Serena stood frozen, Adrian's words echoing in her mind.
"There are no rules."
Something inside her shifted. Fear should have gripped her, but instead, a dangerous resolve took its place. If there were no rules, then she would stop playing by them.
She lifted her chin. "Then tell me who we're dealing with."
Adrian exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the glass of whiskey he held. "We don't have all the pieces yet, but someone's trying to send a message—through you."
Serena's stomach twisted. She had known stepping into Adrian's world wouldn't be easy, but this was more than she'd anticipated.
"Do you think Olivia is behind it?" she asked.
His eyes darkened. "Possibly. But she's never been this bold before."
Serena pressed forward. "Then who?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood, crossing the room until he was directly in front of her. His presence was overwhelming, intoxicating. He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Serena," he murmured, his voice dangerously soft. "You need to trust me."
She swallowed hard. "Trust works both ways, Adrian."
A smirk tugged at his lips, but there was no amusement in his gaze. "Then I'll make you a deal."
Her breath hitched. "What kind of deal?"
He traced a finger down her arm, his touch sending a shiver through her. "Let me handle this. Stay by my side. And in return, I'll make sure you know exactly who you're dealing with."
Serena held his gaze. "And if I don't agree?"
His grip on her wrist tightened—possessive, unyielding. "Then you won't like the consequences."
A thrill shot through her, but she refused to back down. "I don't scare easily, Blackwood."
His smirk deepened. "That's what I like about you."
—
A New Threat
The following morning, Serena found a package waiting for her on her vanity.
A sleek black box. No return address.
Her pulse quickened as she lifted the lid.
Inside was a blood-red diamond necklace, its facets catching the morning light. A chillingly beautiful piece.
And a note.
A gift for the Queen of a kingdom built on lies.
Serena's breath hitched.
She clutched the note, rereading the words, feeling the weight of their meaning settle over her.
This wasn't just a threat.
It was a declaration.
She rushed downstairs, finding Adrian in his study. Without hesitation, she threw the note onto his desk. "We have a problem."
He picked it up, his expression unreadable as he read the words. Then his gaze flicked to the necklace. He lifted it with two fingers, studying it under the light.
"You recognize it," Serena pressed, watching him closely.
Adrian's jaw tightened. "It's a Blackwood diamond. A rare one."
Her stomach twisted. "What does that mean?"
He exhaled. "It means someone is trying to send me a message through you."
Serena crossed her arms. "And what message is that?"
His gaze locked onto hers. "That they know exactly how to get to me."
—
The Invitation
That evening, a courier arrived with an invitation.
A high-profile gathering. Private estate. Exclusive attendees.
Adrian read the embossed card in silence before passing it to Serena.
She scanned the elegant script. "You're going, aren't you?"
His lips curled slightly. "I don't have a choice."
She squared her shoulders. "Then I'm going too."
Adrian's eyes darkened. "No."
Serena lifted her chin. "You said I needed to trust you. Well, trust works both ways, remember?"
Something flickered in his gaze. He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "If you come with me, you follow my lead. No questions. No arguments."
Her pulse quickened. "Fine."
His smirk was slow, dangerous. "Then let's introduce you to the real game."
—
The Gathering
The estate was breathtaking—gold chandeliers, marble floors, and guests draped in power and luxury.
Serena's crimson gown hugged her curves, the silk whispering against her skin as she walked beside Adrian. She could feel the weight of the stares, the silent assessments.
They were watching her. Measuring her.
A woman approached them, her smile sharp as a blade.
"Mr. Blackwood," she purred. "And the lovely Mrs. Blackwood."
Serena recognized her instantly—Isabelle Laurent, a woman as dangerous as she was beautiful.
"Isabelle," Adrian greeted, his voice smooth but distant.
Serena studied Isabelle carefully. There was something in her eyes, something cold and calculating.
"Your wife is quite the vision," Isabelle murmured. "I imagine she's been… enlightening."
Adrian's smirk was razor-sharp. "She is."
Serena held Isabelle's gaze. "You sound surprised."
Isabelle's lips curled. "Oh, not at all. Just curious how long you'll last in this world."
Serena smiled sweetly. "As long as I choose to."
A flicker of amusement crossed Isabelle's face. "Interesting." She leaned in slightly. "But you should know, dear, this world eats people like you alive."
Serena didn't flinch. "Then let's see who bites first."
Adrian's grip on her waist tightened slightly—a silent warning.
Isabelle chuckled, stepping back. "Oh, I do like you." Her gaze flicked to Adrian. "Be careful with this one, Blackwood. She might just be your undoing."
With that, she disappeared into the crowd.
Serena exhaled slowly.
Adrian's fingers brushed against the bare skin of her lower back. "You handled that well."
Serena turned to him. "Did you expect me not to?"
His smirk deepened. "No. I expected you to be perfect."
A shiver ran down her spine at the dark promise in his tone.
—
A Warning from the Past
Later that night, Serena's phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
Frowning, she hesitated before answering. "Hello?"
A deep voice rasped through the line. "Mrs. Blackwood, you should be careful where you tread."
Serena's blood ran cold. "Who is this?"
A low chuckle. "A friend. Or an enemy. Depends on how well you listen."
Her grip on the phone tightened. "If you have something to say, say it."
A pause. Then—
"Your husband isn't the only one keeping secrets. And some of them? Might just cost you everything."
Click.
The line went dead.
Serena's breath came in short, uneven bursts as she lowered the phone.
Her hands trembled, her mind racing with possibilities.
Who the hell had just called her?
And more importantly—
What did they know that she didn't?
—
The Man in the Shadows
That night, Serena stood in front of Adrian's office, her heart pounding.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door.
Adrian sat behind his desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His eyes lifted lazily to meet hers.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, Mrs. Blackwood?"
Serena stepped inside. "I got a call today."
Adrian's expression didn't change, but she noticed the way his grip tightened around the glass. "From?"
"A man who said I should be careful where I tread."
Adrian leaned back, his gaze steady. "And you think I don't already know?"
Serena's stomach twisted. "Who was it?"
His smirk was dark. "Someone who just made their first mistake."
—