Page 49 of So Close to You
Adrian tilts his head slightly.
“Then Elliot will receive the entire gallery before breakfast tomorrow.”
The air stops flowing into her lungs. Suddenly, Seraphina Chapman sees her whole world falling apart.
“You can’t do this to me,” she murmurs, the words coming out broken.
“Of course I can,” Adrian replies with a smile.
Seraphina tries to catch her breath and think clearly.
She needs to find a way out.
“Elliot is your partner,” she murmurs. “If you destroy this marriage, you’ll hurt yourself too.”
“Not particularly. Divorces are quite profitable for lawyers,” he replies cruelly.
The remark sends a chill down her spine. Adrian moves a little closer.
“Look at yourself, Seraphina. You’ve built a perfect life over the years, and you’re about to throw it all away for a fling with an arrogant surgeon.”
“Don’t talk about her like that,” Seraphina warns through clenched teeth.
Adrian smiles instantly. He’s found exactly the wound he wanted to expose.
“Ah. So you really do love her.”
Seraphina freezes. Adrian studies her in silence for a few seconds, and his expression changes. He no longer looks amused. Now he looks dangerously satisfied.
“That complicates things even more for you.”
She feels her nails digging into her palms.
“You know nothing about us,” she whispers.
“I know enough. I know you’d risk a lot for her… but not enough to lose your children.”
The words pierce her chest because they hit their mark. That is exactly the limit of her courage. Adrian picks up the tablet with absolute calm.
“You have forty-eight hours to hand over the asset modification and draft your letter of resignation.”
Seraphina shakes her head slowly, still searching for a way out.
“Helena will look into it.”
“She won’t make it in time,” he replies.
“Nerissa…” The name slips from her lips before she can stop it.
Adrian watches her with a terrifying calm.
“Dr. Ashcombe can’t help you. And if you try to warn her, Elliot will receive the images before midnight.”
Seraphina feels genuine terror for the first time in months. Because she realizes she no longer controls anything happening around her. Adrian heads toward the door. And before leaving, he turns to face her.
“Choose wisely, Seraphina. The stability of your children and your family name… or your dear surgeon.”
Chapter 17
