Reborn Heiress Is Remarrying
Chapter 93: Assets

Chapter 93: Assets

Chapter 93: Assets That Needs To Be Protected

The city never truly slept.

Even as the sun dipped below the skyline, casting golden hues against the towering glass buildings, Diane knew that somewhere Adrian was waiting.

She sat in the backseat of her car, the traffic barely registering as she scrolled through the latest financial reports on her phone.

Riot casually flipped through his own messages, though she knew he was anything but relaxed.

They had moved fast—just as they had planned.

Within hours of discovering the attempted breach on Gabriel’s financial records, Diane had instructed Riot to contact their best legal and financial experts.

Offshore accounts had been secured.

Investments had been rerouted.

Any access Adrian might have had—if he was indeed trying—was now locked behind walls that only the most elite hackers could dream of breaching.

Still, the unease hadn’t left her.

"You’re staring at that screen like it’s going to explode," Riot murmured, not bothering to look up.

Diane exhaled slowly, locking her phone and setting it aside.

"Because I know Adrian. He doesn’t just walk away. He doesn’t give up. If he’s behind this, he’ll try again."

Riot closed his messages and leaned back against the seat, tilting his head to study her.

"You think he’s after Gabriel’s money?"

Diane nodded. "It makes the most sense. He lost everything when Evelyn died. If he’s desperate, if he’s trying to rebuild his power, Gabriel’s fortune would be the perfect target."

Riot’s lips quirked into a smirk. "And here I thought you were worried about Gabriel himself."

"Gabriel can handle himself. But his money? That’s where I step in."

The car pulled up in front of Hoffman’s Industries.

Diane straightened her blouse, preparing herself for yet another long night of work.

She had barely stepped into the building when she felt the weight of a hundred eyes on her.

The whispers followed her like ghosts.

"She’s the one, right?"

"Yeah. The one who was kidnapped. The one who... you know."

"Murdered Evelyn."

Diane smiled faintly, the kind of smile that wasn’t warm.

She had grown accustomed to the rumors. They clung to her like an unwanted perfume.

Walking through the lobby, ignoring the hushed voices, the curious stares.

Riot matched her pace. "I swear, they act like you skinned Evelyn alive yourself," he muttered under his breath.

Diane chuckled softly. "Let them think what they want. Fear keeps people from digging too deep."

Inside her office, everything was as she had left it—clean, efficient, devoid of any unnecessary distractions.

Riot dropped into the chair across from her desk, stretching his arms over his head. "So, what’s the plan, boss?"

Diane turned on her computer, scanning the latest updates from their security team.

"We wait. We watch. Adrian will slip up eventually, and when he does, we’ll be ready."

Riot arched an eyebrow. "You sound confident."

Diane’s lips curved into a smirk. "I have to be."

A sharp knock at the door interrupted them.

"Come in," Diane called, already anticipating who it would be.

Andrew Morales, head of corporate security, stepped inside, a folder tucked beneath his arm.

"We have something," Andrew said, setting the folder on her desk.

Diane opened it, scanning the contents.

Bank records, flagged transactions, an attempted rerouting of Gabriel’s personal funds—someone had tried to move a significant amount of money.

But what caught her attention most was the name attached to the attempted transaction.

Diane’s grip on the paper tightened. "So, it is him."

Andrew nodded. "It was a sloppy attempt. He used a shell corporation, but our team caught it before any real damage was done."

Riot let out a low whistle. "Damn. He really is that desperate."

Diane’s mind worked fast. "He’s testing us," she said slowly. "Seeing where the weak points are."

Andrew cleared his throat.

"There’s something else. We traced the IP address he used to access the system." He hesitated before sliding another paper across the desk.

Diane glanced at it, and her breath caught.

New York.

"You’re telling me Adrian is here?"

"In the city?" Riot added, his tone lost its usual amusement.

Andrew nodded. "Or someone working for him. But if he’s close, that means he’s moving fast."

Diane exhaled slowly. "That changes everything."

Riot sat up straighter, his muscles tensing. "You want me to track him down?"

Diane considered it. Riot was skilled—dangerous in the right ways. But Adrian wasn’t just another thug. He was ruthless.

"We don’t make a move yet," she decided. "We let him think he’s still in control. The moment he feels cornered, he’ll do something reckless."

Andrew gave a slow nod. "I’ll keep my team monitoring any suspicious activity."

Diane leaned back in her chair, already working three steps ahead. "Good. Let’s see what Adrian does next."

Andrew left the office, closing the door behind him.

Riot studied her for a moment before speaking. "You’re not scared, are you?"

Diane’s smile was sharp. "No. I’m curious."

Riot chuckled. "You’re terrifying when you get like this."

She shrugged. "Adrian wants a war. Let’s make sure he regrets starting it."

Riot lifted his coffee cup in a mock toast. "To crush old enemies."

Diane clinked her own cup against his. "To make sure they stay buried."

The office was silent after Riot left.

Adrian had made his first move.

It was sloppy, desperate—but that was what made him dangerous.

Desperate men didn’t think. They lashed out. And when Adrian lashed out, people got hurt.

She had to act before he did.

Diane grabbed her phone and dialed Gabriel’s number.

It rang once. Twice. Then—

"Diane," Gabriel’s smooth, low voice came through the receiver. "You calling for business or pleasure?"

She ignored the teasing. "Adrian’s alive."

A pause. A heavy, meaningful pause. Then—

"Where?"

Diane took a breath. "New York. He tried accessing your accounts. It was traced back to a local IP address."

Gabriel exhaled slowly. "So, the bastard survived."

"It looks like it."

Gabriel was silent for a moment, then, "Do you have a plan?"

Diane smirked, despite the situation. "Always."

"I assume you’re not planning to sit back and wait for him to strike again."

"You assume correctly."

A low chuckle. "That’s what I like about you."

Diane leaned forward, resting her elbow on the desk.

"We need to move your assets somewhere Adrian can’t touch them. Offshore isn’t enough—he’s already poking at the defenses. We need something untouchable."

Gabriel hummed in thought.

"I can have my team move everything into physical holdings. No digital access, no transfers."

"That’s a start."

"But what about Adrian?" Gabriel’s voice darkened. "You and I both know he’s not just after money."

Diane’s fingers tapped against the desk.

"He wants control. He lost Evelyn, lost his power. He thinks taking your fortune gives him leverage again."

Gabriel’s voice turned ice cold. "Then we take away his ability to move."

Diane smirked. "Now you’re speaking my language."

"Give me twenty-four hours," Gabriel said. "I’ll make sure Adrian’s locked out of every access point. But Diane—"

She knew that tone.

It was rare that Gabriel let true concern slip through his mask, but when he did, it was unmistakable.

"Be careful."

Diane’s chest tightened for a moment before she pushed the feeling aside. "I always am."

She ended the call and set her phone down, taking a slow breath.

Adrian was close. And if he thought he could outmaneuver her, he was about to learn exactly how wrong he was.

>___<

The next morning, Diane arrived at Walker Industries with a renewed sense of purpose.

Riot was already waiting for her by the elevators, two cups of coffee in hand.

"You look way too awake for someone who went to war with a psychopath last night," he said, handing her a cup.

Diane took it with a small smirk. "Sleep is for people who don’t have enemies."

Riot chuckled. "So what’s the plan, boss?"

Diane sipped her coffee, stepping into the elevator.

"Gabriel is locking down his finances today. Adrian will realise he’s blocked soon enough."

"And when he does?" Riot leaned against the elevator wall, eyeing her carefully.

Diane’s smirk widened. "He’ll panic."

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped onto the second floor.

But the second she walked in, she knew something was wrong.

Her desk had been disturbed.

The papers she had left in neat stacks were slightly off.

The chair was shifted at a different angle.

Someone had been in here.

Riot caught her expression immediately and tensed. "You lock this place up last night?"

"Of course." Diane moved toward her desk carefully, her pulse steady but sharp.

She checked the drawers. Nothing seemed missing—until she reached the bottom one. It was slightly ajar.

She pulled it open.

Her breath hitched. Diane felt like she was drowning in the cold dark ocean.

A single white envelope sat inside, unmarked, perfectly centered.

She picked it up, carefully tearing the seal. A single sheet of paper slid out.

A message.

-You can move the money. But you can’t move yourself. See you soon.-