Mr. Hale is in a meeting-" the receptionist tried to stop her.
"I don't care." Jennifer's voice shook but carried fire. "He'll see me."
She pushed open the heavy glass doors of Adrian's office, her heart pounding. Charles tried to stop her, but Adrian raised his hand, eyes narrowed.
"Let her in," he said coldly.
Jennifer rushed forward, tears in her eyes. "Adrian, why? Why are you doing this to me? You left me-without a word, without even looking back! Do you think I'm some toy you can throw away when you're bored?"
Adrian stood behind his desk, tall and commanding, his face like carved granite. "You shouldn't be here."
Her lips trembled. "I had no choice. You won't answer my calls, you shut me out. Tell me, what have I done to deserve this?"
His eyes darkened, and a bitter laugh escaped him. "What have you done?" His voice rose, sharp as a blade. "You were born a Smith, Jennifer. That's enough."
Jennifer froze, her tears spilling. "Don't bring my family into this. I'm not my father."
But Adrian's control snapped. He slammed his fist against the desk, the sound echoing through the office like thunder. "Your father-Peter Smith-is the most despicable man I've ever known! He ruined my mother. He destroyed her spirit, crushed her dreams, and stood smiling while she bled in silence. And now you-his daughter-dare to stand here, demanding my love?"
Jennifer's voice broke as she protested, "No! My father isn't like that. You're wrong, Adrian. You didn't know him like I do-"
"Enough!" Adrian's roar silenced her. His eyes blazed with fury, and for the first time, she saw not the man who once held her, but a stranger consumed by rage. He stepped closer, towering over her trembling frame.
"If you want my love, Jennifer... then give me back my mother!" His voice cracked with raw pain. "Bring Miranda Hale back from the grave! Undo what your cursed bloodline stole from me!"
Jennifer's knees weakened, her sobs spilling uncontrollably. "Adrian... please..."
But he turned away, his hand gripping the edge of his desk until his knuckles turned white. His words came low, but venomous:
"Get out. Before I forget you're not Peter himself."
Her world collapsed in that instant. Jennifer staggered back, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her cries. She looked at him one last time, her heart pleading for a shred of softness. But Adrian kept his back to her, rigid, merciless.
Shattered and humiliated, Jennifer fled the office. Her sobs echoed down the corridor, leaving Adrian alone in the silence he had chosen... but at a cost that twisted deeper than any wound.