Chapter Four:

I want my lawyer. That was the first thing I said when they sat me down in the interrogation room. The table was metal. The walls were plain. No windows. Just a camera in the corner watching every breath I took, I refused to look small.

“You’ll have legal representation,” the detective said calmly. But we need basic clarification first. I didn’t authorize those transfers. He slid printed documents across the table.

My name. My signature. My biometric confirmation.

It looked perfect.

Too perfect, these were processed from a private device registered to you,” he continued.

“That device never left my house.”

“Your house?” he repeated lightly. “Or Mr. Voss’s house?” The emphasis was deliberate. I met his eyes. They are in the same place. “For now.” I understood the message. They expected the marriage to collapse. My father filed a complaint?” I asked, yes, not surprised. “Personally,” he added.

Of course he did.

I folded my hands together so they wouldn’t see the tension in my fingers. You’ve worked in corporate law, the detective said. “You understand what this looks like.”

“Yes.”

“And yet you expect us to believe someone forged high-level biometric access.”

“I expect you to investigate,” I replied. He studied me carefully. You don’t seem panicked. I’m not guilty, he leaned back slightly. “Your sister claims you’ve been unstable lately.”

My pulse jumped, she’s not my sister, “She says she is.”

“Legally,” I corrected. “Not biologically.” He watched my reaction closely.

Jealousy flickered through me before I could stop it. Not because of Elena herself. Because she stood where I had stood. She had my place. My name. My inheritance.

And she looked calm doing it. The door opened, Adrian walked in with his lawyer. Everything shifted; he didn’t look at me first. He looked at the detective. We’re done with informal questions, he said evenly. “Anything further goes through counsel.”

Control. Authority. Clean.

The detective nodded and gathered his files. As they left, the room felt smaller again.

Adrian finally looked at me. You’re holding up. I don’t cry on command.

A faint reaction crossed his face. Approval, they’re pushing the unstable angle, I added. I know, using her, “Yes.” Silence sat between us for a second. “You came fast,” I said quietly, “you’re my wife.” The word landed differently this time, not strategic, personal, “publicly,” I replied, his jaw tightened. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

Don’t make this about doubt. I looked away for a second. I didn’t want to admit it, but part of me had expected distance. A pause. A calculation about damage control.

Instead, he was here.

Firm, unmoved.

“You don’t look at me like I’m guilty,” I said softly, because you’re not, you’re very sure. “Yes.” “Why?” He stepped closer to the table.

“Because if you wanted to hurt me,” he said quietly, “you’d do it smarter than this.” The corner of my mouth almost lifted despite everything, “That’s arrogant.”

“It’s accurate.”

A strange warmth spread through my chest, before I could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and for the first time since entering the room, something sharp crossed his face.

“What?” I asked.

“Elena just gave another interview.” Of course, she did. What did she say this time? He hesitated slightly.

“Tell me.”

“She said you were always jealous of her.” I laughed softly. It sounded hollow. “I didn’t even know she existed.” She claims you did, which landed heavier.

“How?”

“She says your father tried to reconnect you two years ago. That you refused to share power.” My breath slowed two years ago. That was when I started digging into Vale Industries’ offshore accounts.

That was when my father became colder, “she’s rewriting history,” I said.

“Yes.”

“Do you believe her?” He didn’t answer immediately, and that small pause cut deeper than the interrogation had, I believe this is coordinated,” he said carefully.

Not the same thing, before I could react, his lawyer spoke. “They’re releasing her in an hour.” “What?” I asked. You’re not being charged yet, the lawyer said. “It’s strategic pressure.”

Victor wanted public footage. Me walking in. Me walking out, humiliation without conviction, Adrian’s expression hardened.

“This won’t end here,” he said quietly.

“It’s not meant to,” I replied.

He looked at me then in a way that felt different. Not just analyzing. Searching. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked suddenly. “Tell you what?”

That you were investigating your father before this marriage, my heart stopped. “How do you know that?” He didn’t blink “because I had you investigated too.” The words hit like a slap, “You what?” I don’t enter battles blind, so you went through my life. “Yes.” Anger rose fast, and you didn’t think to mention that?

“It wasn’t relevant.” It’s very relevant to me, his eyes sharpened.

“You were digging into Vale accounts. Offshore shells. Hidden partnerships. You think I wouldn’t notice?”

My chest tightened, “I was protecting myself,” I said. “From him?” “Yes,” and you thought marrying me would help?

I held his gaze.

“Yes.”

The truth sat heavy between us, for a second, pride flared in his eyes. “You used me.” “Yes,” silence, and now? he asked, now I don’t know.

That was the most honest thing I had said all day. The door opened again.

“You’re free to go,” the detective said, free, the word felt ironic. Outside, cameras flashed again. Adrian didn’t let go of my hand this time; the contact was intentional, a statement.

As we stepped into the noise, reporters shouted questions, “Did you steal from your father?” Is this marriage a fraud? Is Elena Vale the real heiress?

I kept my head straight. Adrian spoke calmly to the press.

“This matter is under review. We have full confidence in my wife’s innocence.”

My wife.

The way he said it made something inside me shift, not strategy, not obligation. Possession, we got into the car, the door closed, and silence filled the space. “You shouldn’t have said that,” I murmured. “Why?”

“If I fall, you fall with me.” He looked at me steadily. I don’t fall easily, I believed that, but fear still crept in.

When we arrived back at the house, Lucas was waiting. There’s another problem, he said immediately. Adrian exhaled. “Of course there is.” Lucas handed him a tablet.

Adrian read it, then handed it to me, a security clip.

From inside Adrian’s private office, dated three weeks ago, the night the transfers happened. My stomach dropped on the screen. Me.

Walking into his office, alone, using his computer.

Entering data, I stared at it. “I don’t remember this.”

Adrian watched my face carefully. “You were there,” he said quietly.

“I’ve never been inside your office alone.”

The footage was clear.

No glitches, no edits.

Lucas spoke slowly. “The timestamp matches the transfers.” My chest felt tight; that’s not possible. Adrian stepped closer, “Look at yourself." I did, same posture, same hair, same clothes I owned, but something felt wrong, “I wouldn’t wear that,” I whispered. Adrian frowned. “What?”

“That dress. I donated it months ago.” Lucas paused, “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked at the screen again, then back at me, “You’re saying that’s not you.” It looks like me. But it’s not me, silence stretched, then something clicked in his eyes.

“Elena,” he said softly, and my breath caught.

“She has your face,” he continued. “Your height. Your voice.”

Lucas stiffened. “You think she impersonated you?” “It fits,” Adrian replied.

“But biometric access.” Lucas began.

“If she had access to Vale internal tech,” Adrian interrupted, “she could clone authorization.” The room felt electric.

“She didn’t just replace me publicly,” I whispered. “She replaced me digitally.” Adrian looked at me differently now, not doubt, not suspicion. Recognition.

“This isn’t about inheritance,” he said quietly, “no,” I agreed. “It’s about identity.” Lucas’s phone buzzed again, he glanced at it and went still, “what now?” Adrian asked. Lucas swallowed.

“Elena just posted something.” He turned the screen toward us. It was a photo.

Taken from inside this house. From Adrian’s office, and in the caption, she wrote: Some sisters can’t stand losing, my blood ran cold.

“She’s been here,” I whispered. Adrian’s voice dropped into something darker. “No,” he said slowly, he zoomed into the image.

There, in the reflection of the glass behind her.

A figure, standing close, tall, familiar, Lucas leaned forward. “That’s not Elena alone.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“That’s my head of security.”