The Billionaire Came for the Famous Curator—But Couldn’t Take His Eyes Off Her Quiet Sister
Chapter 6
Adrian moved Lena into a secure apartment that evening.
She hated the idea.
“I don’t need protection.”
“You do.”
“I’ve survived twenty years without you.”
“Exactly.”
She looked at him.
“You’ve known me for less than a week.”
“And I already know you’re terrible at recognizing danger when it involves protecting someone else.”
She almost smiled.
“That’s ironic.”
“What?”
“You came for my sister.”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Lena looked down.
“Why are you here?”
He took a breath.
“I don’t know.”
That was the most honest answer he could give.
He had arrived in Chicago intending to negotiate with Isabelle.
Instead, he found himself thinking about Lena every hour.
He admired her intelligence.
Her restraint.
Her refusal to use his wealth.
But most of all, he admired the fact that she had survived being overlooked without becoming bitter.
One night, while reviewing the old documents, Lena discovered something.
A serial number.
It appeared on one of her father’s missing paintings.
The same number appeared in an auction catalog from New York.
Sold eighteen years earlier.
To a private buyer.
Adrian traced the buyer.
The name was hidden behind a corporation.
He traced the corporation.
It led to a man named Victor Ashford.
Art collector.
Billionaire.
And one of Adrian’s oldest business rivals.
Lena stared at the screen.
“That’s him.”
“Are you sure?”
“He met my father.”
“When?”
“Three months before the accusation.”
“Why?”
“My father refused to sell him something.”
“What?”
Lena shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Adrian called Marcus.
“Find everything on Victor Ashford.”
Within hours, they discovered something alarming.
Ashford’s private collection contained at least seven pieces with questionable provenance.
Five had passed through Richard Hart’s network.
But the most important discovery was an encrypted archive.
It had been stored on a server belonging to the Whitmore Gallery.
Lena stared at the screen.
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because the server was installed after my father died.”
Adrian frowned.
“Then someone moved the files.”
They accessed the archive.
Inside were scanned invoices, private correspondence, photographs, and audio recordings.
Then they found a file labeled:
HART FAMILY — FINAL AGREEMENT
Lena’s hands trembled.
She clicked it.
Her father’s voice filled the room.
“If you’re hearing this, I’m probably gone.”
Lena covered her mouth.
Richard continued.
“I didn’t steal those paintings.”
A second voice answered.
Victor Ashford.
The recording was eighteen years old.
“You should have taken the money.”
Richard replied:
“I won’t sell stolen art.”
Ashford laughed.
“You misunderstand. Nobody has to know it’s stolen.”
The recording ended.
Lena was crying.
Adrian reached for her hand.
She didn’t pull away.
Then another file opened automatically.
It contained a photograph.
Richard.
Victor.
And Isabelle.
Together.
Lena stared.
Her face drained of color.
“She knew.”
Adrian looked at the photograph.
“Maybe.”
“No.”
Lena stood.
“She knew.”
She walked toward the door.
Adrian followed.
“Where are you going?”
“To confront my sister.”
“Lena—”
But she was already outside.
Neither of them saw the black SUV parked across the street.
And inside it, a man made a phone call.
“She’s moving.”
A voice answered:
“Then it’s time to bring her back.”
