Gideon returned from the meeting alone and headed straight to Adeline's room, having been informed by a servant that she was there.
He pushed the doors open, his voice already filled with the energy of their upcoming plans. "I'm back. Are you ready? Let's—" He cut himself off abruptly. Adeline was sitting on the edge of the bed, her face pale and tracked with tears. She looked fragile, as if the world had collapsed around her in the short time he'd been gone.
"Adeline, what happened?" Gideon was at her side in an instant, his hand cupping her cheek to lift her gaze. "Did someone hurt you? Tell me. I will—"
"My dad... He's gone. Someone murdered him." The words finally broke through her lips, followed by a fresh wave of tears. "My stepmother called. Janessa said his face was damaged. He went out last night and never came back. Then this morning, they brought his body..." She choked on a sob, unable to finish the sentence as her breath hitched painfully.
