Chapter 3 - Sebastian Discovered His Trusted Lawyer Had Changed One Sentence in Our Marriage Contract—and That Tiny Change Had Destroyed Our Entire FutureSebastian's legal adviser was named Adrian Cross.
He had served the Vale family for twelve years.
He was calm.
Polished.
Invisible when he needed to be.
Exactly the kind of man who could manipulate paperwork without anyone noticing.
He arrived within an hour.
Sebastian greeted him normally.
That frightened me more than anger would have.
“Adrian.”
“Sebastian.”
“You handled my grandfather's estate records?”
“Yes.”
“Four years ago?”
“Yes.”
“Did you process correspondence from Maya?”
Adrian looked at me.
Then at Sebastian.
“Yes.”
“Did you destroy any?”
“No.”
Sebastian placed the first letter on the desk.
“This was received.”
Adrian's expression barely changed.
“I assume so.”
“You said no letters arrived.”
“I said I didn't personally receive them.”
Sebastian leaned forward.
“Who did?”
Adrian's eyes flickered.
“The family office.”
“And where are the records?”
“Archived.”
“Some are missing.”
Adrian smiled.
“Archives can be incomplete.”
I watched him.
There was no fear.
That meant he believed Sebastian wouldn't find the rest.
He was wrong.
Sebastian opened a second folder.
“Our marriage contract.”
Adrian looked at it.
“What about it?”
“This clause.”
Sebastian pointed.
The clause stated that our marriage would be void if his family didn't approve it within thirty days.
I stared.
“I never saw this.”
Sebastian's jaw tightened.
“When did this clause appear?”
Adrian answered smoothly.
“It was always there.”
“No.”
Sebastian slid an original copy across the table.
The clause didn't exist.
Adrian went silent.
“You altered it.”
“I did not.”
“Then who did?”
No answer.
Sebastian stood.
“Get out.”
Adrian remained still.
“Sebastian—”
“Get out.”
He left.
The moment the door closed, Sebastian turned toward me.
“I should have known.”
I shook my head.
“We both believed them.”
“No.”
He looked at the contract.
“I trusted the wrong people.”
Then the children began laughing in the other room.
Sebastian looked toward them.
His expression softened.
He walked over.
Owen was building a tower from wooden blocks.
Ivy was putting toy animals on top.
Noah was attempting to eat one.
Sebastian crouched.
“What are you building?”
“A castle,” Owen said.
“Who's the king?”
Owen pointed at himself.
Sebastian laughed.
“And the queen?”
Ivy pointed at me.
Sebastian looked at me.
She smiled.
“What about you?”
Noah pointed at Sebastian.
“Daddy.”
The word stopped him.
I looked away.
Sebastian closed his eyes.
When he opened them, they were wet.
He kissed Noah's forehead.
I had never seen Sebastian cry.
Not when his father died.
Not when his empire nearly collapsed.
Not when he was threatened.
But three children calling him Daddy almost broke him.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Speak.”
His face changed.
“Adrian is gone.”
“What?”
“The townhouse security lost him.”
Sebastian stood.
“Where?”
“The basement.”
His eyes hardened.
“Lock every exit.”
Then he looked at me.
“Stay with the children.”
I grabbed his arm.
“Be careful.”
He looked down at my hand.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then he whispered:
“I've waited four years to hear you say that.”
He left.
Ten minutes later, gunshots echoed from below.
I pulled the children into the bedroom.
The door opened.
Adrian stood there.
Blood covered his sleeve.
He held a gun.
And behind him was a man I hadn't seen in four years.
May you like
Sebastian's grandfather.
Alive.
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