The Empire That Burned Her

Chapter Three

Adrian didn't answer immediately and that hesitation terrified her more than the darkness surrounding them. Because Adrian Draven never hesitated, finale spoke quietly

"It was delivered to my private server three months ago". Raven's breathing slowed carefully "By who?"

"I don't know"

"That's a lie"

"it's the truth"

She laughed bitterly, though the sound carried no humour. "Since when does the great Adrian Draven, not know who breaks his system?"

A flicker of irritation crossed his face. "Whoever sent it bypassed security protocols I built myself". That made her stomach tighten only elite hackers could do that or someone who knew Draven's system intimately. Her mind immediately went to Marcus but no. Marcus would have contacted her directly unless. Her thoughts stopped abruptly. Sorren, a cold chill crawled down her spine.

No.

Sorren was dead.

She watched his coffin lowered into the ground herself. Didn't she?

Adrian stepped closer slowly, lowering his voice "What are you thinking?" Raven looked away immediately "Nothing"

"Don't lie to me" her head snapped toward him sharply "You don't get to demand honesty from me". The words echoed harshly through the dark office.

For a moment, neither of them spoke the tension between them felt unbearable now, heavy with secrets, accusations and memories neither want to touch. Then the screen flickered again, both of them turned instantly. Static distorted across the monitor before another image slowly appeared, Raven's breath caught painfully in her throat it was security footage.

Old footage.

Date stamped: October 14th fiver years ago.

The night of the explosion.

The footage showed the yacht deck crowded with guest dressed in expensive gowns and suits, laughter, champagne, music.

A normal night.

Until the camera angle shifted. Raven froze, because the footage captured her father arguing violently with someone whose face remained hidden beneath the cameras blind spot "You promised me she'd never be involved!" he father shouted, The unknown man answered something too distorted to hear. Then her father said words that made Raven's blood run cold

"If anything happens to my daughter I'll destroy every one of you". The footage suddenly cut out darkness swallowed the screen again, Raven couldn't breathe her father knew. He knew something terrible was coming which meant "The explosion was planned". she whispered, Adrian remained silent and silence was answer enough.

Raven staggered back slightly, gripping the edge of Adrian's desk for support as memories crashed violently through her mind, The fire, the screaming,hands dragging her underwater, someone shouting her name, the nothing. Her chest tightened painfully for five years, she had survived on hatred alone.

Hatred toward people she believed murdered her family. Hatred toward Adrian. Hatred toward herself for surviving, but now , everything felt uncertain.

Adrian watched her carefully his expression unreadable "Raven" The softness in his voice startled her more than the recording had. She looked at him slowly, and suddenly realised something horrifying. Adrian wasn't surprised by any of this.

Which meant he had known far more than he ever admitted, rage sparked instantly through her fear "You knew". She said quietly. His jaw tightened "How much?" she demanded "Raven..."

"How much did you know?" The office seemed to shake with the force of her voice. Outside thunder roared violently across the city.

Adrian looked away briefly before answering, and that alone terrified her, he never looked away from anyone. "There are things about your father" he said carefully "that you were never suppose to discover". Raven eyes Burned with fury "Then tell me" Before Adrian could respond his office door burst open suddenly, his personal assistant stepped inside "Sir... the board is still waiting".

Adrian's jaw tightened with visible irritation "I said delay them"

"I tried, sir, but they're refusing to leave". For a moment, Adrian looked like he wanted to throw the man out himself, but Raven had already stepped away from the screen, from the recording, from him "I should go" she said calmly

"No" The sharpness in his voice surprised both of them, Raven crossed her arms slowly "You have a boardroom crisis to handle".

"And you have people hunting you". A cold silence settled between them. Adrian took a step closer "Ra..." he stopped himself immediately, the almost-spoken name didn't escape her notice, neither did the way his expression hardened afterwards.

Interesting.

" You're confusing", Raven said quietly"You remember someone who died five years ago". She then walked out of the office. She didn't wait to hear whatever explanation Adrian Draven was holding behind those cold eyes. By the time the executive hallway became chaotic again, Raven was already inside the private elevator descending toward the underground parking garage.

Her expression remained calm. But inside?

Nothing felt calm anymore. Her father's voice still echoed inside her head.

"If you're hearing this... the. it means they found her"

The memory sent unease crawling beneath her skin. The elevator doors opened quietly her driver immediately stepped forward the moment he saw her. "Ms. Laurent ". Raven nodded once "Take me home". The black sedan pulled way from Draven Technology moments later, disappearing into the rain-covered streets while the glowing tower slowly vanished behind them.

From the outside,the building looked untouchable. Powerful. Beautiful. But Raven now knew something dangerous was buried inside it.

Something connected to her father, something Adrian knew about. She leaned her head lightly against the window as the city lights blurred past.

Five years

Five years hiding, five years rebuilding herself as Eva Laurent. Five years convincing the world that Raven Vale died in that explosion. And tonight, for the first time since returning to the city, her carefully controlled life felt unstable. The recording and old footage changed everything, so did Adrian's reaction. Afriad even, that bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

The car finally stopped outside her penthouse nearly forty minutes later. Security opened the gates immediately, Raven stepped inside quietly, removing her coat as the warmth of the penthouse surrounded her. But stopped instantly after entering the living room.

Marcus was waiting.