Chapter 3 - Blood and Steel
The lock on the heavy oak door shattered with a splintering crash as Julian forced his way into the office, his expensive suit soaked and disheveled. In his right hand, he still gripped the heavy ratcheting cable cutter, its hardened steel blades stained with grease and frayed wire bits. Right behind him stepped Celeste, perfectly composed despite the chaotic scene, her eyes instantly sweeping the room until they landed on Adrian. The moment Julian caught sight of Adrian’s face, he froze in his tracks. The resemblance was uncanny—Adrian had the same intense, piercing dark eyes and sharp jawline as Thomas Ashford, the late patriarch whose portrait hung framed on the wall right behind them. "You," Julian breathed, his knuckles going pale on the heavy iron tool. "You’re Adrian Cole."
"Put the cutter down, Julian!" Daniel barked, advancing half a step with his baton raised. "Security teams are already on their way up, and the police have been called." Julian didn't even look at Daniel. His gaze was locked onto Adrian with pure, unadulterated hatred. "You were supposed to stay buried in Ohio," Julian hissed, his voice trembling with years of hidden insecurity. "You were supposed to be nothing!" Celeste stepped forward, her voice dropping into that chilling, aristocratic tone that had controlled the Ashford family for four decades. "Julian, stay focused. The folder on the desk—take it. We leave through the service stairwell before the authorities arrive."
"She’s bleeding, Julian!" Nora cried out from behind the desk, holding her stomach as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Your child is in danger, and all you care about is a folder?" Julian’s eyes flicked to Nora, a brief flash of guilt passing over his features before being consumed by cold resolve. "That child isn't mine, Nora. You made sure of that when you wouldn't drop the investigation." Adrian took a step forward, his broad shoulders blocking Julian's line of sight to Nora. "You tried to murder a pregnant woman," Adrian said quietly, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "I don't care who your father was or how much money you have. You're not leaving this room."
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Julian snapped. With a guttural roar, he raised the heavy iron cable cutter and lunged directly at Adrian’s head. Daniel reacted instantly, swinging his steel baton down onto Julian's forearm with a loud crack. The cutter clattered onto the hardwood floor, but Julian's momentum drove Daniel hard into the edge of a massive bookcase, sending heavy brass awards crashing down around them. Julian turned back toward Adrian, tackling him around the waist. Both men crashed violently onto the thick oak desk, scattering legal documents, family photos, and medical files everywhere. Despite his dislocated shoulder, Adrian slammed his elbow back into Julian’s ribs, pushing him off and pinning him against the wood.
Celeste saw her chance. She rushed toward the desk, her manicured hands snatching up the thick brown evidence envelope containing Thomas Ashford’s true last will and the genetic records. "Leave it!" Margaret shouted, lunging forward and grabbing the other end of the file. The paper tore violently down the middle, scattering decades of secret documents across the floor just as the heavy hallway doors burst open. "Police! Don't move! Hands where we can see them!" three armed officers screamed, sweeping into the room with weapons drawn. Julian thrashed under Adrian’s grip, but Adrian held him down until the officers forced Julian’s arms behind his back, clicking steel handcuffs around his wrists.
