Married to the wrong billionaire

The call

The rest of the morning passed quietly.

Too quietly.

Elena tried to convince herself that everything was fine, but her mind kept returning to the same words.

Especially not Andrew.

She had read the message so many times that she could practically hear Serena's voice saying it.

Why had Serena been so afraid of Andrew knowing she had contacted her?

And why had she asked about him before anything else?

Elena glanced toward the hallway.

Andrew had disappeared upstairs shortly after coming home.

A few minutes later, he came downstairs wearing a simple shirt and dark trousers instead of his usual work clothes.

Elena looked at him curiously.

"Aren't you going to work?"

Andrew stopped near the dining table.

"No."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I'm working from home today."

"Oh."

She tried to sound casual.

Andrew walked over to the table and placed his laptop down.

"I have a few meetings, but there's no reason I can't handle them from here."

Elena nodded.

"Okay."

She picked up her phone.

Her eyes immediately went to the number Serena had used to call her yesterday.

She pressed call.

The phone rang once.

Then the call ended.

Number unavailable.

Elena frowned.

She tried again.

Same result.

She sighed and put the phone down.

Andrew looked at her from across the room.

"You've been doing that for the past twenty minutes."

Elena looked up.

"Doing what?"

"Calling someone."

"No, I wasn't."

Andrew gave her a look.

She quickly looked away.

"I'm just trying to reach my sister."

His expression changed slightly.

"Serena?"

Elena nodded.

"I've been trying the number she called me with yesterday, but it isn't going through."

Andrew said nothing.

Elena tried again.

Still nothing.

She lowered the phone.

Andrew watched her for a moment.

"You seem uncomfortable."

Elena looked at him.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm fine."

Andrew leaned back slightly.

"If you're uncomfortable around me, I can go to the office."

Elena's eyes widened.

"No!"

Andrew looked surprised by how quickly she responded.

She immediately realized her mistake.

"I mean..."

She cleared her throat.

"It's not that."

"Then what is it?"

Elena hesitated.

She couldn't exactly tell him that she wanted to leave the house so she could secretly call Serena without him hearing.

"I just..."

She looked down at her phone.

"I want to go to the spa."

Andrew blinked.

"The spa?"

"Yes."

"Today?"

"Yes."

She nodded quickly.

"I need to redo my hair. And maybe get my nails done. I haven't really had time to take care of myself with everything that happened."

Andrew stared at her for a moment.

Then he nodded.

"Okay."

Elena smiled faintly.

"Okay?"

"Yes. Go."

She stood.

"I'll be back later."

Andrew returned his attention to his laptop.

"Take your time."

Elena walked upstairs.

The moment she entered the bedroom, she closed the door behind her.

She leaned against it and released a breath.

She didn't know why she felt like she was hiding something.

Maybe because she was.

She grabbed her bag, changed into something comfortable, fixed her hair quickly, and headed back downstairs.

Andrew was already on a video call.

He glanced at her briefly.

"You're leaving?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Elena smiled.

"I'll see you later."

Andrew nodded.

She walked out.

The moment the door closed behind her, Elena's shoulders relaxed.

She didn't go to the spa.

Not yet.

She needed somewhere quiet.

Somewhere Andrew couldn't overhear her.

She eventually stopped at a small eatery a few streets away.

She ordered a drink and something light to eat before taking a seat in the corner.

Then she pulled out her phone.

She stared at Serena's number.

Her thumb hovered over it.

She pressed call.

Nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

Elena sighed.

"Please, Serena..."

She tried once more.

This time, the call connected.

Elena sat up immediately.

"Hello?"

There was silence.

Then a familiar voice.

"Elena?"

Her heart jumped.

"Serena!"

She lowered her voice immediately.

"Where are you?"

"I told you, I can't tell you."

"Then at least tell me what's happening."

"I will."

Serena sounded nervous.

"Just listen to me."

Elena gripped her phone.

"I'm listening."

"You need to be careful."

"About what?"

"About—"

Serena stopped.

Elena frowned.

"About what, Serena?"

"I shouldn't have contacted you yesterday."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know who is watching."

Elena looked around the eatery.

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean exactly what I'm saying."

Her voice trembled.

"Elena, there are things you don't know."

"Then tell me."

"I can't explain everything over the phone."

"Why not?"

"Because—"

A sudden sound came from Serena's end.

A door opening.

Serena went silent.

Elena heard a man's voice in the background.

"Serena?"

Elena froze.

The voice came again.

"Serena, are you home?"

Elena's eyes widened.

She knew that voice.

Kelvin.

"Serena?"

Serena's breathing changed.

"Elena, I have to go."

"No, wait!"

"Don't call this number again."

"Serena—"

"Please trust me."

Kelvin's voice came closer.

"Serena? Are you there?"

The call ended.

Elena stared at her phone.

Her heart pounded.

Kelvin was with Serena.

But Serena had told her she was hiding.

And she had sounded terrified when she heard Kelvin's voice.

Elena slowly lowered the phone.

What was going on?

Why had Serena been afraid of Kelvin finding out about the call?

And why had she told Elena not to call the number again?

Elena looked at the untouched food in front of her.

For the first time, she realized that running away from the wedding might not have been the end of Serena's problems.

It might have only been the beginning.

And somehow...

Elena was already being pulled into them.