The engine of the Aston Martin roared to life, a low, guttural growl that vibrated through the floorboards as the car surged forward into the relentless Manhattan storm. Adrien drove with an aggressive precision, the wipers fighting a losing battle against the sheets of rain.

He cast a quick, sideways glance at Brandy. "You look tense."

"How long has he been unresponsive?" Brandy asked, ignoring his observation, her eyes fixed on the red taillights blurring in the distance.

"A while. An hour, maybe more."

"Are you absolutely certain he's inside?"

"I could hear his phone ringing through the door. It just kept ringing until it went to voicemail. Over and over."

Brandy's jaw tightened, the muscles ticking in her cheek. She gripped the edge of her seatbelt. "Can you go faster, please?"

"What's going on?" Adrien asked, his own anxiety spiking in response to her visible dread. He pressed harder on the accelerator, the sports car weaving dangerously through the slick, rain-swept traffic.

Brandy swallowed hard. "He has severe lacerations. Open wounds. And he was out in this rain earlier today. If he's unresponsive, I'm terrified the wounds have become infected. He could be going into septic shock."

"Shit!" Adrien slammed his hand against the steering wheel. "I didn't even know he was injured! What the hell happened to him?"

Brandy shook her head, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" Adrien shot her a look of pure disbelief. His expression clearly said: *You two are involved, and you don't even know how he got hurt?*

Brandy bit her lip, unable to meet his accusing stare, and turned her face toward the rain-streaked window.

Before Adrien could press further, the car's Bluetooth system chimed loudly. The dashboard display flashed the name *Harper*.

Adrien tapped the screen. "Harper, what's up?"

"Adrien... is Barron with you?"

The voice that filled the cabin was thick with tears and panic. It was Harper Payne, Barron's younger sister.

"Hey, hey, calm down," Adrien said, his tone softening instantly. "Why are you crying? What did Barron do now?"

"It's not what he did to me, it's that I can't find him anywhere!" Harper sobbed, her voice echoing in the confined space of the car. "The whole house is a war zone. Grandfather and Dad are so furious they're practically shaking. Mom won't even leave her room to look for him. I had to sneak out to the garage just to call you. None of his security guys know where he is. If you haven't seen him, I'm going to have to call Brandy."

"Don't bother," Adrien said, shooting a heavy look at the passenger seat. "Brandy is sitting right next to me."

Brandy turned her head, her eyes wide with apprehension as she met Adrien's gaze.

"Harper," Adrien continued, his voice turning deadly serious. "You said your family is furious. And Barron's injuries... don't tell me your family did this to him."

Brandy's entire body went rigid. The air in the car suddenly felt too thin to breathe.

Harper's crying hitched. "Of course they did. Grandfather Charles and Dad lost their minds. They didn't hold back, Adrien. They used the family law. It was brutal. Grandfather was so enraged he had to take his heart medication right after. Even Mom wouldn't step in to stop it this time."

"What the hell did he do to bring that down on himself?" Adrien demanded, his knuckles turning white on the steering wheel.

"It's..." Harper hesitated, her voice dropping to a terrified whisper. "I can't say it out loud. If you want to know, ask Barron. But... it's all because of Brandy."

The words struck Brandy like a physical blow. Her hand, still gripping the seatbelt, began to shake uncontrollably.

Because of her.

The legendary, ruthless Payne family had unleashed their brutal, archaic discipline on their own heir, and she was the cause. The realization was a crushing weight on her chest. She knew the kind of absolute obedience families like the Paynes demanded. To cross them, to bring shame or complication to their empire, was an unforgivable sin. And Barron had taken the punishment for it.

She could feel Adrien's eyes on her again, heavy with a new understanding. She forced herself to sit up straighter, locking her trembling hands together in her lap.

"I got it, Harper," Adrien said quietly, reading the devastating impact of the words on Brandy's face. "I'll talk to him. Stop crying and go to bed. He's with us. We're heading to his place now. He'll be fine."

"You promise? You'll take care of him?"

"I promise. Go to sleep."

Adrien ended the call. The silence that followed was deafening, save for the rhythmic thumping of the wipers. Adrien glanced at Brandy several times, but she remained perfectly still, her face a pale, unreadable mask. Only the profound sorrow darkening her eyes betrayed the storm raging inside her.