Chapter 88: Adrian Stone

Derek built Adrian Stone's profile from the ground up. Louis knew the family version: Adrian had been charming, reckless, and repeatedly rescued from failed ventures until Charles finally removed him from management. Public records told a more complicated story.

After leaving Stone Holdings, Adrian invested through private funds across Europe and Asia. Many ventures failed publicly, yet his personal wealth never seemed to decline significantly. Several successful investments were connected indirectly to Meridian Advisory and Greyline's predecessor companies.

'He wasn't failing,' Freya said. 'He was moving where people couldn't see him.'

Derek agreed. 'Or someone was financing him.'

Louis remained careful. Family resentment was not evidence. Adrian had motive to dislike Charles, but that didn't prove he engineered anything against Louis years later.

Then Noah sent Hale Corporation's latest finding.

One of the earliest anonymous reports used to manipulate Ethan contained an internal Stone Holdings projection created before Louis officially became CEO. Only Charles's office, the family investment office, and Adrian's old division had received the original document.

Ethan joined the call. 'Your uncle had access?'

'At the time, yes.'

'Then I'm guessing family dinner is going to be uncomfortable.'

Louis ignored the joke.

Freya was working nearby and heard enough to understand. After the call, she brought Louis coffee and sat across from him.

'How well did you know Adrian?'

'When I was young, fairly well. He brought expensive gifts and annoyed my grandfather.'

'Did you like him?'

Louis considered it. 'Children like adults who bring gifts.'

Freya smiled faintly. 'Fair.'

After Charles died, Adrian had attended the funeral, spoken briefly with Louis, and disappeared again. He had never challenged Louis for control of the company.

That absence now looked different.

Derek discovered Adrian had entered the country six weeks before Stone Holdings collapsed and left three days afterward.

Louis stared at the travel dates.

'Coincidence?' Freya asked.

'Maybe.'

'You really hate conclusions.'

'Premature ones.'

Freya understood why. Louis had already been manipulated once by information designed to provoke him. He would not repeat the mistake simply because the new suspect was emotionally satisfying.

They decided the next step was Victor. If he had evidence against Adrian, Louis needed to see it before approaching his uncle.

That evening, Louis received a text from an unknown number containing a location and time for the following night.

Victor's message ended with one sentence: 'Bring Freya. David's daughter deserves the truth.'

Louis showed her.

Freya read it twice. 'I'm coming.'

'I was going to say no.'

'Then save your breath.'

Louis looked at her for a long moment before nodding.

Whatever Victor intended to reveal, Freya was no longer willing to let other people decide which parts of her own past she was allowed to know.

Freya returned to her room after agreeing to the meeting and opened the synopsis she had once written about her situation. Bankrupt tycoon. Loyal wife. Rebuilding an empire. The description now felt almost childish compared with reality. Nothing in the original novel had mentioned Adrian, her father's investigation, or the possibility that Louis's downfall had been engineered across decades.

She added Adrian Stone to her private list of events the book had ignored, then hesitated. Louis had already seen enough of that notebook to know she was hiding something impossible. Instead of closing it quickly, she left it on the desk. She wasn't ready to confess yet, but for the first time she was also tired of behaving as though discovery would be the end of everything.