Chapter 6
The wedding invitations had been printed weeks ago.
The gold embossed names seemed to burn under the harsh hospital lighting.
Adrian sat in the hospital room, his finger hovering over the message thread that had gone unanswered for too long.
His jaw clenched tight.
“What the hell is Riley’s problem?”
He tossed his phone onto the couch, irritation dripping from every word.
“Does she seriously think I can’t live without her? She’s a criminal’s sister, for Christ’s sake. Who does she think she is?”
Sophie walked over with coffee, settling carefully beside him, her voice soft as silk.
“Adrian, don’t get worked up. Riley… she’s just having a hard time processing everything. With Matt gone, she’s hurting inside. Cut her some slack.”
Slack?”
Adrian let out a bitter laugh.
I gave her full control of the wedding planning to give her a way out, and what does she do? All this time passes and she doesn’t lift a finger. Does she really hink I’m that desperate to marry her?”
You can’t really blame her though.”
ophie lowered her eyes, her lashes fluttering delicately.
Riley’s always been stubborn. Lost her parents young, raised Matt all by herself-that couldn’t have been easy. Now that he’s… gone, and after what he did, she’s robably beating herself up more than anyone, thinking she failed as a guardian…”
Failed as a guardian?”
drian cut her off sharply, his eyes turning ice-cold.
This isn’t about failure. The kid was rotten from the core! I used to think Riley was different from all those gold-digging bitches, but now I see she’s the worst
ind-knows exactly how to manipulate people’s emotions.”
lis mind drifted back to high school, when Riley had stepped in to save his ass.
le’d been cornered in an alley by some rich kids when she came charging in with a broomstick, chin raised defiantly.
Adrian’s under my protection. None of you assholes touch him!”
ler eyes had sparkled like stars back then.
hough she tried to sound threatening, he could hear the tremor in her voice.
he wasn’t dressed in anything fancy-her school uniform was so washed out it had gone completely pale.
But that stubborn expression on her face was strangely beautiful.
He thought Riley was different from all the other girls at school.
So while he treated most females like shit, he’d always looked out for her without even realizing it.
To make her happy, he’d gotten close to Sophie, and the three of them became inseparable for twenty fucking years.
Proud as he was, he’d spun lie after lie just to end up with Riley naturally. But how the hell had everything turned into this mess?
Sophie caught the shift in his expression, jealousy flashing in her eyes before she put on her concerned act.
“Come on, couples never stay mad at each other for long. Maybe you should… go check on her? What if she’s in too much pain from the burns to even hold her
phone?”
“Not happening.”
Adrian turned away, his voice hard as granite.
“That liquor was low proof stuff-looked scary but harmless. Just for show.”
“If she had any brains, she’d crawl back here and apologize. I’m giving her twenty-four hours. If she doesn’t respond, the wedding’s off!”
Satisfaction gleamed in Sophie’s eyes, though she kept up the act.
‘Don’t say that! The date’s set, all our friends and family know…”
‘My business isn’t your concern.”
Adrian shot her a cold glance before heading to his study.
Let her wait.”
he next morning, his phone remained dead silent.
drian’s knuckles went white gripping his phone, rage shooting up from his feet through his entire body.
le stormed out, speeding to Riley’s place. His key turned three times in the lock, but the door wouldn’t budge.
he’d changed the locks.
Riley!”
le kicked the door, roaring, the motion-sensor lights flickering on to illuminate his twisted features.
Get your ass out here! Enough with the games!”
his rental apartment was Riley’s safe haven when she was upset.
I was also where Matt had lived before his death.
le’d joked more than once that he could afford to support both his girlfriend and her brother-his place had plenty of bedrooms. But she’d refused to let Matt
love in, no matter what he said.
[e’d never thought he’d set foot in this shithole.
unny how people change.
nly cold walls answered him.
le pushed open the ajar door next door, making the elderly landlady jump.
Mr. Cross? Looking for Miss Thompson? She moved out two days ago, said something about going abroad…”
Abroad?”
Adrian’s head rang like he’d been struck by a hammer.
Where did she go? When did she leave?”
‘I have no idea, she left in such a rush she didn’t even ask for her deposit back…”
