CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4
THE WOMAN WHO WANTED HIS EMPIRE
Power was something Adrian Blackwood understood better than anyone.
He knew how to gain it.
How to protect it.
How to destroy anyone who threatened it.
For years, people believed Adrian's greatest strength was his money.
They were wrong.
His greatest strength was his ability to see people's true intentions.
Except…
There was one person he failed to see clearly.
Victoria Laurent.
Victoria had not entered Adrian's life because she admired him.
She had entered because she wanted what belonged to him.
His empire.
His influence.
His name.
And most importantly…
His position at the top.
The Laurent family had always been powerful.
But compared to the Blackwoods…
They were still second.
Victoria hated being second.
Since childhood, she had watched her father negotiate with powerful men.
She watched him lower his voice when speaking about the Blackwood family.
She watched him admire Adrian's father.
And she promised herself something.
One day…
The Blackwood name would belong to her.
"People like Adrian Blackwood always make the same mistake."
Victoria said while looking through documents in her office.
Her assistant, Daniel, looked up.
"What mistake?"
"They believe loyalty comes from love."
She smiled.
"But loyalty is purchased."
Daniel placed a file on the table.
"The financial reports are ready."
Victoria opened it.
Inside were details about Blackwood Industries.
Investments.
Partnerships.
Weak points.
She had studied Adrian for years.
Not as a man.
As a target.
"He thinks ending our partnership hurts me."
Victoria laughed.
"He doesn't understand."
Daniel looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Victoria closed the file.
"The partnership was never the goal."
A pause.
"The goal was access."
Through her business relationship with Adrian, Victoria had gained something valuable.
Trust.
She had attended private meetings.
Met his investors.
Learned his security systems.
Observed his habits.
And most importantly…
She learned his weakness.
Elena.
"That woman is the reason he is vulnerable."
Daniel said.
Victoria shook her head.
"No."
A cold smile appeared.
"That woman is the reason he can be destroyed."
After Victoria was removed from the Blackwood mansion, Adrian immediately began cutting ties.
Companies that had worked with Laurent Enterprises received notices.
Contracts were reviewed.
Partnerships were frozen.
The message was clear.
Nobody threatened Adrian Blackwood's family and survived financially.
But Victoria expected this.
She wanted him angry.
Angry people made mistakes.
Three days later…
A business meeting was held in downtown Chicago.
Adrian entered the conference room.
Every executive stood.
Everyone knew something had happened.
Everyone knew Victoria Laurent was no longer an ally.
Adrian sat down.
"We will move forward."
One executive hesitated.
"Mr. Blackwood."
Adrian looked at him.
"There are concerns."
"About what?"
"The Laurent family."
A pause.
"They have been spreading rumors."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"What rumors?"
The executive lowered his voice.
"That Mrs. Blackwood is hiding something."
The room became silent.
Adrian did not react immediately.
That frightened everyone.
Because Adrian's anger was usually obvious.
This was different.
This was controlled.
"What exactly are they saying?"
The executive opened a folder.
"That Elena Carter was not honest about her past."
Adrian's eyes hardened.
"Anything else?"
"That she married you for protection."
Silence.
Then Adrian spoke.
"Leave."
Everyone froze.
"Mr. Blackwood—"
"I said leave."
Within seconds, the room emptied.
That evening, Adrian returned home earlier than usual.
Elena immediately noticed.
"You look upset."
He looked at her.
Not angry.
Worried.
"They are coming after you."
Elena's expression changed.
"Victoria?"
He nodded.
"She started spreading rumors."
Elena looked down.
"About my past."
Adrian noticed.
The hesitation.
The fear.
And something inside him tightened.
"You know what she is talking about."
It wasn't an accusation.
It was a question.
Elena became quiet.
"Adrian..."
He walked closer.
"Whatever it is, tell me."
She looked at him.
"I was going to."
"When?"
"When I was ready."
A pause.
"And when were you going to decide I was ready?"
Her eyes filled slightly.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"Make me feel like I betrayed you."
The words stopped him.
Because she was right.
He wasn't angry.
He was afraid.
Afraid that there was a part of Elena he didn't know.
"I'm sorry."
The apology surprised her.
Adrian Blackwood rarely apologized.
"I am not angry because you have a past."
He took her hand.
"I am afraid because you carried it alone."
But before Elena could answer…
The mansion security alarm sounded.
Both of them turned.
Marcus's voice came through the speakers.
"Mr. Blackwood."
Adrian immediately became alert.
"What happened?"
"There was a security breach."
"Where?"
A pause.
"The private archive room."
Adrian's expression changed.
The archive room contained everything.
Family records.
Business documents.
Personal information.
Things nobody outside the Blackwood family should ever see.
"Who entered?"
Marcus hesitated.
"We don't know."
Adrian and Elena rushed to the archive room.
The door was open.
Inside, nothing seemed disturbed.
Too perfect.
Too clean.
Someone had not come to steal.
They had come to find something.
Elena looked around.
Then she froze.
"What?"
Adrian noticed.
She pointed.
"That."
A small empty space on the shelf.
A missing file.
Adrian stepped closer.
"What was there?"
Elena's face became pale.
"My adoption records."
Adrian turned toward her.
"Your what?"
Elena swallowed.
"I never told you."
A painful silence.
"Because I don't know who my real parents are."
Before Adrian could respond, Marcus entered.
"Mr. Blackwood."
He held a tablet.
"We recovered security footage."
Adrian looked at the screen.
A figure appeared.
Entering the archive.
Taking the file.
The person was wearing a mask.
But the voice recording was clear.
A woman's voice.
Victoria Laurent.
Elena closed her eyes.
"She knows."
Adrian looked at her.
"Knows what?"
Her hands trembled.
"The truth about where I came from."
Meanwhile, Victoria watched the same footage from her office.
The stolen file was open in front of her.
Inside was the information she had been searching for.
She smiled.
Because now she finally understood.
Why Elena was so important.
Why Adrian loved her.
Why certain people wanted her hidden.
Victoria picked up the phone.
"I found it."
The person on the other end asked:
"Are you sure?"
Victoria looked at Elena's records.
"Yes."
A pause.
"Elena Carter is not just Adrian Blackwood's wife."
Her smile widened.
"She is the missing heir."
The room became silent.
Because Victoria had discovered something bigger than a secret.
She had discovered a weapon.
A weapon powerful enough to destroy Adrian.
"Now..."
Victoria whispered.
May you like
"Let's see if Adrian Blackwood still chooses love when he learns who his wife really is."
END OF CHAPTER 4
