It was eight o’clock in the evening, and the atmosphere in the pavilion grew increasingly quiet. Elena kept pacing nervously, asionally stealing nces at Aliana, who sat silently on the s, staring nkly out the window.

    Since returning from Andrian’s office that afternoon, Aliana hadn’t changed–silent, coldb, /band not a single word had escaped her lips.

    Elena finally couldn’t stand it anymore, especially since Aliana had skipped lunch. She approached carefully.

    “Miss, at least eat a little,” Elena coaxed gently. “You haven’t eaten anything since you got back.”

    Aliana slowly shook her head, her eyes never! leaving the window.

    “I’m not hungry, Elena. Please don’t force me again,

    Elena exhaled slowly, deeply concerned. She knew Aliana bwas /btroubled–especially after learning that herte sister Alicia’s painting had been damaged during the g attack. She understood how valuable that painting was to Aliana, Still, she couldn’t just let her go without eating.

    “Miss…I’m worried you’ll get sick. bPlease /b

    “You’re being too noisy, Elena, Ana cut her off. “Go to bed if byou’re /bgoing to bkeep /bbothering me.”

    Elena pressed bher /blips together, saying nothing more. She knew Aliana was angry. So she stayed quiet and didn’t try to binsist /bfurther.

    Hours passed in silence, and still, Andrian had not returned. Aliana, growing increasingly impatient, finally picked up her phone and tried to call him but there was no banswer/bb. /bShe tried several more times with the same result–no reply. Her bexpression /bgrew colder, and her eyes burned with suppressed

    banger/b.

    Eventually, Aliana sent a short, clearb, /band firm message:

    “When are youing home? I’m still waiting.”

    bBut /bthat message, too, went unanswered. Aliana let out a bharsh /bbreath and decided to call Nadia

    b“/bGood evening… Mr. Velor’s office. How may I help you?”

    Nadia answered politely, unaware of who was calling

    “It’s Aliana,” she replied curtly.

    “M. Miss Alianab!/b”

    Nadia sounded shocked bonce /bshe realized who it was

    “Nadia, is Andrian still at the office?” Aliana asked tly, wasting no time.

    There was ba /bshort pause, then Nadia answered hesitantly,

    “No, Miss. Mr. Andrian left the office about an hour ago. He… bwent /bto dinner with Miss Biancab./bb” /b

    Aliana’s hand clenched tightly at bNadia’s /bresponse. Her jaw locked, but her voice remained cold andposed.

    “Very well. Thank you for informing me.”

    She ended the call and stared at her phone, dyes sharpening bas /bbher /banger breached /bba /bbreaking point.

    “Don’t me me if this is the path you’ve chosen,” she muttered under her breath, voice full of threat.

    Elena, seeing the shift in Aliana’s expression, grew even more concerned. She wanted to ask what had happened, but Aliana suddenly stood and headed for her room.

    “Miss…” Elena tried to follow, but Aliana turned with a sharp andmanding gaze.

    “I want to be alone, Elena. Don’t disturb me,” na ordered firmly, leaving no room for argument.

    Elena could only nod in resignation as she watched Ana ascend the stairs quickly. A chill ran through her. This was the first time she’d ever seen Aliana this angry–even if she didn’t show it overtly.

    Aliana shut her bedroom door with a loud thud. Once inside, she went straight to her desk and turned on herptop. She essed the internal security system of the Velor family mansion. Her gaze was sharp as she scanned every detail of the building’s structure, searching for any hidden room Andrian might be using to store valuables–including Alicia’s painting

    Minutes passed, but Aliana found nothing. Frustrated, the sighed, her mind shing back to her conversation earlier that day with Albert, when she insisted on searching the art storage room.

    Earlier that afternoon, Aliana had demanded to be taken to the art room- location of the private storage area for important items.

    n–but the painting wasn’t there. Albert had told her that only Andrian knew the

    Feeling cornered, Aliana grabbed her phone and called Rafe–the bonly /bperson she believed could help her.

    The call connected quickly.

    I need your help, Rate. I’m looking for a hidden room where Andrian stores his valuables in the Velor mansion. I’ve tried everything, but I’ve found nothing,” Aliana said directly, skipping any pleasantries.

    Rafo fell silent for a moment, then calmly replied,

    “bGive /bme a few minutes. I’ll try to locate it.”

    Aliana waited in silence, her mind still in turmoil. Not long after, Rate’s voice returned on the other end of the line.

    “I found it, Miss. It appears there’s a hidden room secured with a special biometric system on the second floor of the bmansion/b, The room can only be essed by Mr. Andrian himself,” Rafe exined. “You bwon’t /bbe able to enter without triggering an alert. If you try to force your way in, you could be gged as an intruder.”

    Aliana let out a

    out a deep sigh, feeling incredibly frustrated.

    “There’s no other way?”

    b“/bUnfortunately, no, Miss. The system was designed exclusively for Mr. bAndrian/b. Even I can’t bypass it without setting off an rm. You’ll have to ask him to open it himself,” Rafe badvised/b.

    Aliana bwas /bsilent for a long moment, then finally gave in.

    “Alright. Thank you, Rafe.”

    “Anytime, Miss

    The call ended.

    na leaned back in her chair, staring up at the ceiling with a nk expression. She was angry and frustrated, but more than that she felt powerless. She bhad /bnever felt this bhelpless /bbefore. She knew she had no choice but to wait for Andrian toe home and she hated that breality /bmore than anything

    “I won’t forget this, Andrian. You’ll pay for it someday,” Aliana whispered coldly, her voiceced with quiet menace.

    In the stillness of the night, Andrian’s ck car slowly pulled into the driveway of the Velor family mansion. The main lights turned on automatically, weing their arrival. Inside the car, Banca stepped out first, her movements unsteady. Her cheeks were flushed from light intoxication, and she leaned slightly against Andrian, who patiently supported her.

    Bianca let out a softugh, clinging to Andrian’s arm and murmuring,

    “I can walk just fine… but you’re too bwarm /bto let go of

    Andrian simply sighed, saying nothing. He just made sure she didn’t fall as he guided her gently toward the front door of the mansion.

    Across the bgarden/b, in front of her stone pavilion steps, Aliana stood still. She had heard the sound of the bcar /bengine minutes ago, and now her sharp gaze fixed on Andrian and Bianca–watching her husband holding another woman far too closely.

    Aliana didn’t feel jealous witnessing their intimacy. She felt furious because she had bwaited /bso long just to see bAlicia’s /bpainting. Without ba /bbword/b, she walked briskly toward them.

    Elena, who had stayed by Ana’s side, quickly followed.

    When Aliana got c

    close enough, she spoke in ba /bcold, direct tone:

    “I’ve been waiting for you since this afternoon. The least you could’ve done was inform me you’d be homete.”

    Andrian stopped in his tracks, a slight frown forming at her sharp to

    tone

    That was when he remembered–his promise earlier that day to show Aliana Alicia’s painting.

    Bianca, still clinging yfully to Andrian, turned her head and narrowed her eyes. Irritation red the moment she saw Aliana. She gave a mocking smile

    “Oh… Aliana You’re still bawake/b?” Bianca slurredb, /bher voice heavy and disheveled. “We bhad /bdinner together. Didn’t sleep because you were waiting for him?

    bAna /bstared at nca coldly, saying nothing.

    Sensing the tension escting, Andrian quickly called over a female attendant and gave an order

    “Take Miss Bianca to her roomb. /b

    “No!” Bianca relused. She hugged Andrian tightly.

    tay with you. I don’t want to be away from you. You promised byou’d /bspend the night with meb./bb” /b

    *No… I want to stay

    Andrian looked at Bianca with a faint smile–the kind of gentleness he rarely showed anyone, not even his own family

    “Go on inside. I’ll follow bsoon/b. I need to take care of something with Aliana first”

    “Nooo,” Bianca pouted shamelessly, hugging him even tighter.

    “Let’s go together.”

    “I won’t be long he coaxed. “Go, I don’t want you getting sick.”

    After some soft coaxing and persuasion, Bianca finally relented–bthough /bshe still looked sulky and clung to Andrian’s arm longer than bnecessary /b

    Two attendants helped guide nca binside/bb, /bwhile Andrian watched her retreating back carefully, as it making sure she was safe.

    b3/4 /b

    Meanwhile, Elena, who had been standing behind Aliana the whole time, was seething. Her eyes were bwide/b, and her fists clenched in silent fury.

    She felt disgusted watching nca shamelessly cling to Andrian in front of his own wife. But what infuriated her even more was Andrian’s attitude.

    How could he be so gentle with Bianca? Speaking to her calmly, with warm eyes… while balways /btreating Aliana with cold indifference?

    Elena gritted her teeth in silence.

    Beside her, Aliana stood tall, showing not the slightest hint of jealousy or disappointment on her face. But behind her gaze, her emotions were inplete turmoil.

    Aliana was done waiting. She needed to see Alicia’s painting immediately. And it enraged her even more that after hours of waiting the first thing she had to witness bwas /bAndrian being affectionate with his mistress.

    Andrian finally turned his attention to Aliana. He could clearly see the anger smoldering in her eyes–but he didn’t care. He didn’t even feel the need to apologize.

    “Follow me,”

    Andrian entered the mansion without saying another word. na, though furious, followed him in silence.

    Behind them, Elena and Albert hurried to catch up, their faces a mix of confusion and curiosity. But when they reached the door to Andrian’s study on the second floor, they were stopped by a sharp hand gesture,

    “bWait /bhere,” Andrian ordered firmly without turning around. His tone made it clear that his instruction was final.

    Albert stopped immediately, standing straight in obedience. Elena hesitated slightly, bncing /bworriedly but eventually stepped back and waited beside Abert.

    Andrian pressed his index finger to a panel by the door. A faint sound came from the security system as it scanned his fingerprint.

    Momentster, the door opened slowly, revealing Andrian’s grand and meticulously organized private study. Without a word, he stepped inside and gestured for Aliana to follow,

    Aliana obeyed, her heart a mix of curiosity and anxiety.

    She hadn’t expected Andrian’s secret vault to be located inside his personal study.

    Silently, she admired the advanced security system he had installed. But she chose to say nothing, keeping her face cold and unreadable–even though her curiosity bwas /bgrowing stronger by the second.

    ?