CHAPTER 2 – The Enemy of My Family

Evelyn stared at the young man standing where an old billionaire had been only seconds earlier.

The silicone mask lay at his feet like the skin of a dead snake.

"You..." she whispered. "Who are you?"

"My name isn't Alden Vale."

He removed his gloves, revealing steady hands without a trace of age.

"I'm Adrian Cross."

The name meant nothing—until he pulled a worn photograph from his jacket.

Two smiling parents stood in front of a waterfront construction site.

"My father built this project," Adrian said quietly. "Your father and your brother stole it."

He laid several documents across the table.

Forged inspection reports.

Bribed officials.

Hidden bank transfers.

"My father was blamed for structural fraud. He lost everything. Three months later... he took his own life."

The room fell silent except for the rain against the windows.

"My mother never recovered," Adrian continued. "She died believing the world thought her husband was a criminal."

Evelyn swallowed hard.

"So you married me... for revenge?"

"I married the Carter family."

He slid another document toward her.

"This is what your father signed yesterday."

Her eyes widened.

In exchange for ten million dollars, her father had secretly pledged the company, the family estate, and every remaining asset as collateral. If a single condition was violated, everything would belong to Adrian.

"They never even read it," Adrian said. "Money blinded them."

He expected fear.

Instead, Evelyn quietly walked to the vanity mirror.

She unclasped the diamond necklace Marcus had forced around her neck and placed it beside Adrian's discarded mask.

"You chose the wrong daughter to frighten."

For the first time, Adrian's expression changed.

"What do you mean?"

She opened a hidden compartment beneath the vanity drawer and removed a slim flash drive.

"For three years, I've been studying forensic accounting."

His eyes narrowed.

"My family thought I was wasting time taking online classes."

"They laughed at me."

"They never realized I was making copies of every suspicious ledger Marcus asked me to destroy."

She held up the flash drive.

"I know where the money went."

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Adrian let out a quiet breath.

"I misjudged you."

"No," Evelyn replied. "You judged my family correctly."

She paused before adding,

"But I'm not them."

By sunrise, they had reached an uneasy agreement.

Thirty days.

The marriage would remain real—at least on paper.

Adrian would continue pretending to be the elderly Alden Vale whenever her family visited.

Evelyn would secretly audit every financial record she could access.

When the evidence was complete, prosecutors would receive everything.

"No innocent employees get hurt," Evelyn insisted.

Adrian nodded.

"Agreed."

Just then, the mansion's front bell rang.

Her family had arrived.

Marcus burst into the dining room carrying a bottle of champagne.

"There are my favorite newlyweds!"

He laughed and slapped Adrian's shoulder, completely fooled by the old-man mask.

"You survived the wedding night, Evie."

He winked.

"See? We always know what's best for you."

Evelyn forced a smile while pouring coffee.

Across the table, Adrian's voice became the same raspy tone as Alden Vale.

"Before releasing the next payment," he croaked, "I require updated financial statements."

Marcus rolled his eyes.

"Business already? Don't bore Evelyn with numbers."

He laughed loudly.

"She barely finished community college."

Evelyn lowered her head, pretending to be embarrassed.

Inside, she memorized every careless word.

Because people always revealed the most when they believed you were too foolish to understand.

That afternoon, Marcus cornered her in the mansion's library.

"You'll keep your mouth shut," he warned. "In a month, Vale's money will disappear through three offshore companies. By then, no one will know where it went."

He smirked.

"You married a corpse with a checkbook."

Evelyn said nothing.

She simply touched the tiny recording device hidden beneath her sleeve.

Every word...