Chapter 206.

The youngest board member rubbed his forehead.

"We didn’t know Dante was stealing from you or your relations."

Adrian’s eyes moved toward him. "You didn’t ask."

The man looked up.

"You saw money coming into your accounts." Adrian’s voice was colder now. "You knew it wasn’t your salary."

The man said nothing.

"You knew it wasn’t a board allowance."

The man looked away.

"And you accepted it." Adrian leaned back. "That is what I know."

The oldest board member finally spoke. "You’re making a mistake."

Adrian looked at him. He raised a patient brow at him. "Which part?"

"You’re threatening five members of Blackwood’s board."

"No." He said calmly. Adrian’s expression remained still. "I’m informing five former beneficiaries of Dante’s fraud that their protection is ending."

The man stared at him. "Former?"

Adrian nodded. "You will resign."

The room erupted.

"What?"

"You can’t be serious."

"You have no authority to demand that."

"This is insane."

Adrian waited.

He let them speak, become angry, and reveal themselves.

Then he said quietly, "Finished?"

The room fell silent.

"You will submit your resignations."

The woman shook her head. "Never."

Adrian looked at her. "You will."

"And if I refuse?"

"I release the evidence."

Her face went pale. "To whom?"

Adrian’s answer was immediate. "The authorities."

Nobody breathed.

"And the university." He paused. "And the press."

The oldest man slammed his palm against the table. "You’d destroy this institution."

Adrian’s eyes turned cold. He stood. "You already did."

The man’s mouth closed.

Adrian looked at all five. "You just didn’t realize anyone was keeping the receipts."

The woman stared at him. "You’re doing this because of your family? We would return every cent."

Adrian’s expression changed. "My family has nothing to do with this."

"You lost your father because of Dante Gomez." The woman scoffed. "We know that much."

Adrian’s jaw tightened. "Careful."

The woman stopped.

Adrian walked toward her. Just enough to make her straighten.

"You don’t get to use my family to bargain with me."

She swallowed. "I was only saying—"

"I know what you were saying." He stopped. "And I know what you’re trying to do."

She looked away.

Adrian’s voice dropped. "It won’t work."

The oldest man leaned back. "Then what does work?"

Adrian looked at him. "Honesty."

A bitter laugh escaped the man’s mouth. "Honesty?"

"Yes."

"You expect us to believe you?"

Adrian’s expression was unreadable. "I expect you to understand me."

He returned to the table. "You have forty-eight hours."

The five stared at him. "For what?"

"Your resignations."

The younger man shook his head. "You’re giving us two days?"

"I’m giving you two days before I stop asking."

"And then?"

Adrian looked at him. "Then you find out what happens when I stop being patient."

Nobody spoke.

The woman folded her arms.

Adrian’s eyes settled on her.

She glared at him. "Even if it damages Blackwood?"

Adrian’s face remained cold. "Especially if it does."

The five board members exchanged glances.

Adrian watched them. Then he added, "But there’s something else."

They looked back at him.

"This conversation isn’t only about Dante anymore. Now you’re going to protect someone else."

The woman narrowed her eyes. "Who?"

Adrian looked directly at her. "Emilia Hayes."

The room went still.

One of the men exchanged a glance with another.

Adrian noticed. His voice became colder. "She has nothing to do with your crimes. She has nothing to do with Dante." He paused briefly, then added. "And she certainly has nothing to do with the decisions you made."

The youngest board member leaned forward. "Why are you bringing her into this?"

"I’m not." Adrian’s gaze sharpened. "You are."

The man’s face fell.

Adrian walked closer. "I know you’ve spoken about her. I know you’ve asked questions about her."

The woman swallowed.

"And I know some of you have been watching her."

Nobody answered.

Adrian’s expression hardened. "That ends today."

The oldest board member shook his head. "You’re misunderstanding—"

Adrian cut him off. "I understand perfectly." He placed both hands against the edge of the table. "Emilia is not leverage."

His eyes moved between them. "She is not a bargaining chip." He straightened. "She is not a weakness you can exploit because you can’t reach me directly."

His voice was almost frighteningly calm.

"And she is not going to pay for anything you did."

The woman stared at him. "You’re threatening us over a student?"

Adrian’s eyes hardened. "I’m warning you about the consequences of touching her life."

The room was silent.

Adrian continued. "You stay away from her."

He looked at each person individually. "No messages. No calls. No questions. No people following her."

Another.

"No attempts to approach her through faculty, students, or anyone else."

His voice dropped.

"And you do not use her name in a conversation where she has nothing to do with what you’re discussing."

The youngest board member swallowed.

"And if someone already has?"

Adrian’s gaze snapped toward him. "Then make sure they stop."

The man nodded quickly.

Adrian looked around the room.

"I don’t care whether you like her." He picked up his folder. "I don’t care whether you like me."

He slid the documents into his briefcase. "You’re going to leave Emilia alone."

The oldest board member stared at him.

He turned toward the door.

The woman suddenly spoke. "Professor Ashford."

Adrian stopped.

She looked at him. "You can’t keep pretending you’re above all of this."

He slowly turned.

"You came into Blackwood under false pretenses."

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

"You weren’t really here to teach." The woman leaned back. "I knew there was something off about you."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"So you really weren’t in here to be a professor."

Adrian stared at her.

She tilted her head.

For several seconds, Adrian said nothing.

Then he walked back toward the table.

The woman’s confidence disappeared slightly.

Adrian stopped in front of her.

"You were right."

Her eyes widened.

"I wasn’t here to be a professor." He leaned slightly closer. "You solved the puzzle. So beware."

He turned to walk away

The oldest board member called after him. "You think you can just walk away?"

Adrian stopped. He looked over his shoulder. "You still don’t understand."

The man’s face tightened. "Understand what?"

Adrian’s eyes were cold. "You’ve been negotiating with me as if I need something from you."

He turned fully. "I don’t."

Nobody spoke.

"I already have the evidence." He lifted the briefcase slightly. "I already know where the money went. I already know who received it."

"And I already know what each of you did to keep Dante’s operation alive."

The five board members stared at him.

Adrian’s voice dropped.

"The only reason you’re still sitting in this room instead of explaining yourselves to investigators is because I haven’t decided what happens next."

He opened the door. "Forty-eight hours." He walked out, and closed the door behind him.