Chapter 6 - The Hidden Heir Who Wanted Everything
Adrian Calder returned to Chicago.
He was thirty-one.
Handsome.
Intelligent.
Dangerous.
He was Roman's half-brother.
Their father had concealed Adrian's existence to prevent a succession war.
Adrian believed Roman had stolen his birthright.
He wanted the empire.
Not the legal businesses.
Everything.
Including the criminal network.
Roman refused.
“You don't want the company.”
Adrian smiled.
“I want what should have been mine.”
“You were hidden because you were dangerous.”
“No.”
He looked at Mara.
“You were afraid.”
Roman's expression hardened.
“You stay away from her.”
Adrian laughed.
“That's the weakness.”
“No.”
Roman stepped forward.
“That's the line.”
Adrian attacked through the financial system.
Accounts were frozen.
Properties seized.
Employees bribed.
Public accusations appeared.
Roman's reputation collapsed.
Mara watched the damage.
She found the weakness.
Adrian needed the hidden trust.
The trust belonged to her.
He couldn't access it without her authorization.
That's why he wanted her.
But Mara refused.
She transferred the money into a public foundation.
Adrian lost control.
“You think kindness makes you powerful?”
Mara answered:
“No.”
She smiled.
“It makes your plan useless.”
The trust was now protected.
Adrian couldn't steal it.
The money would go to hospitals, workers, and families harmed by the old network.
Roman watched her.
He smiled.
She had taken the weapon and removed its blade.
Then Adrian made his final move.
He kidnapped Roman's mother.
Roman went after her.
Mara followed.
The confrontation took place at an abandoned theater.
Adrian held a gun.
Roman stood across from him.
Mara stepped forward.
“Let her go.”
Adrian laughed.
“You're still trying to save everyone.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because somebody has to.”
He stared.
Then lowered the weapon.
For one second.
Police stormed the building.
Adrian was arrested.
His network collapsed.
Roman's mother survived.
But one person escaped.
Celia Grant.
The true architect.
She had been behind Adrian.
Behind Victor.
Behind Carmine.
Behind the hospital attack.
And she had one last secret.
Roman's accident was not intended to kill him.
It was intended to leave him permanently incapacitated.
Celia wanted him alive.
Dependent.
Vulnerable.
She wanted to control the empire through his medical care.
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Mara had destroyed that plan simply by paying attention.
Now Celia wanted revenge.
