The Man Outside
1286 Words
Elena stared at the dark window.
Someone was standing outside.
Watching them.
Her heart began to race.
“Adrian,” she whispered.
“I know.”
Adrian quickly moved toward the window.
Elena followed him.
“Who is it?”
“I don't know.”
Adrian reached for the curtain.
Before he could open it, the figure disappeared.
“Wait!”
Elena rushed toward the window.
She looked outside.
The garden was empty.
Only the trees moved in the cold wind.
“Where did he go?”
Adrian remained silent.
He pulled the curtain closed.
“Elena, stay away from the window.”
“But someone was watching us.”
“I know.”
“Then we should call the police.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because we don't know who we're dealing with.”
Elena stared at him.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“No, Adrian.”
She shook her head.
“You know more than you're telling me.”
Adrian didn't answer.
Elena held the old photograph tightly.
“My father wrote, ‘Protect Elena at all costs.’”
She looked into Adrian's eyes.
“Why would he ask your family to protect me?”
Adrian looked down at the photograph.
“Because your father trusted my father once.”
“Once?”
“Yes.”
“What happened between them?”
Adrian walked away from the window.
“They were partners.”
Elena followed him.
“In what?”
“A company.”
“My father had a company?”
“Yes.”
Elena's face changed.
“Why didn't my mother ever tell me?”
“Maybe she didn't know everything.”
“My mother knew my father disappeared.”
Adrian stopped.
“She knew he was connected to your family.”
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't have to.”
Elena's voice became softer.
“You're hiding something again.”
Adrian looked at her.
“My father and yours were working on something together.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“My father never told me.”
“But you said you knew pieces of the truth.”
“I do.”
“Then tell me those pieces.”
Adrian took a deep breath.
“Twenty-five years ago, my father and your father discovered something.”
“Something about what?”
“Money.”
Elena frowned.
“Money?”
“A large amount of money was being moved through several companies.”
“Was your father involved?”
“Yes.”
“And mine?”
“Yes.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
“So they were doing something illegal?”
“I don't know.”
“Adrian.”
“I said I don't know.”
He walked toward the table and placed the photograph on it.
“There were people involved who were much more powerful than my father.”
“Who?”
“That is what I'm trying to find out.”
Elena looked at him.
“Then why did someone say your father wanted my family destroyed?”
Adrian's face became serious.
“Because someone wants you to believe that.”
“Why?”
“To turn you against me.”
Elena froze.
“And is it working?”
Adrian looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
“I don't know,” Elena admitted.
Adrian's expression softened.
“Elena…”
She looked away.
“I don't know who to trust anymore.”
“You can trust me.”
She gave a small, bitter laugh.
“You keep saying that while hiding things from me.”
“I was trying to keep you safe.”
“I don't need you to decide what I can handle.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“I married you because I knew someone was looking for you.”
Elena looked up sharply.
“You said the marriage was a contract.”
“It is.”
“Then why protect me?”
Adrian's eyes stayed on hers.
“Because the contract was never the whole reason.”
Elena's heart skipped.
“Then what was the real reason?”
Adrian opened his mouth.
Suddenly, the lights went out.
Elena gasped.
The entire house became dark.
“Adrian?”
“Stay where you are.”
She heard him moving.
Then something crashed in the hallway.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“What was that?”
“I don't know.”
A sound came from upstairs.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside the house.
Adrian immediately pulled Elena behind him.
“Stay close to me.”
The footsteps became louder.
Then they stopped.
Silence filled the house.
Adrian reached for his phone and turned on the flashlight.
He slowly walked toward the hallway.
Elena followed.
They checked the living room.
Nothing.
The kitchen.
Nothing.
Then Adrian noticed the back door.
It was open.
He walked toward it.
Someone had broken the lock.
Elena covered her mouth.
“They were inside.”
Adrian nodded.
“But why didn't they take anything?”
Elena looked at the photograph in her hand.
“Maybe they weren't here to steal.”
Adrian turned toward her.
“They were looking for this.”
Elena looked down.
The old photograph was still in her hand.
“Why would anyone want it?”
“Because it proves your father and my father knew each other.”
“And the mysterious man.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked toward the open door.
“Who is that man?”
Adrian didn't answer.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
They both looked at it.
A new message.
Adrian opened it.
There was only one sentence.
You should have listened to your father.
Elena's blood ran cold.
“Your father?”
Adrian stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
She was never supposed to know the truth.
Elena stepped closer.
“Adrian…”
He didn't move.
A third message appeared.
This time, there was a photograph.
Adrian opened it.
Elena looked over his shoulder.
Her eyes widened.
It was an old picture of her father.
He was standing outside a large building.
Beside him was Adrian's father.
But they weren't alone.
The mysterious man stood behind them.
And there was one more person.
A woman.
Elena stared at the woman.
Something about her face looked familiar.
“Who is she?” Elena asked.
Adrian's face suddenly became pale.
“Elena…”
“You know her.”
Adrian said nothing.
“You know her!”
He slowly looked at Elena.
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
Adrian's voice was barely a whisper.
“Your father's sister.”
Elena froze.
“My… aunt?”
“She disappeared twenty-five years ago.”
“Why have I never heard about her?”
“Because your father wanted everyone to believe she was dead.”
Elena's hands began to shake.
“Is she dead?”
Adrian looked back at the photograph.
“I don't think so.”
Before Elena could respond, they heard a sound outside.
A car engine.
They rushed to the window.
A black car was parked across the street.
Its headlights turned on.
Then the car slowly drove away.
Elena looked at Adrian.
“Was that the same person following us?”
Adrian's eyes remained fixed on the road.
“I don't know.”
Then his phone vibrated again.
One final message appeared.
Ask your mother about the woman in the photograph.
Elena's heart sank.
Her mother knew something.
Something about her father.
Something about the mysterious woman.
And maybe something about Adrian's family.
She looked at Adrian.
“We're going to my mother.”
Adrian nodded.
To be continued....
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