Episode 7
1179 Words
Stay Close to Me
Adrian didn't let go of Lena's hand until they were inside the mansion.
The moment the front doors closed behind them, he turned toward the security team.
“Lock the estate down.”
The guards immediately moved.
“Check every entrance. Nobody comes in or out without my authorization.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lena stood silently beside him.
She had never seen Adrian like this.
Not angry.
Not irritated.
Terrified.
He was hiding it well, but she could see it in his eyes.
“What happens now?” she asked.
Adrian looked at her.
“You stay here.”
“For how long?”
“Until I know who sent that message.”
“That could take days.”
“Then you stay here for days.”
Lena crossed her arms.
“I have a job.”
“You're not going to the office.”
“I can't just disappear.”
“You can.”
“Adrian.”
He stepped closer.
“Someone threatened your life.”
“And you think locking me inside this mansion will solve everything?”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“I think it gives me time to protect you.”
The words silenced her.
Protect you.
Not the company.
Not the contract.
Her.
Lena looked away.
“I can protect myself.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like I'm helpless.”
“I don't think you're helpless.”
He paused.
“I think you're brave enough to walk into danger without realizing how dangerous it is.”
She looked back at him.
“And you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you brave?”
Adrian's expression became unreadable.
“No.”
The answer surprised her.
“I'm afraid all the time.”
Lena stared at him.
“You don't look afraid.”
“That's the point.”
For the first time, she saw the man behind the billionaire.
Not the perfect CEO.
Not the ruthless businessman.
Just a man carrying wounds he had never allowed anyone to touch.
---
Later that evening, Adrian sat in his office reviewing security footage.
Lena stood at the doorway.
“Can I come in?”
He looked up.
“Yes.”
She walked inside.
“You haven't eaten.”
“I'm not hungry.”
“You've been working for six hours.”
“I have things to handle.”
“So do I.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
She placed a tray of food on his desk.
“You're eating.”
He stared at the tray.
Then at her.
“You cooked?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
Lena sat across from him.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Adrian picked up the fork.
Lena smiled.
“You actually listen.”
“Don't get used to it.”
She laughed softly.
Something about the moment felt normal.
Almost like they were a real married couple.
The thought made Lena's smile disappear.
Adrian noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You keep saying that.”
She looked at him.
“Do you ever wonder what would happen if we weren't doing this because of a contract?”
Adrian stopped eating.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…”
She struggled to find the words.
“If there were no money. No inheritance. No agreement. Would you still have chosen me?”
Silence.
Adrian looked down.
“No.”
Lena's chest tightened.
Of course.
She knew the answer.
Still, hearing it hurt.
Adrian continued.
“I wouldn't have chosen anyone.”
She looked at him.
“Because you don't believe in love.”
“Because I don't believe people stay.”
Lena's voice softened.
“Maybe you just haven't met someone worth staying for.”
His eyes met hers.
The room became very quiet.
Neither looked away.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
The moment broke.
He answered.
“What?”
His security chief spoke rapidly.
Adrian's expression changed.
“Where?”
He stood.
“I'll be there.”
Lena immediately rose.
“What happened?”
“Someone entered the east wing.”
Her heart stopped.
“How?”
“We don't know.”
“Did they find anyone?”
“No.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Stay here.”
“I'm coming.”
“Lena—”
“You're not leaving me alone after what happened.”
He stared at her.
Then sighed.
“Fine. Stay beside me.”
---
They reached the east wing.
Two guards stood outside.
Adrian looked at them.
“Explain.”
“We saw movement on camera.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
Adrian opened the door.
The room was empty.
Everything appeared untouched.
Then Lena noticed something on the desk.
A small envelope.
Her name was written across it.
LENA CARTER.
She froze.
Adrian immediately took it.
“Don't touch it.”
“It's addressed to me.”
“Exactly.”
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a single photograph.
Lena's blood ran cold.
It showed her leaving the hospital earlier that day.
She was alone.
Someone had been watching her.
On the back were four words:
You were warned already.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
He picked up his phone.
“Double the security around the hospital.”
Lena looked at him.
“Adrian.”
He turned.
“What?”
“I'm scared.”
The words came out before she could stop them.
Adrian's expression softened.
He walked toward her.
“Come here.”
She hesitated.
Then stepped into his arms.
His embrace was strong and warm.
For a moment, Lena forgot everything else.
The threats.
The contract.
The mystery.
She simply listened to his heartbeat.
“You're safe,” he whispered.
“How can you promise that?”
“I can't.”
He tightened his arms around her.
“But I'll do everything I can to make it true.”
Lena closed her eyes.
She knew they weren't supposed to get attached.
She knew this was temporary.
But standing in his arms, she couldn't stop wondering whether Adrian had already started breaking their most important rule.
And perhaps she had too.
---
Across the city, a man stood in a dark room watching photographs spread across a table.
Adrian.
Lena.
The wedding.
The hospital.
The mansion.
Every move they made had been documented.
A phone rang.
The man answered.
“She's closer than we expected.”
A woman's voice replied.
“Then separate them.”
“How?”
The woman was silent for a moment.
Then she said:
“Give Adrian a reason to believe his wife betrayed him.”
The man smiled.
“And if he doesn't believe it?”
The woman's voice became colder.
“He will.”
She looked down at an old photograph of Isabella Vale.
“Because Adrian Vale has spent his entire life expecting the people he loves to leave him.”
A pause.
“Lena Carter will be no different.”
Next.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD