Adrian watched the press conference from his penthouse.
And for the first time…
He wasn't smiling.
"She's evolving," he muttered.
The mentor stood beside him. "You underestimated her."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"I never underestimate what I desire."
There it was.
Not revenge.
Not power.
Desire.
His obsession wasn't about destroying Ava.
It was about owning her.
Controlling her.
He picked up his phone and typed a message:
"If I can't break you publicly… I'll take something you love privately."
Across town, Ava's security system flickered.
For three seconds.
Then stabilized.
But three seconds was enough.