Chapter 20 - Shadows on the Horizon|
Two months later.
The wedding of Adrien Belandi and Evelyn Hart was held on the estate lawn under a canopy of white orchids and silver ribbons.
It was a beautiful, grand celebration attended by hundreds of prominent figures, city officials, and loyal family members. The triplets served as the ring bearers and flower girl, beaming with pride as they watched Evelyn walk down the aisle in a stunning ivory lace dress.
By midnight, the guests had departed, leaving the estate peaceful under the clear, starlit sky.
Evelyn stood in the quiet library, wearing a soft silk robe, looking at a framed photograph of the triplets laughing on the beach.
Adrien walked into the room, holding two glasses of champagne. He handed one to her, smiling softly.
"To us," Adrien toasted softly.
"To us," Evelyn smiled, clinking her glass against his.
Suddenly, a sharp, heavy knock sounded at the library doors.
Marco, Adrien's most senior loyal lieutenant, stepped into the room. His face was unusually pale, devoid of its usual celebratory warmth. He held a thick, unmarked black envelope sealed with a red wax stamp depicting a coiled viper.
The mark of the Moretti Syndicate—the ruthless European cartel that controlled the international shipping lines across the Atlantic.
Adrien set his champagne glass down immediately, his expression instantly hardening. "What is it, Marco?"
"A courier just delivered this at the front gate, Boss," Marco reported softly, handing the envelope to Adrien. "He said it was sent directly from Rome."
Adrien broke the red wax seal, pulled out a sheet of heavy parchment, and read the short, hand-written message inside.
Evelyn stepped closer, her heart tightening as she saw the sudden, terrifying coldness return to her husband's eyes.
"Adrien?" Evelyn asked nervously. "What does it say?"
Adrien slowly handed the paper to her.
Written in dark red ink were three simple, ominous lines:
“Dear Adrien,
Congratulations on your new wife and your children's voices.
However, twelve million dollars was not all that Celeste took from our vaults two years ago.
She took our master ledger.
And now that your house is loud again, we are coming to collect.”
May you like
Evelyn stared at the letter, the breath catching in her throat as a cold wind howled outside the tall library windows.
Down the hallway, the distant sound of a single, heavy car door slamming shut echoed across the dark driveway...
