Chapter 100

Adrian leaned back in his chair, staring at the scribbled notes scattered across his dining table. He had been drilling himself all week, turning the lessons from countless YouTube videos into strategies, determined to put them into practice. No more boardroom tactics. This was about Amelia, about family, about proving he wasn’t the selfish and cheating man she thought he was.

His laptop pinged. A FaceTime request. He smiled the instant he saw the name flash across the screen. It was his daughter.

“Daddy!” she squealed the moment her little face appeared. She was practically bouncing in excitement.

Adrian’s heart softened in ways it rarely did for anyone else.

“Pumpkin, what has got you smiling so big?”

“My school project!” she said proudly, holding up a messy poster board with glitter and crooked letters. “We have to present it next week, and guess what? Parents can come and watch! Can you come, Daddy? Please? It’s on Thursday!”

Adrian’s chest ti