The call came the next morning.

Adrian was in the kitchen of his apartment making coffee when his phone lit up with a number he didn't recognize.

He answered it on the second ring.

"Mr.

Calder." A man's voice.

Professional.

Unhurried.

"My name is Daniel Frey.

I'm calling on behalf of Victoria Marsh."

Adrian set the coffee down.

"Go ahead."

"Ms.

Marsh has asked me to convey that she is prepared to handle the events of yesterday quietly and without further disruption — provided certain conditions are met."

"What conditions?"

"The recording made during yesterday's ceremony is to be deleted.

Any legal action regarding the documents Ms.

Harlow described is to be dropped.

And Ms.

Marsh is to receive the agreed settlement from the prenuptial agreement, as though the wedding had proceeded."

Adrian was quiet for a moment.

"She wants the settlement."

"She believes she is entitled to it, given the circumstances of the cancelled ceremony."

"The ceremony was cancelled because she forged legal documents and concealed the existence of my children from me for four years."

A brief pause.

"Ms.

Marsh has a different characterization of those events."

"I'm sure she does." Adrian picked up his coffee.

"Tell Ms.

Marsh that the recording has already been transferred to my legal team.

Tell her that I will be filing a complaint with the relevant authorities regarding the forged documents — I have the originals, and I have a handwriting expert already retained.

And tell her that the prenuptial agreement contains a specific clause regarding fraudulent conduct, which her own lawyer drafted and which she signed."

Silence on the line.

"She won't accept that," Frey said.

His professional tone had thinned slightly.

"She doesn't have to accept it.

It's already in motion."

"Mr.

Calder, Ms.

Marsh has significant connections in this city.

She has relationships with people who have influence over your business interests.

She wanted me to make sure you understood that."

Adrian set the cup down on the counter.

"Is that a threat?"

Frey didn't answer immediately.

"It's context," he said carefully.

"Write this down, Mr.

Frey.

Every conversation I have with anyone representing Victoria Marsh is being recorded from this point forward.

That includes this one.

If she moves against my business, my family, or anyone connected to me, the recording from yesterday goes to every news outlet in this city by end of business the same day.

Do you understand?"

A longer pause.

"I'll convey your response."

"You do that."

Adrian ended the call.

He stood at the counter for a moment, looking at the phone.

Then he picked it up again and dialed his lawyer.

"She sent someone," he said when the call connected.

"A man named Daniel Frey.

She's threatening business interference and asking for the prenuptial settlement."

"She won't get the settlement," his lawyer said.

"The fraud clause is airtight.

I drafted it myself."

"I know.

I need you to move faster on the document forgery filing.

She's going to try to get ahead of this."

"I can have it filed by tomorrow morning."

"Today," Adrian said.

"File it today."

He hung up and stood at the window.

The city was already moving below him — traffic, pedestrians, the ordinary machinery of a morning that had no idea what was being dismantled inside this apartment.

His phone buzzed again.

A message from Clara.

*She had a good night.

Noah made her laugh at breakfast.

Thought you'd want to know.*

He read it twice.

Then another message arrived — this one from a number he recognized.

His business partner, James.

*Heard something this morning.

Victoria's people reached out to Aldren Capital.

Told them you had a breakdown at the wedding.

Said you were unstable.

Thought you should know before it becomes a problem.*

Adrian stared at the message.

He typed back: *How far did it get?*

James: *Far enough that Aldren called me directly to ask.

I told them what I knew.

They're holding for now.

But she's moving fast.*

Adrian put the phone in his pocket and reached for his jacket.

She wasn't going to wait.

She was already burning things down.

He needed to get to Aldren Capital before she did.