Darling Villain (Forbidden Fruit #1)

Chapter 25

Sylvia

M y brother shows up for the rehearsal dinner wearing a custom–tailored Armani suit and a smile.

The grand dinner is held in a picturesque garden pavilion perched on the edge of a shimmering Lake Como. In the warm breeze, candlelights dance and twinkle, casting a soft glow over the scene. Elegant arrangements of ivory roses adorn the tables, their delicate petals seemingly frozen in time. Twinkling fairy lights add an enchanting touch to the already magical atmosphere.

My cousin Sienna wanted romance and I, as the maid of honor, delivered.

“Sister.” Adrien kisses me on the cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you, Adrien,” I say, my voice tight. He’s smiling and laughing with the rest of the family, and now I’m seriously concerned. The last time I saw this carefree smile was the day he left for college. When he returned for our mother’s funeral, his easy grin had vanished, replaced with a solemn, thoughtful expression.

Daniel wasn’t exaggerating about the severity of the situation.

“How have you been? Have you finally decided where you want to study for a master’s degree?” Adrien sits down beside me. “Will I need to bribe your university again?”

The jerk had donated a hefty sum to my alma mater last semester in exchange for updates on my life and increased security measures on campus. While I understand his concerns, a girl can only take so much surveillance.

“No, I’m still researching the options,” I say dryly. “If you’ll keep tarnishing my excellent reputation, brother, you’ll need to bribe me from spilling all your darkest secrets.”

“I’ll do my best.” A mischievous smile plays on his lips. It’s both terrifying and unsettling to see my normally stoic brother smiling so easily. My worries are mounting by the second.

Dinner begins, and Adrien acts like a perfect gentleman. He’s relaxed and lighthearted, just like he used to be before taking over the family business and the enormous debt our father left behind.

But things changed after that. He became distant and controlling, demanding perfection from everyone around him. It wasn’t until years later that I realized he had been building a facade all along, slowly becoming the man he never wanted to be.

“You seem especially cheerful tonight,” I comment, observing how our aunt dotes on her soon-to-be son-in-law. “What brought this on?”

“I’m in a good mood,” Adrien says, scanning the room with his eyes. “Business is thriving, and unfinished tasks are getting completed. Things are looking up.”

“That’s fantastic news.” I force a smile and look down at my plate. “Maybe now you’ll have time to date.”

“Date?” Adrien clears his throat and takes a sip of wine.

“Yes, date. You know, go out, have fun. It’s been months since you’ve left your office.”

“I don’t have the luxury of time for dating. Plus, it’s exhausting trying to find someone who isn’t solely interested in my wealth.”

“Well, tonight you don’t have to worry about that. Elisa is a knockout, and she’s an engineer. She’s perfect for you.”

Tiffany Carter may be his current object of obsession and revenge, but keeping an innocent woman hostage and completely under his control isn’t the same as having a genuine, romantic relationship. It’s not real. Adrien must know that.

“Perfect?” He raises an eyebrow, accompanied by a hint of disdain in his tone. “I hope you’re joking, dear sister.”

I take in the warm glow of the garden, filled with twinkling lights and the sound of cheerful conversations as waiters weave through the crowd with delicious appetizers. My eyes land on Elisa, her vibrant red hair making her stand out amongst the crowd.

I catch her gaze and motion for her to join us at our table. Elisa’s face lights up with a smile.

“I’m being serious. You deserve to find happiness in your life.”

“I will not find it with her.”

“Why not? She’s beautiful, smart, and she seems to be into you. What more could you want?”

Adrien grinds his teeth, but I ignore him and turn my attention to Elisa as she approaches our table.

“Elisa,” I introduce, “this is my brother Adrien. Adrien, this is Elisa, one of the bridesmaids.”

She extends her hand. Her eyes are twinkling with excitement. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

Elisa Aston comes from a prominent family in London; her father is a successful lawyer and her mother is a socialite. I can see the gears turning in Adrien’s head as he gazes at Elisa. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but it’s clear he isn’t pleased.

“Likewise,” he responds coolly, but politely.

Elisa is a nice girl, and I wish Adrien would give her a chance. She’s not looking for wealth or status; she’s genuinely interested in him. But even if things don’t work out between them, I won’t be disappointed. Elisa’s role tonight is to keep my brother entertained while I figure out how to help him out of the mess he’s gotten himself into.

“Great.” I beam at them, a fake smile plastered on my face. “I’ll leave you two to get acquainted. I need to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow’s ceremony.”

Adrien’s piercing gaze follows me as I walk away, heading towards the opposite side of the party. As soon as he’s out of sight, I release a sigh that I didn’t realize I was holding.

Daniel is waiting for me in the parking lot, and I need to hurry. Though Villa Mariana is only a short distance away, every minute counts.

Thanks to Elise’s diversion, I have roughly twenty minutes before Adrien notices my absence.

I have to make the most of this time.

Daniel Keller has been a part of our family for as long as I can remember. He was the son of my father’s longtime friend, and he used to visit us during summer holidays when we were kids. But now he’s grown into a bossy, demanding man with a silver tongue and a ruthless attitude towards business—the perfect right hand for my brother. Loyal and obedient.

So when Daniel called me two days ago to tell me about Adrien’s obsession with a girl he had kidnapped and his plans to ruin her and her family, I laughed out loud.

My brother is hardly a saint. I witnessed his less-than-stellar behavior more than once, but fraternizing with someone he had taken against their will is a new low.

Dean Carter may be a despicable human being, but his niece Tiffany is innocent in all of this. She doesn’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire of my brother’s revenge plot.

I knew I had to intervene; I couldn’t let Adrien ruin his and the girl’s life like this.

I spot Daniel leaning against his sleek black car in the dimly lit parking lot. His face is grim.

“Are you sure about this?” he asks as I slide into the passenger seat.

“Absolutely. We need to end this madness before it’s too late.”

Daniel nods and starts the engine. We drive in tense silence towards Villa Mariana. My mind races with possibilities of what we might find there. Will Tiffany be locked up? Drugged? Traumatized?

I shake my head, trying to dispel the disturbing images. This isn’t like Adrien. He may be ruthless in business, but he’s never been cruel or abusive. Still, kidnapping is a serious crime, no matter how well the victim is treated.

As we pull up to the villa, my stomach churns with anxiety. The grand house looms before us, tall and radiant in the light of the full moon, showcasing its elaborate gardens and marble fountains.

In hindsight, I should have been more wary when Adrien said he’d stay here instead of a hotel. But with all the wedding preparations on my mind, I didn’t question it.

Staying at the villa was not something we did often—in fact, it had been ten years since I last stepped a foot inside its walls. The sound of our laughter still echoes, and the warmth of our parents’ love lingers. But so does the heartbreaking memory of finding my mother’s lifeless body in the dewy grass.

And now, here I am, about to step into the very place that holds the remnants of a past I wish to forget.

“Remember, we need to be quick and quiet,” Daniel says as we exit the car. “The security team will make their rounds soon.”

I nod, following him towards a side entrance. He uses a key to let us in silently.

“Let me handle this. Just give me a few minutes alone with her.”

“Alright, but be careful. I’ll keep watch and let you know if anyone’s coming.”

“Don’t worry, Daniel. I’ll be fine.”

“For now,” he responds wryly. “But if Adrien finds out you were here, he’ll lose it. Don’t make me regret letting you come.”

“I won’t,” I promise as I slip past him and gather up the hem of my emerald green dress.

With a quick look around, I step inside. It’s deserted, just as I expected, but a faint light coming from the smallest living room catches my attention. I tiptoe towards the source of the light.

I stop in my tracks, my heart stuttering in my chest.

A young woman sits on a couch engrossed in a thick book, her pink lips pursed and messy blonde curls falling around her face, creating an aura of youthful innocence.

She’s stunningly beautiful, and I can’t help but stare at her in awe.

As if sensing my gaze, she looks up from her book and her eyes widen in surprise. But then, a warm glow spreads across her features and she stands up, smiling widely.

“Hello,” she greets me, tilting her head curiously. “I didn’t think there was anyone else here besides the guards and myself.”

“Hi,” I croak.

What was Adrien’s plan in bringing this girl to our villa? Did he intend to hold her captive like some fairytale princess?

“You must be Sylvia,” her voice is lilting and sweet.

And how does she know my name?

“I’m Sylvia, Adrien’s sister,” I confirm, trying to make sense of the creature before me.

The girl stares at me, her eyes big blue pools of curiosity. “You look just like your mother. Her portrait hangs in the dining room.”

I’m so confused that I don’t know how to respond. The girl doesn’t seem as distressed or unhappy as one would expect from a captive, but what do I know? She may be traumatized and hiding it well.

“Listen,” I brush off her comment. “I can’t stay here long. I came to tell you that Daniel and I will help you escape tomorrow during the wedding ceremony when Adrien will be distracted. You’ll be back home before you know it.”

“Escape?” The girl’s voice is thick with confusion and something else, something I cannot quite pinpoint.

“Yes. You will be free to leave.”

She stares at me in disbelief, her wide eyes searching mine for any hint of deception. “What if I don’t want to be rescued?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” I ask, taken aback. This is one of the strangest situations I have ever been in. “Tiffany, Adrien doesn’t truly care about you. He’s using you. Do you know how many women he’s hurt before? I love my brother, but I don’t want to see him ruin you.”

Tiffany’s eyes flash with a mix of emotions—confusion, hurt, and a hint of anger.

I continue to push her. “Don’t you want to go home? To see your sister again? To reclaim your life? You cannot stay here forever.”

At the mention of her sister, Tiffany’s expression shifts, losing its unsettling defiance. She studies me for a moment, then nods. “Okay,” she agrees, blinking rapidly. “I’ll go with you.”

I feel sorry for her, lost and uncertain in this situation. Before I can say anything else, Daniel appears in the living room.

“We need to leave, Sylvia.” He grabs my elbow and pulls me out of the room. “Our time is running out.”

“I have to go. Tomorrow, we’ll get you out of here. When the time is right, Daniel will come for you.”

The girl nods again, her face blank.

“Everything will be okay,” I tell her just before Daniel pushes me out the door and into the night. “Soon all of this will be over.”

Tomorrow, I’ll save my brother and the girl, putting an end to all of this madness.

All I need to do is get Tiffany Carter out of here and life will return to normal, erasing the past two weeks from existence.