My Husband Married Me Twice

Chapter 4: PROJECT MEMORY

Adrian stared at the screen.

PROJECT MEMORY.

The words seemed to glow against the darkness of the lake house.

He replayed the footage.

Victoria entered the hallway.

She was alone.

In her hand was a black folder.

The camera angle was poor, but the label on the folder was unmistakable.

ELENA MARLOWE.

And beneath it:

PROJECT MEMORY.

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Play it again."

Daniel rewound the footage.

Victoria appeared on screen a second time.

She looked around before slipping the folder beneath her coat.

Then she walked away.

Adrian watched without blinking.

"How long has that camera been recording?"

"According to the system, approximately six months."

"Who installed it?"

"I'm checking."

"Do it faster."

Daniel nodded.

Adrian turned away from the screen.

His mind was racing.

Victoria had lied to him.

That much was obvious.

But the question was why.

He looked toward the doorway.

Elena was gone.

Again.

Every time he got close to her, she disappeared behind another unanswered question.

His phone vibrated.

A message.

UNKNOWN: Now you know where to start.

Adrian stared at it.

Then another message appeared.

UNKNOWN: Ask your grandmother about the night you lost your memory.

His expression changed.

His grandmother.

Evelyn Blackwood had always been strangely protective whenever his accident was mentioned.

Adrian had never questioned it.

Perhaps he should have.

He slipped his phone into his pocket.

"Daniel."

"Sir?"

"Find Elena."

Daniel hesitated.

"Do you want me to bring her back?"

"No."

Adrian looked toward the dark lake outside.

"Protect her."

---

Elena

Elena drove without knowing where she was going.

Her hands were shaking.

Adrian knew.

Not everything.

But enough.

He had seen Victoria.

He had found the file.

And now there was no way to stop the past from catching up with them.

Her phone rang.

Sienna.

Elena answered.

"Where are you?"

"I'm driving."

"Where?"

"Home soon."

"Elena."

Her sister's voice was sharp.

"You went to the lake house, didn't you?"

Elena said nothing.

Sienna cursed under her breath.

"I told you not to go."

"I had to."

"Why?"

"Someone threatened Adrian."

There was silence.

Then Sienna asked quietly:

"Did he remember?"

Elena swallowed.

"Not yet."

"Then leave it alone."

"I can't."

"You can."

"No."

Elena tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

"I spent five years protecting him from the truth."

"And what did it get you?"

Elena's eyes burned.

"Nothing."

"Exactly."

Sienna's voice softened.

"You sacrificed your marriage. Your reputation. Your career. You let everyone believe you were a thief and a liar."

"I know."

"And now you're going back to him?"

Elena closed her eyes briefly.

"I don't know."

The truth was worse.

She didn't know whether she was returning to Adrian because she wanted him...

or because some part of her had never actually left him.

Sienna sighed.

"Come home."

"I will."

"Promise me."

Elena hesitated.

"I promise."

She ended the call.

Then she saw the car behind her.

Black.

No headlights.

Following.

Her heart began pounding.

She changed lanes.

The car followed.

Elena accelerated.

So did the other car.

She reached for her phone.

Before she could call anyone, the black car suddenly moved beside her.

Elena looked over.

The passenger window lowered.

A man stared at her.

She didn't recognize him.

Then he raised something in his hand.

Elena swerved.

The object struck her side mirror.

She screamed.

Her car spun slightly before she regained control.

The black car sped away.

Elena pulled over.

Her heart hammered.

She stared at the broken mirror.

Then at her shaking hands.

This wasn't a warning anymore.

Someone wanted her frightened.

Or dead.

---

Blackwood Estate

Evelyn Blackwood sat in the library when Adrian entered.

She didn't look surprised to see him.

"You came."

Adrian stopped.

"You knew I would."

Evelyn closed her book.

"Eventually."

Adrian stared at her.

"How much do you remember about my accident?"

Her expression remained calm.

"Enough."

"Did I have memory loss before the accident?"

Evelyn's fingers tightened slightly around the book.

"No."

"Did Elena cause it?"

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"You know she didn't betray me."

Evelyn looked toward the fireplace.

"I know many things."

"Then tell me."

She shook her head.

"Not yet."

Adrian laughed bitterly.

"That's what everyone keeps saying."

"Because the truth is dangerous."

"For whom?"

"For you."

Adrian stepped closer.

"Five years ago, I nearly died."

"Yes."

"My wife disappeared."

"Yes."

"I forgot my marriage."

"Yes."

"And now I discover that my aunt has a file called Project Memory."

Evelyn's face changed.

Only slightly.

But Adrian noticed.

"You know what Project Memory is."

She looked at him.

"Who told you that name?"

"Victoria."

Evelyn's eyes widened.

Adrian's suspicion became certainty.

"What was it?"

His grandmother stood slowly.

"It wasn't supposed to involve you."

"What wasn't?"

She walked toward the window.

"Your aunt believed your father was hiding money from the family."

Adrian frowned.

"My father?"

"She thought he was using company funds to protect someone."

"Who?"

Evelyn turned.

"Elena."

Adrian froze.

"Why would my father protect Elena?"

"Because he knew she had discovered something."

"What?"

Evelyn's expression hardened.

"Financial records."

Adrian's mind immediately went to the accusations against Elena.

"She didn't steal from the company."

"No."

"Then why was she accused?"

"Because someone needed a criminal."

Adrian's breathing became heavier.

"Victoria."

Evelyn didn't answer.

She didn't have to.

Adrian turned away.

The pieces were beginning to fit.

But there was still one question.

"What happened at the lake house?"

Evelyn's eyes filled with sadness.

"You and Elena had discovered the truth."

"What truth?"

"That someone inside the Blackwood family had been stealing from the company for years."

Adrian stared at her.

"Who?"

Before Evelyn could answer, the library door opened.

Victoria stood there.

Her expression was perfectly composed.

"What are you doing here?"

Adrian looked at her.

"I could ask you the same thing."

Victoria smiled.

"I came to speak with your grandmother."

"About Project Memory?"

The smile vanished.

Only for a second.

Then she recovered.

"You've been investigating."

"Yes."

"Adrian, you're confused."

"No."

His voice was cold.

"I'm finally starting to remember."

Victoria's face went pale.

Evelyn looked between them.

"Adrian—"

But he didn't stop.

"What happened five years ago?"

Victoria stepped forward.

"Elena manipulated you."

"Then why does she keep appearing in my memories?"

Victoria froze.

Adrian watched her carefully.

"Why do I remember her crying?"

Silence.

"Why do I remember the lake?"

Still nothing.

"And why," he continued, "do I remember your voice?"

Victoria's eyes widened.

Adrian stepped closer.

"You were there."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I wasn't!"

Her voice cracked.

The room went silent.

Victoria realized her mistake.

Adrian's expression became unreadable.

"You just lied."

Victoria's face hardened.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Then prove it."

"I don't have to prove anything."

"You're right."

Adrian turned toward the door.

"I'll find the proof myself."

As he walked past her, Victoria grabbed his arm.

"Adrian."

He stopped.

She lowered her voice.

"Some memories are better left buried."

Adrian slowly looked down at her hand.

Then back at her face.

"That's exactly what someone guilty would say."

He pulled free.

---

The First Memory

Adrian returned to his bedroom.

He couldn't sleep.

He stood in front of the mirror again.

His reflection stared back.

For years, he had believed his missing memories were a medical problem.

Now he wasn't sure.

He touched the scar near his temple.

Nothing.

Then he noticed something on his dresser.

An old watch.

His father's watch.

He had forgotten he still owned it.

Adrian picked it up.

The moment his fingers touched the metal—

Pain exploded through his head.

He dropped the watch.

A memory hit him.

The lake house.

Five years ago.

Rain.

Elena standing in front of him.

Her face covered in tears.

"You have to leave."

Adrian heard his younger self answer.

"I'm not leaving without you."

Elena shook her head.

"They'll kill you."

"Who?"

She looked toward the door.

"Your family."

A loud crash.

Someone entered.

Victoria.

Adrian's younger self turned.

"What are you doing here?"

Victoria held a gun.

Elena stepped in front of him.

"Victoria, please."

"You should have stopped digging."

Adrian's heart raced.

He could hear his younger self shouting.

He could see Elena reaching for him.

Then—

A blinding flash.

A gunshot.

Elena screamed.

Adrian fell.

The memory shattered.

Adrian gasped and collapsed against the dresser.

His hand went to his head.

He was breathing hard.

Then one final image surfaced.

Elena.

Standing over him.

Blood running down her arm.

Her voice breaking as she whispered:

"Please don't forget me."

Adrian opened his eyes.

Tears filled them.

For the first time in five years, he remembered.

Not everything.

But enough.

Elena had never betrayed him.

She had been trying to save him.

His phone rang.

Daniel.

Adrian answered immediately.

"Sir, I found something."

"What?"

"We traced the vehicle that followed Elena."

Adrian stood.

"Where is she?"

"That's the problem."

His blood went cold.

"What do you mean?"

"Her phone is still transmitting."

"And?"

"She's no longer moving."

Adrian's expression changed.

"Send me the location."

A message arrived.

Adrian looked at the coordinates.

His heart stopped.

It was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Blackwood City.

He grabbed his jacket.

Daniel spoke through the phone.

"Sir, wait for security."

"No."

"Adrian—"

"I'm going."

He ended the call.

Because five years ago, Elena had saved his life.

And tonight, someone had taken her.

This time, Adrian wasn't going to let her disappear.