Chapter 134: Adrian in Custody

Adrian's detention dominated the news. Freya avoided most coverage. She had no interest in watching commentators turn years of manipulation, fraud, and family damage into entertainment.

Adrian was formally questioned and later charged on several financial and obstruction counts while investigators continued reviewing other allegations.

His attorneys denied wrongdoing and attacked the credibility of Victor, Thomas, Mercer, Peter, and Martin.

That strategy was predictable.

What made the prosecution stronger was the documentary evidence connecting independent witnesses.

Louis was asked to provide another statement concerning Stone Holdings' collapse. He spent most of the day with attorneys.

Freya remained home and worked.

Around noon, she received an unexpected visitor request through counsel.

Adrian wanted to speak with her.

Freya's immediate answer was no.

Then she wondered why he had asked for her rather than Louis.

Louis returned before she decided whether curiosity mattered.

"You don't owe him a conversation," he said.

"I know."

"And if you want one, I'll support that too."

Freya appreciated that he did not decide for her.

She ultimately agreed only if the conversation could occur through approved legal channels, recorded, with counsel present.

Adrian appeared on a secure video connection the following day.

Even in custody, he looked composed.

"Freya," he said. "Or whatever your name really is."

Her expression did not change.

That was the first time Adrian had directly acknowledged his suspicion.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"To know how you did it."

"Did what?"

"Became someone else overnight."

Freya almost smiled. Adrian had no answer. All his surveillance, models, and stolen research had failed to explain her.

"People surprise you," she said.

"Not that much."

"Then your models aren't as good as you thought."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

He admitted he had spent months trying to determine whether Claire, Nadia, or Mercer had deliberately interfered with Freya. He believed someone had used Northwind against him.

"Nobody did," Freya said.

That was true enough.

Adrian asked whether she had read Gentle Devotion before Stone Holdings collapsed.

Freya did not answer.

His eyes sharpened.

"So you did."

Her attorney interrupted, ending that line of questioning.

Freya stood to leave.

Adrian spoke once more. "You think you saved Louis."

She looked back.

"No," Freya said. "Louis saved himself. I just didn't leave."

For perhaps the first time, Adrian seemed to understand the flaw in his entire model.

He had treated support as a variable.

Freya had treated it as a choice.

After the call, Freya felt surprisingly calm. Adrian had spent months searching for the secret of her transformation because he could not tolerate an unexplained variable. She realized she did not owe him the answer even if she someday discovered it herself. Her identity was not evidence he had a right to possess.

After the call, Freya felt surprisingly calm. Adrian had spent months searching for the secret of her transformation because he could not tolerate an unexplained variable. She realized she did not owe him the answer even if she someday discovered it herself. Her identity was not evidence he had a right to possess.

After the call, Freya felt surprisingly calm. Adrian had spent months searching for the secret of her transformation because he could not tolerate an unexplained variable. She realized she did not owe him the answer even if she someday discovered it herself. Her identity was not evidence he had a right to possess.

After the call, Freya felt surprisingly calm. Adrian had spent months searching for the secret of her transformation because he could not tolerate an unexplained variable. She realized she did not owe him the answer even if she someday discovered it herself. Her identity was not evidence he had a right to possess.