"What?" Elena's jaw was almost touching the ground at the revelation. Her eyes widened in shock.
She stared at Adrian, her lips slightly quivering.
"Your uncle?" She repeated, hoping she heard him wrong.
"Yes, my uncle! Now, tell me, what kind of a sick joke is this?" Adrian snapped, his voice laced with annoyance.
Despite the fact that Elena's mouth was opened, no words came out.
"Oh God! What can I even be saying now?" She wondered inwardly and her thoughts spiraled. Months of dating Adrian, and not once had he mentioned an uncle. She knew about his wealthy parents—owners of a big company, which Adrian later inherited in her previous life—but not this mysterious relative.
Even in her previous life, during their ten years of marriage, Adrian had never spoken about an uncle.
She was lost in her thoughts for a moment, but Adrian's sudden burst of laughter jolted her out.
"No, you are lying, right." Adrian accused, his laughter tinged with mockery.
"This is just another excuse to avoid accepting my proposal, isn't it? Well, that is really low and pathetic, even for you, Elena." He snapped.
Elena felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment and opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, the supposed uncle began walking toward her.
The man moved with an air of confidence. He stopped beside her, and without a word, he draped a hand casually around her waist, drawing her closer to his body.
"What are you—" Elena stiffened, her eyes darting to the stranger's face.
The man however smirked at Adrian, completely ignoring Elena's discomfort.
"If the lady says we are dating, then we are." The man declared, his voice smooth and deep, interrupting Elena.
Adrian's face contorted with fury and he narrowed his eyes on Elena.
"Elena, this isn't funny! You expect me to believe this? Him? Of all people?" Adrian shouted and the supposed uncle chuckled softly.
"You've got to be kidding me! There is no way my woman is cheating on me with you!" He added angrily.
The man smirked at that.
"Why not? Maybe it is because she realized I'm better than you." He asked, his voice calm but laced with amusement.
Adrian's fists clenched at his sides, his whole body shaking with anger.
"You motherf---! " He growled.
Elena's chest tightened. She could feel the tension between the two men like a storm ready to erupt.
However, the man didn't seem fazed.
"Well, maybe she found out that I'm better at giving her what she wants." He said, his tone casual but sharp.
"You, Victor, better than me? You, who is nothing but an obnoxious, terrible—" Adrian was spitting angrily but the man interrupted him.
"Careful, Adrian." You are embarrassing yourself." He pointed out with a chuckle and Adrian gritted his teeth in fumes.
Afterwards, he took a step closer, his voice rising.
"Everyone knows who you are, Victor! You are dangerous, an evil doer, a criminal... A plague! The whole family avoid you for a reason." Adrian shot at him.
"A criminal?" Elena's gasped at the announcement and looked up at the alluring stranger's face as if she could tell what he was by just looking at him, but his attention was fixed on Adrian.
Victor chuckled, his grip on her tightening slightly.
"Okay, fine. I won't deny being dangerous. But here is the thing—your woman is in my arms right now. And there is nothing you can do about it." Victor said, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Victor, there is a lot that I can do to you right here and now... Don't push me." Adrian threatened the seemingly unbothered man.
Elena swallowed hard, feeling trapped between the two men.
"What have I gotten myself into?" She thought, panic rising in her chest.
"There is nothing you can do other than to disgrace your family's fragile name. So, here is a piece of advice for you, Adrian. Stop embarrassing yourself and just leave. The lady has made her choice clear." Victor said coolly.
"You are the one who should leave, Victor. You don't have a place here!" Adrian snarled and Elena flinched in fear.
~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as the scene between Elena and the two men unfolded, at another part of the city: at the grand office building of 'The Grant Empire' precisely: Another interesting scene was unfolding:
Through the lobby, a strikingly beautiful and sophisticatedly dressed young woman marched forward, her sharp eyes blazing with fury.
"How dare him!" She gritted her teeth in anger.
The employees she passed froze, their greetings dying on their lips as they saw the look on her face.
"Who pissed off the Queen Bee?" One of the employees whispered to another.
"Are you seriously asking me that question? Who am I to know?" The other whispered back.
"Right! Well, someone is in for it today..." The first speaker whispered, shaking his head.
On the other hand, the woman's heels clicked sharply against the floor as she reached an office door. Without hesitation, she pushed it open and stormed inside.
"Oh, there you are, you condescending lowlife!" She mumbled and scoffed as she laid eyes on her target.
Williams, the man behind the desk looked up, his expression neutral but his eyes wary.
"Well, I have been expecting this..." He mumbled under his breath and clenched his fists, as he stood up to acknowledge the woman's presence.
The woman didn't wait for him to talk nor did she say a word to him. She walked closer to him and her hand flew through the air, slapping him hard across the face.
"How dare you?" She hissed, her voice trembling with anger.
The man straightened, his expression calm despite the sudden strike.
"Have you forgotten who I am? I am Isabelle Grant, the heiress of The Grant Empire. And you dare mess with me?" The woman declared in fumes.
"Do you need me to remind you that nobody messes with me and go unscathed?" She hissed.