Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Prisoner

Chapter 57: Prisoner

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A few days had passed and Noelle slowly began to recover. Her body, though weak, was no longer in constant pain, and the dizziness that once clouded her mind had started to fade. The color was returning to her face. Her movements were steadier and though exhaustion still crept up on her quickly, she was no longer the fragile woman who had nearly bled out in Valerian’s arms.

Valerian had expected the worst when she finally learned about the miscarriage, but surprisingly, she took the news with calmness. There were no tears, no anger, no overwhelming grief just a numb sort of understanding. She wasn’t sure if it was because she had already braced herself for it or if, in some way, a part of her had seen this as inevitable.

At the very least, she didn’t have to make a difficult choice anymore.

Because the truth was, even if she had hated where that child had come from, it had still been hers. The thought unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

Would she have regretted it if she had gone through with the abortion? Would she have spent years wondering about the life she had chosen to erase? She would never know.

A deep sigh left her lips as she stared at the ceiling of her room.

Perhaps this was for the best.

Perhaps it was fate making the decision for her.

Meanwhile, Valerian sat back in his chair with one leg crossed over the other, exuding an effortless air of dominance. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, but his expression remained cold, sharp, and utterly unbothered.

He slowly reached for the crystal glass of scotch resting on the desk as the ice clinked softly against the glass. The amber liquid barely moved as he lifted it to his lips, taking a slow sip.

“You wanted to speak to me,” he said in a warning tone. His silver–grey eyes flickered toward Calix. “So speak.”

Calix didn’t react to the underlying threat in his tone. Instead, he interlaced his fingers, leaning forward as his expression turned serious.

“Valerian Mikhail Vasiliev,” he began in a steady voice. “The Ghost of Moscow. The untouchable king of the underworld. A man feared not only for his ruthlessness in the mafia but for the empire he built beyond it.”

He met Valerian’s gaze, unwavering.

“The CEO of Vasiliev International Holdings. An empire spanning global finance, private banking, and corporate acquisitions. A man who moves money the way others move chess pieces. Who controls industries with a single signature. Who owns more than half the companies his enemies rely on without them even realizing it.”

Calix’s fingers tightened slightly, but he held his ground.

“The man who makes and breaks fortunes at will. A man who plays in the dark but hates the darkness,” he continued. “I’ve heard stories about you. Ever since you took the throne, you’ve done more than just rule.” He paused, tilting his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. “It’s almost ironic, really. The way you’ve cleaned the filth from the underworld–rescued women and children–knowing full well that the underworld was built on that filth. That it’s supposed to be that way.”

A flicker of curiosity crossed Valerian’s face, but he remained silent, letting Calix continue.

“Some say you’re nothing more than a ruthless criminal, a man who carves out his own definition of morality while standing in the shadows,” Calix mused. “But others…” He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping just a fraction. “Others call you a necessary evil.”

The words settled between them that created a tensed silence.

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Chapter 57: Alsofor

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Valerian said nothing at first, merely lifting his glass and taking other slow sip, as if utterly unbothered. But when he finally spoke, his voice was calm.

“A necessary evil…” he echoed, rolling the words over his tongue. Then, with a low, amused chuckle, he set his glass down with a soft clink. His silver–grey eyes flickered towards Calix dangerously.

“I see you’ve done your own investigation…” He exhaled.

“Levi McGrath.”

At the mention of his real name, Calix stilled.

It was only for a fraction of a second, barely even noticeable, but Valerian caught it.

His smirk didn’t falter, but his gaze turned colder and darker.

“…Noelle’s brother.”

As those words left his lips, the weight of his stare settled on Calix like a crushing force.

“What do you want?” Valerian asked flatly, his voice devoid of emotion, yet carrying the sharpness of a blade.

but Calix held his gaze. He didn’t rush to answer and let a brief silence settle between them.

Finally, answered. “I want you to acknowledge me as Blackwood Empire’s new leader,” he said.

Valerian didn’t react and simply waited knowing he has more to say.

“… And I want you to hand over Adrian Blackwood to me.” He added.

For a moment, Valerian simply stared at him. But all of a sudden, he burst out laughing.

The sudden shift in atmosphere was jarring. His deep, rich laughter echoed through the room, but there was no humor in it. It was the kind of laugh that sent a shiver down a man’s spine, the kind that didn’t quite reach his deadly eyes.

Finally, Valerian leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as the laughter faded into a smirk. His voice, when he spoke, was low and almost mocking.

“First of all,” he said smoothly, his tone dripping with indifference, “Mнe плевать на того, кто возглавит Blackwood Group. ” (I don’t give a damn who takes over Blackwood Group.)

His gaze flickered with disinterest as he continued.

“Take it, burn it, turn it into a charity for stray dogs–I don’t care.

He tilted his head slightly, his smirk never wavering.

“But Adrian Blackwood?” His voice dropped lower, the amusement in it vanishing. “He is my prisoner. If you want him, you’re going to have to do better than that.”

Calix sighed, leaning back in his chair and began to think of the right words. His fingers tapped against the armrest before he finally spoke.

“I have personal grievances.”

Valerian exhaled sharply clearly unimpressed by his answer. Because he too has his own reasons in keeping Adrian under his watchful eyes. “Do you?”

Calix’s jaw tightened as his sarcasm. “Yes.”

But Valerian’s smirk only deepened while his fingers drummed against the desk. “And why exactly should that matter to me?”

Chapter 58 Mercy

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Chapter 58: Mercy