My Alpha Husband Forgot I Was The Blackridge Reaper Chapter 03
He Takes My Inheritance
It is the second month of our marriage when Adrian finally reaches for my inheritance.
My inheritance includes eight commercial properties and full control of the Halston Trust.
My mother left all of it to me in her will. Adrian has no legal claim to any of it.
This morning, he slides a folder across my desk.
“You shouldn’t have to deal with tenants, contracts, and monthly reports. Let me manage everything. You’ll have more time for the pack.”
He makes it sound like a favor.
What he wants is control.
That afternoon, Mr. Carter, my private accountant, comes to see me.
Sweat beads across his forehead.
“Miss Halston, Mr. Hale instructed me to route all income from your properties through his office.”
I keep my eyes on the financial report in front of me.
“Do it.”
Mr. Carter hesitates.
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
He gives me one nervous look, lowers his head, and leaves.
The door has barely closed when Emma turns to me.
“Miss Halston, why would you agree to that?”
Her voice shakes.
“Adrian is bleeding you dry. Ivy is taking over your home. How much more are you going to let them take?”
“Emma.”
“Forgive me, Miss Halston, but no.”
Tears shine in her eyes.
“Luna Evelyn told you to live a good life. She did not tell you to become anyone’s doormat.”
I stand and take her hands.
“She asked me to put down my gun and give people a chance.”
“You already gave them one.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
I do not answer.
Three days later, Knox places a file on my desk.
“Adrian diverted forty percent of this month’s revenue into Hale Bank.”
I open the file.
Most of the diverted money has landed in accounts controlled by the Hale family.
One wire went somewhere else.
The recipient is a man named Caleb Ward.
“Who is he?”
“I’m still looking into him,” Knox says. “His records are clean. Almost too clean.”
I study the name again.
“Keep digging.”
“I will.”
That same afternoon, Richard Hale arrives without an appointment.
Adrian’s father is fifty-three and controls Hale Bank, but the moment he enters my study, he tips his head and bares his throat.
“Miss Halston.”
Fear sharpens his scent.
“Sit.”
He stays on his feet.
His hands twist together in front of him.
“I’ve heard Adrian may have overstepped since the wedding. My son can be careless. If he or Ivy has offended you—”
“You were here when I shot my half brother.”
Richard stops breathing.
“You also remember what happened to my father’s mistress two years later.”
The color drains from his face.
“Of course I remember.”
“Then stop pretending you came to apologize.”
I close the file on my desk.
“You know what Adrian and Ivy are doing. You can’t control your son, so you came to find out whether the Blackridge Reaper is really gone.”
Richard’s knees hit the carpet.
“Miss Halston, that isn’t why I’m here.”
“You’re afraid.”
He does not deny it.
I rise and walk around the desk.
He keeps his head down.
“Good. Hold on to that fear.”
His breathing turns shallow.
“Go home and tell Adrian to stop siphoning my money. Tell Ivy she is a guest under my roof, not its Luna. Tell them both that I am running out of patience.”
“I’ll speak to him immediately.”
Richard scrambles to his feet and nearly trips on his way out.
Emma steps from behind the half-open door after he leaves.
“Will he warn Adrian?”
“Yes.”
“Will Adrian listen?”
“No.”
She stares at me.
“Then why warn him?”
I reopen Knox’s file.
“Because when I tear the Hale family apart, Richard does not get to say I never warned him.”
Emma shivers.