Chapter 99: Adrian Comes Home

Adrian Stone returned publicly on Monday morning.

He did not hide.

Instead, photographs appeared across financial news sites showing him stepping from a private car outside an exclusive hotel. Reporters described his return as a possible attempt to acquire distressed Stone family assets.

Freya read the headline twice. "He wants everyone to know he's here."

"Yes," Louis said.

That meant Adrian either felt untouchable or wanted to control the narrative before Louis could.

By noon, Adrian's office contacted Northstar.

The message was addressed directly to Louis Stone.

Adrian requested dinner.

Derek immediately objected. "No."

Louis looked at him. "Strong analysis."

"He's connected to people who followed you into a warehouse."

"Allegedly."

"I hate when you become legally precise."

Freya agreed with Derek's concern but understood why Louis wanted the meeting. Adrian had spent years operating through other people. A direct conversation might reveal more than another month of documents.

"Public place," she said. "Security. No improvising."

Louis looked at her. "You're not coming."

"I wasn't asking to."

That surprised him.

Freya crossed her arms. "This is your uncle. If I'm there, he'll focus on me because of my father. You need to see how he talks to you when he thinks I'm not part of the conversation."

Derek nodded reluctantly. "She's right."

Louis agreed to dinner at a private dining room inside a heavily monitored hotel.

Before leaving, he found Freya working at the dining table.

"You worried?" he asked.

"A little."

"I'll be fine."

"That's what characters say before cliffhangers."

Louis gave her a look.

"Sorry. Occupational problem."

He bent and kissed her lightly.

"No cliffhanger."

Adrian was already seated when Louis arrived.

He was in his late fifties, elegantly dressed, with the relaxed confidence of someone who had spent a lifetime entering rooms as though they belonged to him.

"Louis," Adrian said warmly. "You look better than a bankrupt man should."

Louis sat opposite him. "You look wealthier than a failed investor should."

Adrian laughed.

"Charles would have enjoyed that."

"Don't use my grandfather to make this friendly."

The smile remained, but Adrian's eyes cooled.

"Very well. You found Victor."

Louis said nothing.

"And Eleanor finally opened Charles's old boxes," Adrian continued. "I wondered when she would."

That confirmed he knew far too much.

"Why did you come back?" Louis asked.

Adrian lifted his glass.

"Because you've started rebuilding faster than expected."

There was no point pretending anymore.

Adrian leaned forward slightly.

"And because your wife has changed the ending."

For the first time that evening, Louis's composure cracked.

Adrian smiled.

"Yes," he said. "I know about Freya."

Across the city, Freya checked the time for the third time and tried to return to her manuscript. She had no idea what Adrian was saying. Then her phone lit up with a message from Louis: "Dinner became interesting. I'm safe." Freya frowned at the wording. She didn't yet know that the most dangerous part of the conversation wasn't a threat against Louis—it was Adrian's apparent knowledge of the secret only two people were supposed to share.