The Billionaire Came for the Famous Curator—But Couldn’t Take His Eyes Off Her Quiet Sister
Chapter 8
Adrian spent the next two days investigating his father’s past.
What he found terrified him.
His father, Edward Black, had been a silent investor in several European galleries.
One of those galleries had handled paintings connected to Victor Ashford.
But there was more.
Edward had secretly transferred millions of dollars into an account controlled by Richard Hart.
The transfers stopped the month Richard was accused of theft.
Adrian stared at the records.
“Why would my father pay him?”
Marcus shook his head.
“We don’t know.”
“Find out.”
Meanwhile, Lena discovered something inside the photograph.
A reflection in the glass behind Richard.
A hotel sign.
She enlarged it.
The hotel had been demolished.
But the address remained.
A former private club near Lake Michigan.
Adrian recognized it.
“My father used to meet people there.”
“Who?”
“Politicians. Collectors. Businessmen.”
“Could we access the records?”
“Maybe.”
They went that night.
The old building had been converted into luxury apartments.
A retired concierge still lived nearby.
When Adrian showed him Edward’s photograph, the man’s expression changed.
“I remember him.”
“Who was he meeting?”
The concierge hesitated.
“Your father came with another man.”
“Victor Ashford?”
“No.”
“Who?”
The old man looked at Lena.
“Your father.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Richard Hart.”
Adrian and Lena exchanged a glance.
“They met here?”
“Many times.”
“What did they discuss?”
The concierge shook his head.
“But I remember one thing.”
“What?”
“Mr. Black always looked angry when he left.”
That night, Adrian finally understood.
His father hadn’t been working with Ashford.
He had been investigating him.
Richard had been his partner.
The money transferred to Richard wasn’t payment.
It was protection.
Then why had Edward disappeared from the records?
Because someone had erased him.
Someone powerful enough to manipulate both families.
They returned to the secure apartment.
Lena sat silently on the couch.
Adrian sat beside her.
“You’re okay?”
“No.”
He didn’t pretend otherwise.
“I’ve spent twenty years thinking my sister abandoned the truth.”
“And now?”
“Now I think we both misunderstood what happened.”
Adrian reached for her hand.
This time, she held his.
“I came here for Isabelle,” he said.
“I know.”
“I was supposed to spend three months negotiating an acquisition.”
“Instead?”
He looked at her.
“Instead I found the person I can’t stop thinking about.”
Lena’s eyes filled with emotion.
“Adrian…”
“I know it’s complicated.”
“It is.”
“I don’t care.”
She looked away.
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not the kind of woman people expect you to choose.”
Adrian smiled softly.
“That’s exactly why I might.”
Their faces moved closer.
Then Lena’s phone rang.
She answered.
Nobody spoke.
A recording played.
Her father’s voice.
“If you found this, you’re close.”
Then another voice.
Edward Black.
“If they come for the girls, we burn everything.”
The recording ended.
Lena stared at Adrian.
“They knew.”
“Yes.”
“Then someone must know where the rest of the evidence is.”
Adrian stood.
“And they’re going to come looking for it.”
