Chapter 93

Julian Roscente scoffed. Adrian Valentine's mood swings were more unpredictable than the weather.

He hadn't even finished speaking before being kicked out, leaving him fuming.

Adrian's indifference cut deeper than he'd anticipated.

"Don't you want to know what secret that painting holds?" Julian pressed, unwilling to back down.

He'd scored the artwork from an antique market flip, making a hefty profit. But Vincent Langley's reaction unsettled him.

Adrian didn't look up. "Ask Isabella if you're so curious."

The retort left Julian speechless.

He studied Adrian through narrowed eyes. "She didn't tell you either?"

Adrian's slender fingers tapped the desk. "If Vincent's desperate enough to hunt it down, do you really think it's ordinary?"

Julian's pulse jumped.

"Stranger still—the transaction records were wiped clean." He lowered his voice. "The buyer covered their tracks."

A glint flashed in Adrian's eyes.

Vincent's obsession confirmed his suspicions.

Julian bolted up, grabbing his jacket.

Adrian hit the intercom. "Victor."

Victor Ashcroft entered promptly. "Sir."

"Investigate the connection between the Renaissance Masterpiece and the Durand family." Adrian's tone turned glacial. "Vincent's after it."

His sudden reclamation of Evelyn Roland couldn't be coincidental.

Adrian stared at his phone wallpaper, lost in thought.

Victor produced a dossier. "Breaking news—the painting's actually a map to Eastalia's diamond mines."

"Alexander Durand's geologist background just leaked too."

Adrian's gaze sharpened.

The timing was too convenient.

"The Durand massacre was likely about this." His voice darkened.

Victor nodded. "Alexander's body was never recovered."

The memory of Evelyn's tear-streaked face sent a pang through Adrian's chest.

"Dig deeper."

As Victor opened the door, he nearly collided with Margaret Valentine.