Chapter 6

Stella Vance POV

My world had become an isolated island of despair.

Then Adrian Cole appeared, bringing a tiny spark of light to my ruined life.

Adrian was the most brilliant young lawyer in Atlantic City, and my childhood friend.

When the Vance family fell, he was in London handling a massive case. By the time he rushed back, everything was already over.

He managed to track me down in the Thorne estate, where I was kept as a maid.

Looking at me, a shell of the vibrant girl he once knew, Adrian's eyes filled with pain.

"Stella, I'm taking you away," he whispered, grabbing my hand in a quiet corner of the garden. "I have gathered evidence that Julian illegally rigged the bankruptcy to steal your family's assets. If we file a lawsuit..."

"It's no use, Adrian," I gasped, pulling my hand back as panic seized me. "You have to leave! If he finds you, he'll kill you!"

I knew Julian's methods too well. He was a psychopath.

"I'm not afraid!" Adrian's eyes were fierce. "Stella, you can't let him torture you like this. It will kill you!"

"Whether she dies or not is none of your business."

A chilling voice drifted from the shadows behind us.

My blood froze.

Julian stepped into the light, a lit cigarette between his fingers. Through the smoke, his handsome face looked terrifyingly twisted.

"Julian!" Adrian shielded me, glaring at him. "This is kidnapping! I will sue you until you have nothing left!"

Julian chuckled, a low, mocking sound.

He dropped his cigarette and crushed it under his leather shoe, stepping closer.

"Mr. Cole, you have a big mouth," Julian stopped in front of us, his gaze sliding over me like a snake. "Stella, is this your savior?"

He didn't throw a punch. He didn't even yell.

He simply pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker.

A panicked voice came through the line: "Mr. Thorne, it is done. Adrian Cole's license has been suspended, and the Fraud Unit has opened a case against him for fabricating evidence. His career in Atlantic City is over."

Adrian's face drained of color. "Julian, you bastard!"

Julian didn't even look at him. He kept his eyes on me.

"And that's not all," Julian continued smoothly. "The Cole family's latest real estate project just lost its funding. They will declare bankruptcy tomorrow morning. I wonder if Adrian's elderly father can survive that kind of heart attack?"

My body began to shake violently.

Julian didn't need to lay a finger on me to make my life hell.

He would destroy anyone who showed me kindness, leaving me completely isolated, forced to cling to him in despair.

"No..." I begged, grabbing Julian's sleeve. "Please, don't hurt Adrian. He's innocent!"

"Innocent?" Julian grabbed my chin, his eyes flashing with malice. "He touched what is mine. He has to pay."

He shoved me away and looked down at me coldly. "Want to save the Cole family? Want to keep his father alive? Fine. Tell him, right now, what kind of woman you really are."

My mind went blank.

I turned to look at Adrian, whose eyes were filled with shock and worry.

He was the only friend I had left in this world.

"Stella, don't listen to him. I don't care about the bankruptcy..." Adrian cried.

"Shut up!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face.

I forced the most venomous words out of my mouth, cutting myself deeper than anyone else.

"Adrian, who do you think you are? Do you really think I'd run away with you?" I laughed, though it sounded like a sob. "I'm Marcus Vance's daughter! I'm used to luxury. You're not even a lawyer anymore, and your family is broke. How are you going to support me?"

"Stella..." Adrian took a step back, devastated.

"I stay with Julian because he has money! He pays for my father's medical bills!" I closed my eyes, letting my heart tear to pieces. "Stop flattering yourself and get lost! I never want to see a loser like you again!"

Adrian's face was white.

He stared at the stranger standing before him. Finally, with a bitter laugh, he turned and stumbled away.

As his shadow disappeared, my strength left me, and I collapsed onto the grass.

Julian looked down at his masterpiece, satisfied.

He knelt and patted my head, like praising a good dog.

"Good girl, Stella. Remember, in your world, there is only room for me."