Chapter 220.

Adrian closed his eyes briefly. "Thank you."

She smiled. "You’re supposed to say it back."

"I love you more."

"Better."

He laughed softly.

Then Adrian stood.

Emilia looked up at him.

He held out his hand. "Come here."

She took it.

He pulled her gently to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. Emilia rested her cheek against his chest.

For a moment, she simply stood there.

His heartbeat was steady beneath her ear, as Adrian wrapped his arms around her tenderly.

The world outside could be complicated.

Her father could be alive. Her mother’s name could be buried inside financial records. Dante could be planning something.

Blackwood could still be unraveling.

But Adrian’s arms were around her.

And for a few seconds, that was enough.

Her phone vibrated after a few minutes.

Emilia ignored it. It vibrated again.

Adrian glanced toward the coffee table. "Your phone."

"I know."

It vibrated a third time.

Emilia sighed. "Probably Mum."

She stepped away from him and picked it up. There was a message from her mother.

Mum: Emilia, please look at this.

Underneath the message was a link.

Emilia frowned. "That’s strange."

"What?"

She shrugged, as she lifted her phone slightly. "Mum sent me a link."

She tapped it.

The page loaded. At first, Emilia didn’t understand what she was looking at. Then she saw the headline, and her entire face changed.

She stopped breathing.

Adrian noticed immediately. "What is it?"

Emilia didn’t answer.

She scrolled. The article was about Christian Sinclair..... and Kylie. Her eyes widened.

There were photographs of them. From a club with Kylie seated beside Christian. Another had Christian entering Kylie’s apartment building.

The article had been updated repeatedly over the past few hours, and the comments were full of vultures.

Emilia’s mouth fell slightly open. "Oh my God."

Adrian stepped closer.

She turned the phone toward him. "My mum sent me this."

Adrian took the phone. His eyes moved across the screen. His expression changed almost instantly.

He read the headline, and his eyebrows pulled together.

He scrolled.

Emilia bit her index finger. "They’re tearing her apart."

Emilia looked at the screen. One comment called Kylie a gold digger. Another called her a slut.

Someone had written that she was using Christian for money. Another accused her of deliberately sleeping with an engaged man.

Emilia’s stomach twisted. "That’s horrible."

Adrian handed the phone back. "We need to call Christian."

Emilia was already reaching for her contacts.

Adrian’s phone vibrated.

He looked down, and speak of the devil.... It was Christian.

Adrian answered immediately. "What’s happening?"

Christian’s voice came through the phone. "Have you seen it?"

"Yes."

"Emilia?"

"She saw it too."

There was a pause.

Christian exhaled.

"Where are you?"

"At my apartment."

Adrian glanced at Emilia. "Does Kylie know?"

"No."

Adrian frowned. "How?"

"I deactivated her social accounts."

Adrian blinked. "For how long?"

"Twenty-four hours."

Emilia stared at him.

Christian continued.

"She won’t see the articles unless someone physically shows her. Her notifications are off. I’ve blocked the major news sites from her devices too."

Adrian nodded slowly.

"I don’t want her waking up and seeing thousands of strangers calling her things she isn’t."

Christian’s voice softened. "I’d rather she be suspicious than devastated."

Adrian understood. "What’s your plan?"

"I have twenty-four hours to fix this."

Adrian was silent for a second. "Your mother?"

"She announced my engagement to Isabel. So she needs this to happen."

Adrian leaned against the edge of the table. "Christian."

"I know."

"No. Listen to me."

Christian went quiet.

"If this becomes bigger by morning, Kylie will find out."

"I know."

"Then you need to move fast."

"I am."

Emilia stepped closer. "Tell him I’ll go to Kylie."

Adrian looked at her. "Emilia—"

"I need to see her."

Christian heard her. "Don’t go to her."

Emilia frowned. "Why?" She glared at the phone.

"If you suddenly show up at her apartment this late, acting like something is wrong, she’ll know."

Emilia’s expression fell.

Christian continued. "She knows you too well."

Adrian nodded. "He’s right."

"I can pretend."

Christian gave a quiet laugh despite everything. "No, you can’t. You look terrible when you lie."

Adrian almost smiled.

Emilia glared at him. "Not helping."

Christian’s voice softened. "Just act normal."

"How?"

"Go to her like you normally would. Do it in the morning."

Emilia nodded slowly. "Okay."

"Stay with her."

"For how long?" Emilia asked softly.

"As long as you can without making her suspicious."

Adrian took over the conversation. "We’ll go over in the morning."

"Thank you."

"Where is she now?"

"At the penthouse."

"Alone?"

"No." Christian paused. "She’s alone physically. But she’s safe."

Adrian nodded.

Emilia looked at the phone. "Christian... Can you handle this?"

"I can. Whatever it takes." He let out a soft sigh. "I need you and Adrian to go over there the moment morning comes."

"We will."

"Keep her inside without making it obvious. Please."

Adrian nodded. "We’ll handle it."

Christian breathed out. "Thank you."

The call ended.

Emilia lowered her phone. For several seconds, she didn’t speak. Her fingers trembled from fear. "I want to go now."

Adrian shook his head. "Emilia."

"I can’t just sit here knowing she’s alone."

"She isn’t completely alone."

"She doesn’t know what’s happening."

"And if you show up tonight after your mother has just sent you a news article, what do you think she’ll assume?"

Emilia stopped.

Adrian continued gently. "She’ll know."

"She might not."

"She will."

Emilia looked away.

"She notices everything."

Emilia sighed. "I hate this."

Adrian moved closer. He took her hand. "Come here."

She moved into him.

His arms wrapped around her again. This time, she held him tightly. "There are too many things happening at once."

Adrian rested his chin lightly against her hair. "We’ll handle what we can."

"And what we can’t?"

Adrian was quiet for a moment. "Let’s take one step at a time, Emilia."

Emilia closed her eyes. "Tomorrow morning."

Adrian looked down at her. "We go to Kylie, and we act normal."

Emilia sniffed. "And Christian gets his twenty-four hours."

Adrian nodded.