Chapter 148

Victor Ashcroft pushed the door open with urgency, beads of sweat forming at his temples. "Mr. Valentine, the stock price has plummeted. Multiple partners are demanding contract terminations with Isabella Langley. The negative press is spiraling out of control."

Margaret Valentine rose immediately, not wanting to delay her son's business matters.

Only Adrian Valentine could handle this crisis.

"Adrian, I'll take my leave now. But you must resolve Isabella's situation quickly. Acting is her passion—you should support her dreams." She pressed a hand to her lower back as she shuffled out.

Victor suppressed an eye roll.

Had Isabella Langley bewitched Margaret?

The woman doted on her more than her own daughter.

Once the door clicked shut, Victor lowered his voice. "Sir, there's something odd. The news about you stabbing Madam has suddenly vanished."

He sighed inwardly. Despite everything, Madam still cared for the CEO.

Adrian stared out the window, his voice hoarse. "Victor, I wish it were my wife who betrayed me. But in the end, I was the one who broke my promise."

A heavy silence settled between them.

"Sir, it's too late for regrets. For a year, your public displays of affection for Isabella Langley made headlines. Given Madam's temperament, even the deepest love would have withered."

As someone who owed Evelyn Roland a debt, Victor couldn't bear to see them miss their chance.

"Even if you meet again, everything has changed."

Adrian's heart plunged into an icy abyss.

This charade—Evelyn performed for that man, while he played his part for the world.

At least this way, she'd suffer less harassment from the Valentines.

"Leave the stock price for now. Handle Isabella's mess. We can't afford to provoke Vincent Langley yet—not without the evidence."

Victor nodded. "Understood."

Adrian collapsed into his swivel chair, exhaustion etching his handsome features.

When he closed his eyes, the image of Evelyn tumbling down the stairs—chasing after that man—flashed relentlessly.

Who was worth such recklessness?

Only now did he realize how little he knew the woman he'd lived with for four years.

She carried secrets, masking her pain behind forced smiles.

Outside, the sunset bathed the city in amber. A sudden, crushing dread seized Adrian.

The person he'd fought so hard to protect—he was losing her.

What he thought was love had only brought her harm.

Isabella Langley's scandal dominated headlines for three days before gradually fading.

But within the industry, she'd become a laughingstock.

The Langley Group's stocks crashed. Partners withdrew. Vincent Langley was hospitalized with rage.

At his bedside, he glared at his haggard wife, torn between concern and fury. "Have you uncovered who's behind this?"