CHAPTER 028 CHAPTER 028 ADRIAN'S POV Martha : " BTC wallet ? Why that ? Don't you have a company account or a personal account ? " Sam : " I do , but I feel it's safer this way . Transferring all those funds ... a small mistake , and it's all gone . " Martha : " Hmmm , alright then . If you feel that way , send the address . " I clenched my jaw as I read the messages over and over again . She had trusted him . She had believed in his words , just like a hundred other business partners she had worked with over the years . But this time , she had made the wrong choice . He sent her the BTC address , and she transferred the funds . Then , silence . The chat history told a story of betrayal . At first , my mother had been calm . Martha : " Okay , so when should we expect some profits ? " Days passed . No response . Martha : " Sam ? It's been a few days now . I just wanted an update . " Still nothing . Martha : " Sam , I've been trying to reach out to you , but you're not answering . I event went to your place , but your neighbors say you haven't been around for two weeks . Please get back to me as soon as possible ." A week passed . Martha : "Sam , I haven't heard from you in over a month . The investors are already on my neck . What the hell is going on ? " Then came the flood of texts . She had begged , threatened , demanded answers - but still , there was nothing . He had vanished . My blood boiled as I stared at the messages . This wasn't just a bad business deal . This wasn't just some unfortunate market turn . This was a fraud . Sam Grayson had manipulated my mother , convinced her to gather an impossible . amount of money , and then led her to send it in a way that couldn't be traced . She had been desperate , and he had used that desperation against her . I gripped the phone so tightly than fully unlocked Successfully My mother wasn't stupid . She must have realized the truth too late . Maybe that's why she had called him 81 times , why she had sent all those messages . She had been pleading for a way out , and he had ignored her . CHAPTER 028 I exhaled sharply , trying to steady myself , but my vision was blurring with rage . She had killed herself because of this . Because of him . I sucked in a deep breath and shut my eyes , willing my emotions to calm down . My mother must have felt so alone in her final moments . She hadn't come to me . She hadn't told me what was happening . Had she thought I wouldn't understand ? Or had she been afraid of burdening me ? Didn't she realize I would have fought for her ? A sharp pain tightened in my chest , but I shoved it down . Now wasn't the time to mourn . I needed to act . I wiped the tears from my face and stood up . The documents . She had mentioned reviewing them before making the transfer . That meant the papers had to be somewhere in this room . I moved to her wardrobe first , sifting through her neatly folded clothes , and searching . for a hidden folder or envelope . Nothing .. Next , I checked her nightstand drawers , pulling each one open , and running my fingers -over every surface . Still nothing . Then , finally , buried beneath a pile of dresses at the bottom of the closet , I found a thick yellow file . I sat on the bed and opened it carefully . My breath caught as I scanned the contents . There it was . A record of the transfer - 350 million dollars . Her name and signature were on it . So was his . Sam Grayson . I traced my fingers over the name , my anger boiling over once more . This bastard had signed off on everything . I flipped through the pages , reading every detail . He had promised a 200 % return on investment. He had guaranteed safety . He had been so convincing that my mother had put everything on the line . And now , she was dead because of it . I slammed the file shut , my pulse pounding in my ears . I needed to make sure no one else got their hands on these documents . If the police got involved , all they would do was open an investigation , drag the case through court , 2/4 CHAPTER 02A and maybe - maybe put him behind bars for a few That wasn't enough . years . I grabbed a black sack from the corner of the room and started stuffing it with every relevant piece of evidence I could find . Her phone . The documents . Any records that could expose him . This wasn't the police's problem anymore . This was mine . I made my way down to the basement , my footsteps heavy with determination . The place hadn't been used in years . Dust covered the furniture , and the air was thick with the scent of neglect . I found an old wooden cabinet and shoved the bag inside , locking it securely . No one would touch this evidence . No one would interfere . I straightened up and let out a slow breath , my mind racing ahead . This was only the beginning . I walked back to my room , feeling the weight of everything settle onto my shoulders . I stopped in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection . I should have been crying . I should have been mourning . But I wasn't . Because the rage burning inside me left no room for grief . " I promise ," I whispered , my voice like steel . " I'm going to avenge your death . " The words felt final , like an oath being sealed . This wasn't just about justice anymore . This was about revenge . With my mother gone , the position of CEO in her company was vacant . Someone had to take it . And according to her will , that someone was me . It wouldn't be easy . I was still in college . I still had a lot to learn about the business world . But none of that mattered . If I wanted to take Sam Grayson down , I needed power . I needed resources and I was going to get them - no matter what it took . Sam Grayson . I'm coming for you . CHAPTER 020 CHAPTER 029