New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 376 She’s Safe

Eligos lounged back in his plush leather chair, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he sipped a glass of red wine. The news broadcast in front of him was showing the story he had been waiting for all evening: a car explosion. The anchor was doing their best to sound serious, describing the incident, but all Eligos could hear was the satisfaction in his own thoughts.

"Finally, some action," he muttered to himself, swirling the wine in his glass.

He leaned forward as the news mentioned that the explosion involved the car of Adrian Saint Laurent. Eligos's grin widened. He could barely contain his excitement. Setting the glass down, he tapped his fingers impatiently against the armrest, then called over one of his men.

"Do we know how Claire is?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm, but with a glint in his eyes that suggested otherwise.

His henchman, looking more nervous than usual, nodded and quickly pulled out his phone. After a few rings, another man on the other end picked up. Eligos sat back, crossing his legs as he waited, eyebrows raised expectantly. His man's hand trembled slightly as he held the phone, waiting for an answer from the contact on the scene.

The phone call was brief. When it ended, Eligos tilted his head and raised a brow. "Well? What's the news?"

The man hesitated, swallowing hard before answering. "Uh... Claire's safe, boss. She's unharmed. But... the man she was with, Adrian, he's the one who got hurt."

For a second, the room fell silent. Then, in an instant, the glass of wine was airborne, shattering against the wall. Eligos stood up, fury etched across his face. "That's not what I wanted to hear!" he roared, glaring at the man.

The henchman took a step back, clearly terrified. "I-I'm sorry, boss, I-I'll call the men back right away."

Eligos narrowed his eyes. "Yes, you will. And when they get here, I'll be having a little chat with them."

The man nodded frantically and stumbled away, already dialing the phone to call the others. Eligos paced the room, his fury barely contained. Those men had failed him, and there would be consequences.

There always were. On the other end of the line, the two men who had been responsible for the botched explosion were already sweating, exchanging nervous glances as they heard the command to return. They knew Eligos too well to think they could escape punishment. Running wasn't an option-Eligos had eyes everywhere.

at the hospital, Claire was sitting by Adrian's bedside, her eyes never leaving him. The sterile smell of the hospital, the rhythmic beep

a VIP room since he was stable now, but Claire hadn't left his side once. She was

there, the TV in the corner of the room caught her attention. It was the same news report-about the explosion. She stood up instinctively, walking closer to the screen, her expression darkening. The journalist was going on about how the explosion appeared to be caused by a gas leak in

Claire scoffed, shaking her head.

putting up the yellow tape, and photographers snapping pictures of the wreck. The car, now unrecognizable, was being

to target her. This wasn't just some random accident. Someone had meant to hurt her, and

Adrian murmured, his

his side. "Adrian?

reaching out. Claire quickly took it, squeezing it gently. "I'm

the room

quickly. "He just

are you feeling?

one question at a time, please," he joked,

him, kissing his forehead. "We were so worried about

her attention on Adrian. "How are you feeling?" she asked quietly. Adrian coughed lightly, trying to clear his throat. "I feel like absolute shit," he muttered with a small smile, which only

she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is all my

It's not your

but Adrian's words, despite his weak state, were meant to reassure her. "I'll find whoever did this," she said, her eyes narrowing in determination. Adrian's smile didn't waver. He just looked at her with that

respond, Adrianna turned her attention back to her son, tears glistening in her eyes. "Adrian, are you alright? Do you need anything? Does it hurt? Oh, my poor boy." Adrian chuckled weakly, trying to lighten the mood. "Mum, I'm fine. Really. Well, sort of," he added with a

dabbed at her eyes with

and turned to

father-in-law, who nodded in

agreement with the doctor's