Chapter 226

"Perfect!" Natasha exclaimed, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

With Vivian no longer an obstacle, Adrian was finally within her reach—the ultimate prize she'd been coveting.

At Cascade Residences...

Audrey and Lydia had been burning through their contacts all night, desperately searching for any digital fingerprints linking Serena to the viral smear campaign against Vivian.

Their progress was agonizingly slow.

So far, they'd only uncovered clickbait accounts chasing internet fame—nothing concrete enough to pin on Serena.

Audrey groaned, massaging her temples as she scrolled through her contacts list for what felt like the hundredth time. "I'm staying with you tonight," she declared suddenly, locking her phone. "Serena's completely lost it. Who knows what she'll do next?"

Lydia calmly crushed her cigarette in the ashtray. "We should ask Mr. Blackwood for assistance."

Audrey rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. "As if that man would lift a finger to help."

Lydia had gotten the abbreviated version of Vivian and Adrian's drama from Audrey last night.

While Audrey dismissed Adrian's actions as performative, Lydia wasn't so sure.

She'd seen the raw desperation in his eyes herself.

If Adrian truly didn't care, he could have easily delegated the search to his security team and washed his hands of the matter.

Instead, he'd personally led the charge—a telling detail that spoke volumes to Lydia.

But matters of the heart were complicated, and outsiders had no business interfering.

Before Vivian could respond to Audrey's suggestion, the doorbell's chime sliced through the tension.

"Who knows you live here?" Audrey asked, instantly on alert.

"Probably just food delivery," Vivian said, moving toward the door.

But when she opened it, Adrian stood on her threshold, still wearing yesterday's wrinkled dress shirt.

Up close, she could see the shadow of stubble along his jawline—the only visible sign of his exhaustion.

His deep voice, though weary, carried undeniable authority. "You're coming back with me."

Vivian barely glanced at him before attempting to shut the door.

Ethan materialized behind Adrian, blocking the door with his body. "Mr. Blackwood just returned from the police station," he explained urgently. "They still haven't located Maxwell, and this building has too many blind spots. It's not safe for you here alone."

Lydia and Audrey appeared at Vivian's side.

Lydia immediately sided with Adrian. "Vivian, you should go with Mr. Blackwood," she urged gently.