Chapter 3 — The Secret Between Them
1778 Words
Elena stood in the middle of the bedroom, staring at the closed door.
Damian was gone.
But his words remained.
Because she knew what your father had done.
Elena's fingers tightened around the photograph.
Her mother.
Damian.
A secret from twenty-five years ago.
And somehow, she was now trapped in the middle of it.
She looked at the photograph again.
Her mother was smiling.
Not the quiet smile Elena remembered from old family pictures.
This was different.
She looked happy.
Comfortable.
Almost familiar with the young man standing beside her.
Damian.
Elena turned the photograph over.
The three words were still written there.
She promised me.
She traced the handwriting with her finger.
She knew it.
There was no doubt.
It belonged to her mother.
“What did you promise him?” she whispered.
A knock sounded at the door.
Elena quickly placed the photograph on the table.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Mrs. Carter stood there.
“Dinner is ready.”
“I don't feel hungry.”
“Mr. Cross expects you downstairs.”
Elena sighed.
“Of course he does.”
Mrs. Carter hesitated.
“You'll get used to him.”
Elena gave her a look.
“I don't think I want to.”
The older woman smiled faintly.
“You may change your mind.”
“I doubt it.”
Mrs. Carter left.
Elena looked at the photograph one last time before putting it inside her handbag.
She wasn't leaving it behind.
If Damian refused to answer her questions, she would find the answers herself.
When she entered the dining room, Damian was already seated at the head of the table.
He was reading something on his tablet.
He didn't look up.
Elena took the seat opposite him.
“You wanted me here.”
“I did.”
“Then look at me.”
Damian slowly lifted his eyes.
Elena placed the photograph on the table.
“What is this?”
His expression changed immediately.
“Where did you get it?”
“You gave it to me.”
“I didn't.”
“It was in my room.”
Damian leaned back.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Elena's patience disappeared.
“You knew my mother.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“We've already discussed this.”
“No. You told me she made a promise. You didn't tell me what kind of relationship she had with your family.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
“That isn't something you need to know.”
“She was my mother.”
“I know.”
“Then I have a right to know.”
Damian looked away.
Elena leaned forward.
“Was she involved in your father's company?”
“Yes.”
The answer shocked her.
“My mother worked with your father?”
“She did.”
“What was her position?”
“She was an investor.”
Elena stared at him.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“That can't be true.”
“Why?”
“Because she never talked about business.”
“She stopped after you were born.”
“Why?”
Damian remained silent.
Elena's voice became softer.
“What happened?”
“Your father happened.”
She froze.
“What does that mean?”
Damian placed his tablet on the table.
“Your mother and my father were business partners.”
Elena listened carefully.
“My father became suspicious that money was being moved from one of his accounts.”
“By whom?”
“Your father.”
Elena's heart sank.
“My father stole from him?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You implied it.”
“I said he was suspected.”
“Was he guilty?”
Damian stared at her.
“That is what I'm trying to prove.”
Elena frowned.
“After all these years?”
“Yes.”
“Then why marry me?”
His eyes hardened.
“Because your mother knew where the evidence was.”
Elena's breathing stopped.
“What evidence?”
“The evidence that could prove whether your father betrayed my family.”
“Where is it?”
“We don't know.”
“You're saying my mother knew?”
“Yes.”
“And she never told you?”
“She died before she could.”
Elena swallowed.
“How did she die?”
Damian's expression became unreadable.
“Your father said it was an accident.”
“And you don't believe him.”
“No.”
Silence settled between them.
Elena looked down at the photograph.
“My mother died in a car accident.”
“That is what you were told.”
Her eyes lifted.
“You think she was murdered?”
“I think there are too many unanswered questions.”
“Do you know who killed her?”
“No.”
“But you suspect my father.”
“I suspect everyone who benefited from her death.”
Elena pushed back from the table.
“This is insane.”
She stood.
“You're asking me to believe that my father stole from your family, my mother knew about it, and then she died under suspicious circumstances.”
“Yes.”
“And after all these years, you decided to marry me?”
“Yes.”
“You're sick.”
Damian's expression remained calm.
“Maybe.”
Elena grabbed the photograph.
“I'm going to ask my father.”
“You won't.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“You won't ask him.”
“You can't stop me.”
“I can.”
Elena turned toward him.
“You may control this house, but you don't control me.”
Damian stood.
His height alone made Elena instinctively take a step back.
“You signed a contract with me.”
“I know.”
“You agreed to certain conditions.”
“I agreed to marry you. I didn't agree to become your prisoner.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I never said you were a prisoner.”
“Then let me leave.”
Silence.
Damian's expression hardened.
“Not yet.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“Exactly.”
She walked toward the door.
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“Don't investigate the past.”
“Why?”
“Because some people will kill to keep it buried.”
She turned around.
“Are you one of them?”
Damian's face became cold.
“No.”
“Then help me uncover it.”
“I can't.”
“Or you won't?”
He didn't answer.
Elena left.
---
Richard Hart was sitting in his study when his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Damian.
He hesitated before answering.
“What do you want?”
“You didn't tell her.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“She doesn't need to know.”
“She found the photograph.”
Richard's face went pale.
“What?”
“She knows about the promise.”
A long silence followed.
“Damian…”
“You should have destroyed it.”
“I couldn't.”
“You knew this day would come.”
“I never wanted her involved.”
“Neither did I.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“You've already married her.”
“Because you left me no choice.”
“Don't blame me for your obsession.”
Damian's expression hardened.
“This has nothing to do with obsession.”
“Then what does it have to do with?”
Damian was silent.
Richard understood.
“You still blame yourself.”
“Don't.”
“You were there that night.”
Damian's hand tightened around the phone.
“Enough.”
“You saw what happened.”
“Enough!”
Damian ended the call.
His breathing was heavier now.
The memories had returned.
Rain.
Broken glass.
His father's car.
His mother screaming.
And Elena's mother standing beside the road.
Terrified.
Holding something in her hands.
Something that had disappeared after that night.
Damian closed his eyes.
He had spent fifteen years trying to uncover the truth.
And now Elena was living under his roof.
The daughter of the woman who had promised him everything.
The daughter of the man he believed had destroyed his family.
And perhaps the only person who could lead him to the truth.
---
Elena stood outside her father's study.
She had called him three times.
He hadn't answered.
She finally decided to call again.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then Richard answered.
“Elena?”
“Dad.”
His voice sounded nervous.
“Are you okay?”
“I need to ask you something.”
A pause.
“About what?”
“My mother.”
Silence.
Elena's heart began pounding.
“Dad?”
“What about your mother?”
“Did she know Damian Cross's family?”
Richard didn't answer.
Elena closed her eyes.
“Dad, please.”
“She knew them.”
“How?”
“I don't want to discuss this over the phone.”
“Then tell me now.”
“It's complicated.”
“You've said that before.”
“Elena, listen to me carefully.”
His voice suddenly became serious.
“Stay away from Damian.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because he isn't marrying you for the reason he told you.”
Elena's heart skipped.
“What does he want?”
Richard breathed heavily.
“I can't tell you.”
“Dad!”
The call suddenly ended.
Elena stared at her phone.
Then she noticed something.
Her father's last words weren't fear for himself.
They were fear for her.
She slowly looked down the hallway.
At the far end stood Damian.
He was watching her.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Damian's gaze dropped to the phone in her hand.
“You spoke to your father.”
It wasn't a question.
Elena lifted her chin.
“Yes.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That I should stay away from you.”
Damian's expression didn't change.
“Smart man.”
Elena frowned.
“You agree?”
“No.”
“Then what should I believe?”
Damian walked toward her.
When he stopped in front of her, his voice was barely above a whisper.
“Believe this.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Your father is hiding something that could get you killed.”
Elena's blood ran cold.
Before she could ask another question, Damian walked past her.
She turned to watch him disappear.
For the first time since entering his mansion, Elena wasn't thinking about escaping.
She was thinking about one terrifying question.
What had her father done that was dangerous enough to put his own daughter in danger?
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD