Chapter 5: You Should Have Married Me
840 Words
Adrian Vale had spent his entire life believing that every question had an answer.
But Sophia had become the exception.
He stood beneath the pouring rain outside the cemetery long after she'd disappeared, replaying her final words over and over again.
> If you keep looking for the truth... you're going to hate me.
The sensible thing would have been to walk away.
To forget the mysterious woman who had somehow inserted herself into his life.
Instead, Adrian did what he always did.
He dug deeper.
The next morning, Vale Holdings buzzed with its usual rhythm of power and ambition.
Employees rushed through the marble lobby.
Executives prepared for meetings.
Stocks rose and fell.
The world kept moving.
Adrian sat at the head of the conference table, reviewing reports.
He should have been focused.
Instead, his thoughts kept drifting back to Sophia.
"Mr. Vale?"
He looked up.
The CFO hesitated.
"Should we proceed with the Sterling acquisition?"
"Yes."
The meeting continued.
Numbers.
Strategies.
Forecasts.
Yet Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
His phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
He opened the message.
> How many times do you plan on ignoring me?
Adrian typed back immediately.
Who are you?
The response came within seconds.
> You should have married me.
His grip tightened around the phone.
Enough games.
Another message appeared.
> Games?
>
> You almost died three days ago.
>
> You're still going to die.
Adrian pushed back from the table.
The sudden movement silenced the room.
"We'll continue this meeting later."
Without another word, he walked out.
By the time Adrian reached the underground parking garage, frustration had replaced curiosity.
He dialed the unknown number.
It rang once.
Twice.
Then—
"You're persistent," Sophia said.
"Where are you?"
"You shouldn't be worried about where I am."
"Then what should I be worried about?"
Silence.
Then—
"Did you attend today's board meeting?"
Adrian stopped walking.
"...Yes."
"Did anyone arrive late?"
His eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?"
A sigh echoed through the phone.
"The third attack is happening today."
His pulse quickened.
"Sophia—"
"You don't have much time."
"Tell me who it is."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who they sent this time."
Adrian clenched his jaw.
"What exactly are you protecting me from?"
"You."
The line went dead.
Two hours later, Adrian arrived at the Grand Astoria Hotel.
Vale Holdings had sponsored the annual children's charity gala for years.
Canceling wasn't an option.
The ballroom sparkled beneath crystal chandeliers.
Laughter filled the room.
Children ran between tables.
Reporters crowded the entrance.
Yet Adrian noticed the increased security immediately.
Bodyguards.
Metal detectors.
Additional exits.
He had taken Sophia's warning seriously.
Even if he didn't trust her.
"Adrian."
His grandmother approached.
"You look terrible."
"I'm fine."
"No."
Eleanor's sharp gaze softened slightly.
"You're distracted."
Adrian remained silent.
Eleanor glanced around the ballroom.
"Is this because of the woman?"
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Before Eleanor could press further, another voice interrupted.
"Mr. Vale."
The hotel's event coordinator approached nervously.
"The auction begins in twenty minutes."
Adrian nodded.
"I'll be there."
As the coordinator hurried away, Eleanor touched Adrian's arm.
"Be careful."
The warning unsettled him.
Because Eleanor Vale never admitted fear.
---
The auction had just begun when Adrian's phone vibrated again.
Unknown Number.
He stared at it.
Then answered.
"What?"
"Look up."
Sophia's voice was calm.
Too calm.
Adrian's gaze swept across the ballroom.
"I don't see anything."
"Not around you."
A pause.
"Above you."
A metallic groan echoed overhead.
Adrian froze.
The massive chandelier suspended above the center of the ballroom swayed slightly.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
"Sophia—"
"Get everyone out."
The line disconnected.
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"Everyone move away from the center of the room!"
Conversations stopped.
The auctioneer blinked.
"Mr. Vale?"
"The chandelier!"
People looked upward.
A woman screamed.
The chain holding the crystal fixture snapped.
Chaos erupted.
Adrian lunged forward, shoving a child toward safety.
Crystal exploded across the marble floor.
Tables overturned.
Guests scattered.
The deafening crash echoed throughout the ballroom.
For several seconds—
Silence.
Then panic.
"Call an ambulance!"
"Someone's trapped!"
"My daughter!"
Ignoring the chaos around him, Adrian searched the crowd.
Looking for her.
Sophia.
A flash of cream-colored fabric caught his attention.
Second floor balcony.
She stood there.
Watching.
Their eyes met.
Adrian started toward the staircase.
But Sophia turned away.
Disappearing into the crowd.
"Sir!"
One of his security guards rushed toward him.
"Are you injured?"
"No."
Adrian pushed past him.
"Find her."
By the time Adrian reached the balcony—
She was gone.
Only one thing remained.
A folded piece of paper resting against the railing.
Adrian unfolded it.
His blood ran cold.
Three words stared back at him.
> I warned you.
Beneath them was another sentence.
Written in the same elegant handwriting.
> Marry me before it's too late.
For the first time since this nightmare began—
Adrian wondered if refusing Sophia had been the biggest mistake of his life.
- Writer
