The Billionaire Who Rejected Me

Episode 3

The Billionaire Who Rejected Me

Chapter 3 — The Truth Behind That Night

I didn't answer.

I simply stood in the middle of my living room, staring at the phone in my hand.

Mia watched me carefully.

“Who is it?”

I covered the microphone.

“Adrian.”

Her eyes widened.

“Hang up.”

I almost did.

Then Adrian spoke again.

“Elena, please.”

I froze.

Please.

Adrian Blackwood had never said that word to me.

Not three years ago.

Not today.

“What do you want to explain?” I asked.

His voice was quiet.

“That night.”

My heart tightened.

“There's nothing to explain.”

“There is.”

“You told me you didn't love me.”

“I know.”

“You told me I was imagining everything.”

“I know.”

“You humiliated me in front of everyone.”

His breathing became heavier.

“I know.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Then what's left to explain?”

“Everything.”

I closed my eyes.

For three years, I had tried to forget that night.

Now he wanted to bring it all back.

“I don't want to talk about the past.”

“Then why did you accept the job?”

I opened my eyes.

“Because I need a job.”

“You could have chosen another company.”

“I didn't know you would be there.”

Silence.

Then he asked:

“Are you engaged?”

My heart skipped.

I looked down at my left hand.

The ring was there.

A simple diamond ring.

I wasn't actually engaged.

It belonged to my sister, but Adrian didn't know that.

And suddenly, I didn't want him to know.

“Why do you care?”

His voice changed.

“Because I do.”

I smiled bitterly.

“You lost the right to care three years ago.”

“Elena—”

“Goodnight, Adrian.”

I ended the call.

Mia stared at me.

“What did he say?”

I sat down.

“He wants to explain why he rejected me.”

“And?”

“I don't care.”

Mia looked at me for several seconds.

“You're lying.”

I didn't answer.

Because she was right.

A part of me still wanted to know.

Why had he pushed me away?

Why had he looked at me with those cold eyes while breaking my heart?

And why did he look at me today as if he regretted everything?

My phone vibrated again.

A message.

Adrian: Tomorrow. 8 p.m. Blackwood Tower. Please come.

I stared at it.

Then another message arrived.

Adrian: You deserve to know the truth.

I locked my phone.

“No.”

I wasn't going.

At least, that's what I told myself.

The next morning, I arrived at Blackwood Corporation at exactly 8:00 a.m.

I walked through the lobby without looking around.

My new colleagues welcomed me warmly.

For the first few hours, everything went smoothly.

Then my manager walked toward me.

“Elena, Mr. Blackwood wants you in his office.”

My stomach tightened.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

I stood and followed her.

When I entered Adrian's office, he was reading a document.

He didn't look up.

“Close the door.”

I did.

He finally raised his eyes.

“You're wearing the ring again.”

I looked at my hand.

“So?”

“Who is he?”

I frowned.

“My fiancé?”

His jaw tightened.

“Yes.”

I smiled.

“Why?”

“I asked you a question.”

“And I don't have to answer.”

He stood slowly.

“Elena.”

“What?”

“Are you really engaged?”

I looked directly into his eyes.

“Yes.”

It was a lie.

But I wanted to see his reaction.

And I did.

His face became completely expressionless.

But his eyes…

They were furious.

“Who?”

“That's none of your business.”

He walked around the desk.

“You work for me.”

“I work for the company, not you.”

He stopped in front of me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he said quietly:

“I've spent three years regretting what I did.”

I looked away.

“That's your problem.”

He reached into his desk and pulled out a small black envelope.

He handed it to me.

“What is this?”

“Open it.”

I hesitated.

Then I opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

My hands began to shake.

It was me.

Three years ago.

Leaving Blackwood Hall.

But that wasn't what shocked me.

On the back of the photograph was a handwritten message.

“If Adrian chooses Elena, she dies.”

My breath caught.

I looked at Adrian.

“What… is this?”

His expression was dark.

“That is the reason I rejected you.”

I stared at the photograph.

“You're lying.”

“I wish I were.”

“Who sent this?”

He didn't answer.

“Adrian.”

His eyes met mine.

“We still don't know.”

I felt the room spinning.

Three years.

I had hated him for three years.

I thought he had simply stopped loving me.

But maybe…

He had been protecting me.

Then Adrian said something that made my blood run cold.

“The person who sent that message…”

He paused.

“is alive.”

My fingers tightened around the photograph.

“Where are they?”

Adrian stepped closer.

“They're inside this company.”

I looked toward the door.

Suddenly, every person I had met since arriving felt like a stranger.

Then my phone vibrated.

I looked at the screen.

Unknown Number:

You should have stayed away from Adrian.

Another message appeared.

You have no idea what happened to the last woman who tried to love him.

My heart stopped.

Then the final message arrived.

“Leave Blackwood Corporation before you become the next one.”