The Girl He Was Promised

Chapter 8 — The Man From Her Past

The black sedan carrying Alexander and Anastasia moved steadily through the afternoon traffic.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Anastasia watched the city through the window, while Alexander kept his attention on the road.

Eventually, he broke the silence.

"Tell me about Victor Hale."

Anastasia's fingers tightened around her phone.

"I already told you. He's someone from my past."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I'm ready to give."

Alexander glanced at her.

"You're very good at avoiding questions."

"I've had years of practice."

His lips curved slightly.

"I noticed."

Anastasia looked at him.

"You don't have to get involved."

"I already told you. I'm involved."

"Because of the engagement?"

"No."

His answer came immediately.

"Because it's you."

Anastasia fell silent.

Alexander continued driving.

He wasn't going to force her to reveal something she wasn't ready to discuss.

But he wasn't going to ignore the danger either.

After a moment, Anastasia finally spoke.

"I met Victor while I was studying abroad."

Alexander's expression became serious.

"Where?"

"Europe."

"What happened?"

"He was connected to people who weren't exactly respectable."

"Criminals?"

"Yes."

Alexander's grip tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No."

Anastasia looked down.

"But he tried to recruit me."

Alexander glanced at her.

"For what?"

"Something I was good at."

"Which was?"

She smiled faintly.

"You ask too many questions."

"And you give too few answers."

"Fair."

Alexander sighed.

"Fine. Tell me what I need to know."

Anastasia looked toward the window again.

"Victor isn't the kind of man who acts alone. He follows orders."

"From whom?"

"I don't know."

"You're certain?"

"Yes."

She paused.

"But whoever gives those orders has been searching for me for a long time."

Alexander's expression darkened.

"Why?"

Anastasia's eyes became distant.

"Because six years ago, I discovered something I wasn't supposed to discover."

Alexander turned his head slightly.

"What did you discover?"

"I can't tell you yet."

He studied her for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"All right."

Anastasia looked surprised.

"You're not going to argue?"

"I could."

"Then why aren't you?"

"Because I know you'll tell me when you're ready."

She smiled.

"Thank you."

Alexander looked back at the road.

"But when the danger reaches you, I won't wait for permission to protect you."

She laughed softly.

"You're really stubborn."

"So are you."

---

At four in the afternoon, Alexander received a call from his head of security.

"Young Master."

"Speak."

"We've confirmed Victor Hale's location."

Alexander's expression immediately hardened.

"Where?"

"He entered the city about forty minutes ago."

"Where is he now?"

"Our team is tracking his vehicle. He hasn't approached the Smith estate."

"Good."

Alexander paused.

"Don't confront him."

His security chief was surprised.

"Sir?"

"Watch him. I want to know who he's meeting and where he's going."

"Understood."

The call ended.

Anastasia looked at him.

"Victor?"

Alexander nodded.

"He arrived in the city."

She looked out the window.

"So it begins."

"What?"

"My past catching up with me."

Alexander didn't answer.

Instead, he turned the car toward the Smith estate.

---

At approximately five o'clock, a dark SUV entered the city from the northern highway.

Victor Hale sat in the back seat.

He had been traveling for hours.

His driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

"We're almost at the location."

Victor looked out the window.

"Good."

The city slowly passed outside.

He checked his phone.

A photograph of Anastasia appeared on the screen.

Six years had changed her appearance.

But he recognized her immediately.

"Anastasia Smith," he murmured.

His expression was unreadable.

The SUV continued toward a quiet commercial district on the outskirts of the city.

Victor wasn't going to the Smith estate.

Not yet.

He had no reason to reveal himself.

First, he needed information.

And there was one person he wanted to find.

Alexander Go.

---

At the same time, Anastasia arrived home.

Alexander stopped the car outside the Smith residence.

"I'll have my security team continue monitoring Victor."

Anastasia nodded.

"Thank you."

Alexander looked at her.

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes."

"You're lying."

She smiled.

"You've known me for two days. How can you already tell?"

"Your eyes."

Anastasia stared at him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then she opened the car door.

"Good night, Alexander."

"It's still early."

"Then have a good evening."

She stepped out.

Alexander watched her walk toward the mansion.

Before she reached the entrance, she turned around.

"Alexander."

He lowered the window.

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

His expression softened.

"You too."

She smiled.

Then she disappeared inside.

Alexander waited until the doors closed before driving away.

---

Inside her bedroom, Anastasia placed her phone on the desk.

She had barely taken off her jacket when the screen lit up.

One message.

UNKNOWN NUMBER

She opened it.

I KNOW YOU'RE BACK.

Anastasia stared at the screen.

Another message appeared.

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR NAME.

Her expression became cold.

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

A pause.

Then the final message:

BUT YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR PAST.

Anastasia slowly placed the phone down.

She didn't panic.

She didn't call anyone.

Instead, she walked to her desk and opened a hidden compartment.

Inside was the same old photograph from six years ago.

The younger Anastasia stood beneath the pavilion in the rain.

Beside her was a twenty-year-old Alexander.

She picked up the photograph.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Six years ago..."

Her expression turned serious.

"I thought it was over."

Outside her bedroom window, the city lights glittered peacefully.

But somewhere across the city, Victor Hale had finally reached his destination.

He stepped out of the SUV and looked toward the building in front of him.

His phone rang.

He answered.

"Yes?"

A man's voice came through the line.

"Did you find her?"

Victor looked toward the distant city skyline.

"Yes."

"And?"

Victor smiled.

"She's exactly where you said she'd be."

The voice became colder.

"Don't approach her yet."

Victor's smile disappeared.

"Understood."

The call ended.

Victor placed his phone in his pocket.

He had found Anastasia.

But he still didn't know one important thing.

The woman he was hunting was no longer the sixteen-year-old girl he remembered.

And neither were the people standing beside her.