Chapter 19 - the ransom demand
Miles away in his luxury penthouse, Adrian was reviewing financial ledgers with Sophie when his encrypted emergency terminal suddenly flashed a blinding, warning red. It was a secure, offline distress signal tied directly to Mrs. Ellis's estate.
Adrian completely froze. The tired, gentle corporate executive vanished in a fraction of a second. The chilling, calculating, apex predator of the Chicago underworld violently and entirely resurrected.
Before he could mobilize his elite security team, the massive television screen in his office flickered to life. Marcus Vance appeared on the screen, standing in a damp, concrete bunker. Bound to a steel chair behind him was Mrs. Ellis, looking exhausted.
"Hello, Adrian," Marcus sneered, his voice dripping with intense arrogance. "You destroyed my sister Victoria's life over a twelve-dollar soup. Now, I am taking your entire empire."
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Sophie stood beside Adrian, her blood turning to absolute ice, but she didn't panic. Her dark eyes locked onto the screen with lethal focus. "Sign over the deeds to your commercial properties by midnight," Marcus demanded coldly, "or the old woman dies."
👉 read part 20 to see adrian's reaction.
