The tension inside Adrian's office felt suffocating.
Lina stared at the photograph again.
Someone had been close enough to capture that picture without them noticing.
That meant only one thing.
Whoever was behind this had access to the mansion… and had been watching them for days.
Adrian placed the photo slowly on the desk.
His expression was colder than Lina had ever seen before.
"This is no longer intimidation," he said quietly.
"This is strategy."
Lina crossed her arms, trying to calm the fear building inside her chest.
"So what do we do?"
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"We find the spy."
He turned toward the security monitors mounted on the wall.
"Show me all camera recordings from the last twenty-four hours."
The screens flickered as the security system started scanning.
Lina walked closer to Adrian.
On the monitor, different hallways of the mansion appeared.
Guards.
Staff members.
Housekeepers.
Everyone looked normal.
Too normal.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then suddenly—
One of the recordings paused.
Adrian leaned forward.
"Rewind that."
The assistant controlling the system rewound the footage.
The hallway camera showed a woman walking slowly toward the back corridor.
She was one of the housekeepers.
Lina frowned.
"She works here every day."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Yes."
The assistant zoomed in.
The woman looked around before slipping something under a door.
Then she walked away quickly.
Lina felt a chill.
"That's Adrian's office hallway…"
Adrian stood up immediately.
"Bring her here."
Twenty minutes later, the housekeeper stood nervously in the living room.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Adrian stood in front of her.
Silent.
Watching.
The woman avoided his gaze.
"Mr… Mr. Black, is something wrong?"
Adrian placed the photo from the envelope on the table.
"Where did you get this?"
The woman's eyes widened for a fraction of a second.
Too fast for most people to notice.
But not Adrian.
"I… I don't know what you mean."
Adrian's voice became colder.
"You were recorded placing the envelope outside my office."
The woman's face turned pale.
Lina watched the scene with growing tension.
"Answer him," Lina said firmly.
The woman looked at both of them.
Then suddenly she burst into tears.
"I didn't have a choice!"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Explain."
"They threatened my brother!" she cried.
"They said if I didn't help them, they would hurt him!"
Lina felt sympathy immediately.
"But who are they?" she asked.
The woman hesitated.
Then she whispered a name.
"Victor Kane."
Adrian's eyes turned dangerously dark.
The room fell silent.
"So it is him," Adrian muttered.
The woman nodded nervously.
"They only told me to leave messages… nothing else."
Adrian stared at her for a long moment.
Finally he spoke.
"You're fired."
The woman looked terrified.
"Please! I swear I didn't want to help them!"
Adrian's voice remained cold.
"You're lucky I'm not calling the police."
Security guards escorted her out of the mansion.
When the door closed behind her, Lina exhaled slowly.
"So… Victor Kane really is behind this."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
"And he's not hiding it anymore."
Later that night, Lina stood on the balcony outside her room.
The city lights glowed in the distance.
But her mind was far from peaceful.
She had entered this marriage thinking it would be simple.
One year.
A contract.
Some appearances.
And then freedom.
But now…
She was caught in a dangerous conflict between powerful men.
Footsteps approached behind her.
Adrian.
"You should sleep," he said quietly.
Lina looked at him.
"Hard to do when someone is threatening my life."
Adrian leaned against the balcony railing beside her.
"I'll handle Victor Kane."
"You sound very confident."
"I know how he thinks."
Lina studied his face.
"You hate him."
Adrian didn't deny it.
"He destroyed my family."
"And now he's trying to destroy your marriage."
Adrian looked at her again.
"Exactly."
For a moment, silence filled the air.
Then Lina said something unexpected.
"Then we fight him together."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You're volunteering for war?"
Lina shrugged slightly.
"I'm already involved."
Adrian's lips curved into a faint smile.
"You're braver than I thought."
"Don't get used to it."
But Adrian's expression slowly became serious again.
"You should know something."
"What?"
"Victor Kane doesn't just threaten people."
Lina felt uneasy.
"What does he do?"
Adrian's voice dropped slightly.
"He breaks them."
A cold shiver ran down Lina's spine.
The next afternoon, Adrian left the mansion for an important meeting.
Lina stayed inside, surrounded by guards.
Everything felt calm again.
Too calm.
She was sitting in the library when her phone suddenly vibrated.
Unknown number.
She hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
A deep voice spoke on the other side.
Cold.
Confident.
"Mrs. Black."
Lina's heart skipped a beat.
"Who is this?"
The man chuckled softly.
"I believe Adrian mentioned me."
Lina's blood ran cold.
Victor Kane.
"You shouldn't be calling me," she said.
"Oh, but I had to."
His voice sounded almost amused.
"I wanted to hear the voice of the woman who changed Adrian Black."
"I didn't change him."
"Not yet," Victor replied calmly.
Lina tried to remain strong.
"What do you want?"
Victor Kane paused.
Then he said something that made Lina freeze.
"I want Adrian to suffer."
"And you… are the perfect way to do that."
Lina's grip on the phone tightened.
"If you touch me—"
Victor laughed.
"Oh, my dear… I already have."
Her heart started pounding.
"What do you mean?"
Victor's voice became softer.
More dangerous.
"Look outside."
Lina slowly turned toward the library window.
Her breath stopped.
Across the street…
A black car was parked.
And inside the car…
Someone was watching her.
Victor spoke again through the phone.
"I told you."
"We're already very close."
The call ended.
Lina stood frozen.
Her heart racing.
Because now she understood something terrifying.
Victor Kane wasn't just threatening them.
He was playing with them.
And the game…
Had only just begun.