Chapter 7
835 Words
Chapter Seven — The Man at the Door
The door opened slowly.
Elena's fingers tightened around Adrian's sleeve.
A man stepped into the dim hallway.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Calm.
Too calm.
Adrian's entire expression hardened.
“Matteo.”
The stranger smiled.
“It's been a long time.”
Elena looked between them.
“You know him?”
Matteo's eyes moved toward her.
“So this is her.”
Adrian immediately stepped in front of Elena.
“Don't look at her.”
Matteo gave a quiet laugh.
“Still protective, I see.”
“Leave.”
“I didn't come here for you.”
His eyes shifted back toward Elena.
“I came for her.”
Adrian's voice dropped.
“You're not taking her anywhere.”
Elena looked at him.
There was something different about the way he said it.
Not the cold authority she had become accustomed to.
Fear.
Real fear.
Matteo noticed it too.
“Interesting,” he murmured. “You really don't remember, do you?”
Elena stepped around Adrian.
“Remember what?”
Matteo's smile disappeared.
“Five years ago.”
Adrian caught Elena's wrist.
“Don't listen to him.”
She looked at Adrian.
“Why?”
“Because he wants you confused.”
“And you're not?”
His grip loosened.
The question clearly struck something inside him.
Elena pulled her hand away.
“You keep telling me that I should trust you, but you're hiding everything.”
Adrian stared at her.
“I've been trying to keep you alive.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the moment you remember everything, you'll become a target.”
Elena's voice softened.
“I'm already a target.”
Neither man answered.
Matteo finally stepped backward.
“You'll find the truth soon enough.”
He turned toward the door.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Matteo.”
The man stopped.
“If you come near her again—”
“You'll do what?”
Silence.
Matteo smiled.
“You already lost her once, Adrian.”
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
The door slammed shut.
Elena turned toward Adrian.
“What did he mean?”
Adrian didn't answer.
She walked closer.
“Adrian.”
Nothing.
“Look at me.”
He finally did.
His eyes were filled with something she couldn't understand.
Regret.
Elena's anger began to fade.
“You really knew me before that night, didn't you?”
“Yes.”
The answer came quietly.
Her heart skipped.
“How well?”
He looked away.
“Too well.”
Elena took another step.
“Then why do you look at me like I'm a stranger?”
“Because I don't know how to look at you anymore.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because every time I do, I remember something I shouldn't.”
“What?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“You.”
The room became silent.
Elena's heartbeat quickened.
Adrian moved closer.
Neither of them spoke.
“You should stay away from me,” he whispered.
“Then stop coming closer.”
His eyes flickered.
For the first time, a faint smile touched his lips.
“You noticed.”
“I'm not blind.”
“And yet you keep standing here.”
“So do you.”
Their eyes remained locked.
The tension between them became impossible to ignore.
Adrian lifted his hand, hesitated, then gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from Elena's face.
She didn't move.
Neither did he.
For one brief moment, the danger outside seemed to disappear.
Then Adrian leaned closer and kissed her.
It was brief and gentle.
The moment ended almost as quickly as it began.
He stepped back.
Elena stared at him, stunned.
“Why did you do that?”
Adrian's expression became unreadable.
“I don't know.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“It is the only honest one I have.”
Before Elena could respond, his phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed immediately.
“What?”
A pause.
“Say that again.”
Elena watched the color drain from his face.
“Where is she?”
Another pause.
Adrian's eyes moved toward Elena.
“She?”
He ended the call.
Elena's stomach tightened.
“What happened?”
Adrian grabbed his jacket.
“We have to leave.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because someone just found the woman who knew what happened to you five years ago.”
Elena froze.
“She's alive?”
Adrian nodded.
“For now.”
He opened the door.
Elena followed.
But before she stepped outside, she noticed something lying on the floor.
A small envelope.
Her name was written across it.
ELENA.
She picked it up.
Adrian turned.
“Don't open that.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
His face had gone pale.
“Because I recognize the handwriting.”
Elena slowly turned the envelope over.
On the back were four words:
YOU LOVED HIM FIRST.
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