Bride In Flames

Chapter:4

Chapter Four:

"Elena?"

The word came from Olivia's lips so softly that I almost missed it.

But I heard it.

Jayson heard it too.

He turned toward his mother.

"What did you say?"

Olivia blinked.

Her fear vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

"I said... Emily."

She smiled.

"Emily. I thought I heard you say something."

I stared at her.

She was lying.

She knew my name.

Not Emily.

Elena.

My pulse raced.

Jayson looked between us.

"Mother, why would you call her Elena?"

Olivia laughed nervously.

"I didn't."

"You did."

"I must have been mistaken."

Jayson wasn't convinced.

Neither was I.

I looked at Olivia. For five years, I had dreamed of hearing that voice again.

Now it was standing in front of me.

She had recognized me.

Even with my new face.

Even after five years.

She knew.

"I think I should leave," I said.

I turned toward the door.

Jayson stepped in front of me.

"Wait."

I stopped.

"Why are you leaving?"

"I'm tired."

"You've been acting strangely since you arrived."

"I don't know what you mean."

He looked at my hand.

"That ring."

I quickly closed my fingers around it.

"It's nothing."

"Emily."

His voice softened.

"Please."

That word nearly broke me.

I wanted to tell him everything.

I wanted to throw myself into his arms and scream that I was alive.

But I remembered Monica's warning.

Not yet.

I stepped around him.

"Goodnight, Mr. Jackson."

He caught my arm.

"Don't call me that."

I looked at his hand around my wrist.

"Then what should I call you?"

His eyes darkened.

"Jayson."

The way he said it made my heart ache." Goodnight, Jayson."

I pulled free.

Then I walked away.

I entered the elevator and pressed the button.

The doors closed.

Only then did I allow myself to breathe.

My hands were shaking.

I looked down at the ring.

I had kept it for five years.

Through every surgery.

Every painful night.

Every lesson Monica taught me.

I had promised myself that one day I would put it back on.

But I never expected Jayson to recognize it.

The elevator reached the first floor.

I stepped out quickly.

My driver was waiting outside.

I entered the car.

"Take me home."

The car pulled away.

I leaned against the seat and closed my eyes.

I had gone to the Jackson mansion to study Olivia.

Instead, I had almost exposed myself.

And worse, I had seen pain in Jayson's eyes.

He still mourned me.

He still loved Elena.

I pressed my fingers against my chest.

So why did it feel like he was falling for Emily too?

The moment I arrived at Monica's house, she was waiting.

She took one look at me.

"What happened?"

I dropped my handbag onto the table.

"Olivia recognized me."

Monica's face hardened.

"What?"

"She called me Elena."

"Did Jayson hear?"

"Yes."

Monica stood.

"What did you do?"

"I lied."

"Good."

"Jayson saw my wedding ring."

Monica stared at me.

"You wore it?"

"I forgot."

She walked toward me.

"Emily, you cannot make mistakes like this."

"I know."

"If Olivia discovers who you are before we're ready, she will come after you again."

"I know!"

My voice broke.

Monica went quiet.

I wiped my tears.

"I'm sorry."

She sat beside me.

"You still love him."

I didn't answer.

"You do."

I looked away.

"I never stopped."

Monica sighed.

"That will make this harder."

"I thought revenge would be easier."

"It never is."

I looked at her.

"Tell me the truth."

"About what?"

"Why are you so interested in Olivia?"

Monica's face changed.

"Not tonight."

"Why?"

"Because you're not ready."

"Then we have to act."

Monica shook her head.

"No. You have to disappear for a few days."

I stared at her.

"I just came back."

"And you may have to leave again."

"No."

I grabbed my bag.

"I'm not running."

"Emily"

"I'm tired of running."

I looked into her eyes.

"I ran from the fire. I ran from my old life. I hid my name for five years."

My voice shook.

"I'm not running anymore."

Monica stared at me.

Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.

"Good."

The next morning, I received a message.

Unknown Number:

You should have stayed dead.

I stared at the screen.

A second message appeared.

Your husband will not save you this time.

My blood ran cold.

I immediately called Annie.

She answered in the second ring.

"Emily?”" Someone knows."

There was silence.

"Know what?"

"Who I am."

Annie's breathing changed.

"Are you sure?"

I showed her the message through a video call.

She cursed under her breath.

"Elena, you need to be careful."

"I know."

"Where are you?"

"At Monica's."

"Don't leave."

"I have a meeting."

"Cancel it."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because it's with the Jackson Group."

Annie went silent.

"You're meeting Jayson?"

"Yes."

"Are you crazy?"

"Probably."

She sighed.

"You still love him."

I didn't answer.

She knew anyway.

"Be careful."

"I will."

I ended the call.

At Jackson Group, Jayson was waiting for me.

He stood behind his desk, looking more serious than yesterday.

"You came."

"You invited me."

He nodded.

"I did."

I sat across from him.

He pushed a file toward me.

"Our partnership."

I opened it.

The numbers were impressive.

"Everything looks good."

"I want you to sign today."

I looked up.

"That fast?"

"I don't like wasting time,”"I noticed."

His lips almost curved.

Then he became serious again.

"There is something else."

"What?"

He pulled out a small box.

My heart stopped.

He placed it on the desk.

"I found this among my things."

I stared at the box.

"What's inside?"

He opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

My photograph.

An old photograph of me.

Elena.

Wearing the same wedding dress I had worn five years ago.

My fingers went cold.

Jayson looked straight into my eyes.

"I want you to tell me something."

I couldn't move.

"Why," he whispered, "does the woman in this picture have the same eyes as you?"

I swallowed.

He pushed the photograph toward me.

"And why did my mother look terrified when she saw you?"

I looked at him.

He wasn't asking anymore.

He was investigating.

"Jayson..."

He leaned forward.

"Who are you, Emily?"

Before I could answer, the office door burst open.

Olivia rushed inside.

Her face was pale.

"Jayson, you need to come home."

He stood.

"Why?"

Olivia looked at me.

Her eyes were filled with fear.

Then she said the one thing that made my blood run cold.

"Because someone has found the men who started the fire five years ago."