Daddy’s billionaire step-brother
Chapter 53: Blue dress

Adrian sat in the dim light of his hotel room, the glass of whiskey cool against his bruised knuckles as he gingerly pressed ice to his swollen cheek. Richard's punch had been harder than he expected, but it wasn't the physical pain that

weighed on him-it was Richard's words. The "consequences" of what he had done.

He took another slow sip of whiskey, the burn sliding down his throat as he replayed the conversation in his head. What had Richard meant by that? Adrian had done exactly what he was told. He had disappeared, left Clara alone to build the life she deserved. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

But had it really been for her? Or was it for Richard's sake?

When he first left, he believed it was the right thing to do. He had convinced himself that Clara was better off without him-that she needed a clean slate, far from the mess they had created. After all, what kind of future could she have with him? A scandal would follow her everywhere, tarnishing her reputation, destroying her relationship with her father.

But as time passed, the separation had driven him to the edge of madness. Every day, Clara haunted his thoughts. Her laughter, her touch, the way she'd looked at him when they were alone it was unbearable. He missed her with an intensity that shocked him. What was worse, every time he thought he could forget her, he'd picture her trapped in the grip of the Caldwells, being pulled deeper into a life that wasn't her own.

The thought twisted his insides.

Adrian closed his eyes, the whiskey no longer dulling the ache. He wanted to get her out of that mess, to take her far away from the Caldwells, from her father's manipulations, and lock her away in his mansion where she could be his forever. But he knew he couldn't. Clara deserved more than that. She deserved a good life, a good reputation. She needed the love and support of her father, things she could never have if she stayed tied to him. He'd seen the way Richard's pride ruled over everything. If he stayed in Clara's life, it would tear her apart.

That's why he had agreed to leave. It was supposed to be better for her, wasn't it?

He set down his glass, running a hand through his hair, frustration and longing battling within him. He had been invited to the engagement party, a twist of fate that seemed designed to torture him. He hadn't wanted to go. But some part of him thought it might give him closure. Maybe if he saw her moving on, he could too. Maybe that day she left his house furious was her closure, but it wasn't his.

Yet, Richard's cryptic words still nagged at him. Consequences. Something about it didn't sit right. Adrian knew Richard too well. That man only cared about his own interests, and he would do anything to protect them. What had Richard been up to?

Setting down his glass with a sharp clink, Adrian picked up his phone and dialed a number. His private investigator answered on the first ring.

"I need you to look into something," Adrian said, his voice calm but firm. "I want to know everything the Millers have been doing for the past few weeks. Especially Clara." There was a brief silence on the other end before the investigator responded. "Got it. I'll get on it right away."

As he hung up, Adrian stared out the window at the darkened coastline. He had thought disappearing from Clara's life would be enough. But something told him it wasn't. Something had changed, and he was going to find out what. The main engagement party was set on a pristine private beach, surrounded by luxury that only the Caldwells could pull off. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the sea, and the sound of the waves mixed with the chatter of guests. Clara stood in the center of it all, draped in a breathtaking light blue gown that swirled around her ankles like the ocean tide. Her hair was swept up elegantly, a vision of poise and perfection. Photographers circled her like vultures, flashes constantly going off as they captured every angle of the future Mrs. Henry Caldwell. Guests some genuine, most feigning interest-hovered around her, offering compliments and small talk, all trying to get a piece of the woman who was about to marry into one of the wealthiest families in the world. Clara felt the weight of their eyes, of the spectacle she had become, and smiled through the exhaustion that crept into her bones. The wedding plans had already become a monstrous affair, the Caldwells demanding nothing short of a three-day celebration that would rival any royal event. Clara's head spun at the thought of enduring more endless parties, more fake smiles, more moments where she was expected to perform like a doll in a glass case.

As another photographer asked her to pose, an employee from the Caldwells' staff quietly approached her. "Miss Miller, Mr. Caldwell has a message for you," the man said, his voice low. "He requests that you meet him in his room past midnight."

Clara's heart sank. She kept her expression neutral, nodding subtly as the employee left. Inside, dread coiled tight in her chest. She knew what was expected of her tonight, what the arrangement meant, and it made her feel trapped all over again. But there was nothing she could do. She was locked into this life, into this contract, and her choices had been stripped away long ago.

Taking a deep breath, she turned her attention back to the cameras, plastering on a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She'd gotten good at pretending.

From a distance, Adrian watched her. His sharp eyes traced her every movement, noting the exhaustion behind the poised exterior. Clara looked as stunning as ever-no, even more beautiful than he remembered. There was something about her now, a glow, an aura of maturity, something that made her so attractive to him that he couldn't think right. Maybe he simply missed her, she was still the Clara he couldn't let go of.

He knew he shouldn't be here. He'd done everything in his power to stay away, to keep his distance and let her move on with her life. But seeing her now, standing there like a prize to be won, stirred something primal in him. His thoughts betrayed him he wanted to be the one at her side, the one who got to touch her, hold her, have her. The sight of her in that dress, glowing in the evening light, ignited a fierce desire in him to whisk her away from this place, from this life, and take her somewhere far away.

His mind wandered, imagining what it would be like to lift that dress, to have her to himself again, the way he had so many times before. But that was a fantasy, a distant memory. He had given her up, for her sake. And yet, looking at her now, his resolve crumbled a little more.

He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay hidden, to remain on the fringes of the party. But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself that this was for the best, he couldn't help but think about what Richard had said about the consequences. There was something more going on, something Clara wasn't telling him.

Adrian's phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts. Glancing around the party to make sure no one was watching him, he slipped away from the crowded beach to find a quieter spot. The sunset was casting long shadows on the far end of the resort, and he found a secluded corner behind a row of palm trees. He answered the call in a low voice, "Yeah?"

It was his private investigator. "I've been looking into the Millers like you asked," the man began. "Not much going on besides the engagement parties you already know about at the Caldwell estate. But there was one thing." Adrian tensed. "What is it?"

"A few weeks ago, Clara passed out at school. They took her to the hospital, but I couldn't get access to her medical records, so I'm not sure what the cause was. Could be nothing, could be something. But what's strange is that Richard Miller called a certain Dr. Thomas Panvel right after that. He scheduled a home visit for Clara."

Adrian felt a strange twist in his gut. "Doctor? What kind of doctor is he?"

The investigator paused for a moment, then answered, "Dr. Panvel is an obstetrician."