Chapter 7 - Shadows on the East Coast
The autumn sun had dipped below the skyline, casting long amber shadows across the Boston harbor.
Inside the private dining room of a secluded Italian restaurant tucked away in the historic North End, the air smelled of roasted garlic, fresh basil, and aged wine. There were no waiters hovering nervously, no society gossip columnists taking photos from dark corners. Adrian had rented out the entire establishment for the evening, ensuring that the only sounds were the clinking of crystal glasses and the soft murmur of conversation.
I took a sip of the Chianti, letting the rich, complex flavors settle on my tongue. Across the table, Adrian sat in a dark cashmere sweater, cutting his steak with quiet, precise movements.
“Your sister called me today,” Adrian said casually, not looking up from his plate.
I paused, my fork hovering halfway to my mouth. “Victoria? Why would Victoria call you?”
“She’s liquidating the last of Derek’s hidden corporate assets,” Adrian explained, lifting his gaze to meet mine. “Turns out your ex-husband was trying to launder fifty thousand dollars through an offshore real estate syndicate in the Cayman Islands using a dummy corporation registered under Chloe’s name.”
I let out a dry sigh, shaking my head. “I shouldn't be surprised. Even when he was losing everything, he was still trying to cheat the system.”
“He wasn't just trying to cheat the system,” Adrian said, his tone turning dark and sharp. “He was trying to secure enough capital to skip the country. Victoria wanted to hand the evidence over to the federal prosecutor, but she wanted to check with you first. Since your name was technically attached to some of the early corporate filings from five years ago, a federal investigation could drag you into the press cycle.”
I set my fork down, the appetite suddenly draining from me. The last thing I wanted was my face plastered across the front page of the Boston Globe alongside Derek’s disgraced mugshot, branded as the naive wife who didn't know her husband was a criminal.
“What did you tell her?” I asked quietly.
“I told her to hand the files directly to my own legal team,” Adrian said smoothly, pouring more wine into my glass. “By tomorrow morning, federal prosecutors will receive a fully anonymized, airtight dossier that links Derek’s offshore accounts directly to international wire fraud. He’ll be indicted before the end of the week, and your name won't appear anywhere in the public indictments.”
I stared at him, a mixture of awe and unease washing over me. “You make destroying a man sound as simple as ordering a glass of wine.”
“Derek destroyed himself the moment he decided he could use people as stepping stones,” Adrian replied, his dark eyes unwavering. “I just accelerated the timeline.”
He reached across the table, his warm fingers covering my hand resting on the tablecloth. The touch sent a shiver straight down my spine, reminding me of how fragile life was—and how strong it felt to finally be held by someone who wasn't hiding a dagger behind their back.
“You’re safe now, Emily,” Adrian said, his voice dropping into a quiet, absolute vow. “Nobody is ever going to hurt you in a room full of people while I’m around to watch.”
May you like
I looked at him, feeling the heavy armor I had worn for nine years finally melt away completely.
“I know,” I whispered.
