Chapter 130: The Warrant for Adrian

The first criminal warrant naming Adrian Stone did not concern Freya's parents' deaths. It concerned financial conspiracy, obstruction, unauthorized data access, and evidence connected to the behavioral manipulation network.

Freya had expected disappointment. Instead, she felt relief.

The case did not need to begin with the most emotionally important accusation. It needed charges investigators could prove.

Adrian was not at his hotel when authorities arrived.

His attorneys claimed they did not know his location.

Derek immediately checked private aviation, border records, known properties, and corporate security contacts. No confirmed departure appeared.

"He's still here," Louis said.

Freya agreed. Adrian had spent years building hidden infrastructure. He would not necessarily need an airport to disappear temporarily.

Thomas identified three properties Adrian had used through nominees. Authorities handled the information while Louis's team stayed out of direct pursuit.

That restraint was important. Louis was no longer the antagonist from Claire's novel, charging into every conflict personally.

By evening, news of the warrant became public. Financial media framed it as the dramatic collapse of a secret Stone family war.

Freya hated the simplification but understood why outsiders saw it that way.

Northstar's board requested an emergency meeting. Some directors worried Louis's family scandal would damage the company. Others believed the warrant vindicated his earlier claims about sabotage.

Louis refused to turn the meeting into a victory speech. He presented operational numbers, legal exposure, and security measures.

Northstar remained profitable.

Clients remained.

The company was no longer dependent on Stone family reputation.

That was the rebuilding Adrian had failed to anticipate.

Freya attended only the final part of the meeting because Louis had asked her to join him for dinner afterward. When he emerged, he looked tired but calm.

"Still CEO?" she asked.

"Unfortunately."

"My condolences."

They were halfway home when Derek called.

Authorities had located one of Adrian's nominee properties.

The house was empty.

But inside they found recently used computers, printed Northwind reports, and a wall covered with photographs of Louis, Ethan, Serena, Freya, Thomas, Victor, and several others.

Freya's photographs were concentrated around the period after the bankruptcy.

Beside them were handwritten notes tracking deviations.

One note read: WIFE VARIABLE INVALID AFTER DAY 1.

Another: UNKNOWN CAUSE — DO NOT FORCE UNTIL EXPLAINED.

Freya stared at the photograph Derek sent.

Adrian had recognized almost immediately that she no longer fit the model.

And despite all his ruthlessness, he had apparently been cautious about directly manipulating her because he did not understand why.

Louis read another note aloud.

POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION FROM CROSS MATERIAL.

Adrian had suspected Claire's narrative somehow influenced Freya.

He had been searching for the same impossible explanation they were.

Which meant Adrian did not know how Freya transmigrated either.

Investigators warned Louis not to circulate images from Adrian's hidden house because doing so could compromise interviews. Freya agreed immediately. She had learned that knowing evidence existed was different from owning the right to publicize it. Their goal was no longer to expose Adrian dramatically; it was to make sure the case survived.

Investigators warned Louis not to circulate images from Adrian's hidden house because doing so could compromise interviews. Freya agreed immediately. She had learned that knowing evidence existed was different from owning the right to publicize it. Their goal was no longer to expose Adrian dramatically; it was to make sure the case survived.

Investigators warned Louis not to circulate images from Adrian's hidden house because doing so could compromise interviews. Freya agreed immediately. She had learned that knowing evidence existed was different from owning the right to publicize it. Their goal was no longer to expose Adrian dramatically; it was to make sure the case survived.