David hesitated a few feet behind, watching her figure disappear down the street before he finally turned to Adrian, who was standing silently near the entrance.
"Sir," David said softly, breaking the uneasy silence. "Should I bring Ms. Grace back?"
Adrian's cold eyes shifted toward him, sharp as ice. "She's not Ms. Grace anymore," he corrected quietly. "She's Mrs. Frost now."
David swallowed hard. Adrian's tone wasn't raised, but the authority in his voice carried the finality of a verdict.
"She doesn't want to come back, sir," David said after a pause. "Should I—"
"No," Adrian cut him off. "Let her go." His gaze lingered on the path Isabella had taken, though his expression gave away nothing. "But send a few men behind her. Make sure she's safe. I don't want her followed, just protected."
"Yes, Mr. Frost."
Adrian's jaw tightened as he turned toward the car waiting nearby. "And David," he added before getting in, "never forget — she's Mrs. Frost. No one touches her."
David nodded firmly. "Understood, sir."
As Adrian left for his company, David quickly pulled out his phone and called a few trusted men. "Follow Mrs. Frost," he instructed in a low tone. "Don't let her notice you. She mustn't be harmed."
Isabella reached home after nearly an hour of walking. The afternoon sun was unforgiving, but she barely noticed it. Her mind was too tangled — humiliation, anger, confusion.She had married Adrian Frost, the man she had once admired and later rejected. And now, after that rushed marriage, she had no idea what to call herself — a wife, a victim, or just a pawn of fate.
Her hand trembled as she reached for the doorknob. But before she could push it open, a burst of laughter floated from inside the house. For a second she thought it might be friends celebrating something; she didn't think of betrayal. Until the laughter shaped itself into names she knew. She leaned closer to the slightly open door. And that one second of hesitation changed everything.
Inside, Aurelia's voice was sweet but sharp, like honey laced with poison."Dad, you were right. Uncle Lawrence had gave in. Isabella's scandal last night was enough to make him surrender everything he owns."
"Of Course?" Victor chuckled lazily. "That old man loves her too much. The moment the news spreads that his perfect daughter spent the night with some stranger, he had hand over every share just to protect her image."
Isabella froze. Her fingers slipped from the door handle as her body went cold.
Drugged… scandal… stranger… what were they saying?
Her eyes widened as Aurelia continued, laughing."Victor, you did well last night. I told you to make her drink that juice. The moment she fainted, she should have been taken to the room we prepared. But she ended up in the wrong room — I still can't believe that happened!"
Victor laughed, not the slightest trace of guilt in his tone. "Yeah, instead of the escorts we arranged, she landed in someone else's bed. At least the plan worked. Her image is still ruined, and her father had still bend to Uncle's will."
Roman's deep voice rumbled with satisfaction."Good. Lawrence had already transfered his company shares to me, we'll own everything — his business, his house, his reputation. The media had heard only my version — that his daughter's disgrace drove him to do it."
Aurelia clapped her hands in delight. "And Victor can finally stop pretending to like her. You've done enough for me already."
Victor's grin widened. "Pretending? Oh, that part was easy. She's such a dull, naive girl. She actually believed I loved her. If only she knew I was doing it all for you."
Isabella's world shattered with every word. Her body trembled violently, her chest tightening as tears burned behind her eyes.
Aurelia — the cousin she trusted with everything.Victor — the man she loved.Her uncle — her father's own brother.
All of them had betrayed her.
Her legs almost gave out beneath her. She wanted to scream, to burst inside and tear their lies apart, but something inside her held her back — the quiet, paralyzing shock of betrayal.
Then Roman spoke again, his tone low and sinister."The stress might even kill him. If not, the heart attack will. Either way, our plan is done. We already told the reporters that Isabella's shame pushed her father to this. By now, it'll be all over the news."
Isabella gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. Her father.
Her breath came out uneven. "Papa…" she whispered.
Before she could step inside, her phone buzzed. She quickly pulled it out — a text from an unknown number.
"News Alert: Lawrence Grace hospitalized after sudden heart attack. All property transferred to his elder brother, Roman Grace."
Her heart stopped.
Her hand went cold as the phone slipped from her grasp, falling on the ground with a sharp sound. The laughter inside the hall continued, oblivious to the storm just outside the door.
Meanwhile, on the 25th floor of Frost International Headquarters, Adrian Frost stood near his office window, staring at the skyline when David rushed in, breathless.
"Mr. Frost!" he said urgently. "You need to see this!"
Adrian turned sharply. "What happened?"
Without replying, David opened his tablet and played the breaking news.
"Business magnate Lawrence Grace, owner of Grace Enterprises, has been hospitalized following a heart attack. Reports confirm that Mr. Grace has transferred all his company shares to his elder brother, Roman Grace, shortly before the incident. Sources claim the decision was influenced by his daughter's misconduct…"
David muted the video, his face grim. For a long moment, Adrian didn't speak. His eyes were calm — too calm. He turned, voice low and hard. "David — you already have men following her. Instruct them to bring her to me if she runs into trouble. Send more to Hospital now. Secure Mr. Lawrence Grace. No one harms him.
David nodded and rushed out.
As the door closed, Adrian's gaze lingered on the reflection of the city outside the glass wall. His jaw tightened, his thoughts racing to the fragile girl who had just walked away from him hours ago.
"She's my wife now," he murmured under his breath, the words carrying a dangerous promise. "And I'll protect her — even if I have to destroy every single person who hurt her."