THE MISUNDERSTANDING
925 Words
Lina woke up to knocking.
But it was 9AM. Mrs. Hawthorne.
"Miss? Mr. Blackwood wants you in the study."
Lina got up. Her lips still remembered last night.
The kiss. His hands on her face.
She walked downstairs.
Adrian was in the study.
But he wasn't alone.
A woman was with him.
Late 30s. Blonde. Red dress. Lawyer-looking.
She turned when Lina came in.
"So this is her," the woman said. Smiled. "I'm Clara.
Adrian's fiancée."
The world stopped.
Lina looked at Adrian. "Fiancée?"
Adrian's face was blank. "Clara, this is Lina.
She's... helping around the house."
Helping.
Lina felt like someone punched her.
"Right," she said. Her voice was small. "I'll... leave you to it."
She turned and walked out.
Didn't run. Didn't cry. Not yet.
Behind her she heard Clara laugh.
"We need to talk about the debt, Adrian. Alone."
---
Lina went to her room. Closed the door.
Sat on the bed.
Fiancée.
Last night he kissed her.
This morning he called her "help."
Her phone buzzed.
`Told you he was lying. -V`
Lina threw the phone across the room.
An hour later, there was a knock.
Adrian.
"Can I come in?"
"No."
"Lina, please."
She opened the door. Her eyes were dry.
She was done crying.
"Clara is not my fiancée," Adrian said immediately.
"She's the lawyer handling the company.
We were engaged 5 years ago. It ended."
"But you didn't correct her," Lina said.
"You let her call you that. In front of me."
Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "Because it's complicated.
Because Victor is watching. Because I didn't want to drag you in."
"So you lied again," Lina said. "By omission."
"I was trying to protect you," Adrian said. "Again."
Lina laughed. It didn't sound like her.
"You're really good at that. Protecting me from the truth."
"Lina—"
"Don't," she cut him off. "I need space."
Adrian looked hurt. "Fine."
He turned to leave. Then stopped.
"Last night meant something to me."
Lina didn't answer.
He closed the door.
---
That afternoon, Clara stayed for lunch.
She sat at the head of the table. Like she owned the place.
"So, Lina," Clara said, cutting her steak.
"How did you and Adrian meet?"
"Job interview," Lina said.
"Oh? And you're staying here?" Clara raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting."
Adrian didn't say anything.
After lunch, Clara pulled Lina aside in the hall.
"Look," she said quietly. "I don't know what this is.
But Adrian is not okay. He hasn't been since Elena."
She looked Lina up and down. "And you look a lot like her.
Don't let him use you to get over her."
Lina's chest tightened. "I'm not—"
"Just be careful," Clara said. Then she left.
---
That night, Lina packed a bag.
Just in case.
She wasn't leaving. Not yet.
But she needed to feel like she could.
At 11PM, Adrian knocked.
Lina ignored it.
He knocked again.
"Lina. The power's out. Whole manor."
Lina opened the door. It was dark.
Adrian held a candle.
"Generator's down," he said. "Storm."
Outside, rain was pounding the windows.
"Okay," Lina said.
They sat in the living room. One candle between them.
Thunder outside.
For a long time, neither spoke.
"I should have told you about Clara," Adrian said finally.
"I should have told you about the debt. About Victor."
He looked at her. "I keep trying to protect you by hiding things.
And it keeps hurting you."
Lina stared at the flame. "Why did you kiss me?"
Adrian was quiet. "Because I was scared you'd leave.
Because you were the only warm thing in this house in 3 years.
Because you don't look at me like I'm broken."
Lina's throat hurt. "I'm not Elena."
"I know," Adrian said quickly. "God, Lina, I know.
You yell at me. You argue. You make tea when I'm not looking.
Elena never did that."
Lina almost smiled. "She sounds nice."
"She was," Adrian said. "And I loved her.
But loving her doesn't mean I can't... care about you."
Lina looked up. "Care?"
Adrian nodded. "More than care. But I'm scared.
What if I mess this up too?"
Lina reached out. Took his hand.
"Then we mess it up together."
Adrian exhaled. Like he'd been holding his breath.
He squeezed her hand.
The lights flickered. Came back on.
They both jumped.
"Generator's back," Adrian said.
But he didn't let go of her hand.
---
At 2AM, Lina was back in her room.
She was about to sleep when her phone buzzed.
New email. Unknown sender.
Subject: `A gift`
Attachment: a photo.
It was Lina.
From yesterday.
Walking into the village shop.
Taken from a car.
And written under it:
`Pretty girl. Shame if something happened to her sister.
Pay me 500k and I forget her name.
-V`
Lina's blood went cold.
He knew about Maya.
She ran to Adrian's room. Pounded on the door.
Adrian opened it in 2 seconds. Shirtless. Panicked.
"What? What's wrong?"
Lina showed him the phone.
Adrian read it. His face went dark.
"He's threatening Maya now," he said. Voice low.
"That bastard."
He grabbed his jacket. "We're calling the police."
Lina grabbed his arm. "No. He'll hurt her."
"Then what, Lina? Pay him?"
"I don't know," Lina said. Tears finally fell.
"I just want her safe."
Adrian pulled her into his arms.
"I'll keep her safe. I promise."
He kissed her forehead. "We'll figure this out."
Outside, lightning flashed.
And at the gate, headlights turned on.
Then off.
Someone was still watching.
End of Chapter 11
- Writer
