ENEMIES THEN LOVER

CHAPTER 14

NO MORE LIES 💔

The next morning, Elena arrived at Westbridge University with one thing on her mind.

The truth.

She hadn't slept well. The photograph of her father standing outside Adrian's family mansion kept replaying in her head.

What was he doing there?

And why had Adrian never mentioned it?

"Elena!"

She turned.

Adrian was walking towards her, his hands tucked into his pockets. He looked tired, as if he'd spent the entire night fighting a battle no one else could see.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

Elena folded her arms.

"Funny. That's exactly what I wanted to ask you."

His eyes searched her face.

"About what?"

She pulled out her phone and showed him the photograph.

The moment Adrian saw it, his face went pale.

"Where did you get this?"

"That's your first question?" Elena laughed bitterly. "Not 'Are you okay?' Not 'Let me explain'? Just where I got it?"

"Elena, listen to me."

"No! I've listened to you for long enough. Now it's your turn."

Students walked past them, laughing and talking, completely unaware of the storm unfolding between the two.

Elena lowered her voice.

"Why was my father at your family's mansion?"

Adrian glanced around nervously.

"Not here."

"Then where? Your house? The place where everyone keeps secrets?"

"Please, Elena."

She stared at him.

"Did your family have something to do with my father's disappearance?"

Adrian said nothing.

That silence hurt more than any answer could have.

Elena took a step back.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "You knew something."

"I didn't know everything."

"But you knew SOMETHING!"

Adrian ran a hand through his hair.

"My father told me your father was involved in something dangerous. He warned me never to get close to you."

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"And you still did?"

"Because I couldn't stay away from you."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Adrian moved closer, but Elena raised her hand to stop him.

"Don't."

His expression crumbled.

"Elena, what I feel for you is real."

"How am I supposed to believe that when you've been hiding the truth from me?"

Before Adrian could answer, a voice interrupted them.

"She's right, you know."

They both turned.

A young woman stood a few feet away, dressed elegantly in black. She held a brown envelope against her chest.

Adrian's expression changed instantly.

"Victoria," he said coldly. "What are you doing here?"

Victoria smiled.

"Saving Elena from another one of your lies."

Elena looked between them.

"You two know each other?"

Victoria laughed softly.

"Oh, sweetheart. Adrian and I know each other very well."

Adrian stepped forward.

"Don't you dare."

"Or what?" Victoria challenged. "You'll hide another family secret?"

She turned to Elena and held out the envelope.

"Everything you need to know about your father's disappearance is inside."

Elena hesitated before taking it.

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing." Victoria's smile faded. "I just think you deserve to know who you're falling in love with."

Adrian grabbed Victoria's wrist.

"I said stop!"

Victoria pulled free.

"You're too late, Adrian."

She looked directly at Elena.

"Ask him about the night your father disappeared. Ask him where he was."

Elena slowly turned towards Adrian.

"Where were you that night?"

Adrian's lips parted, but no answer came.

For the first time, Elena saw something in his eyes that frightened her.

Fear.

Not fear of losing an argument.

Fear of being exposed.

She opened the envelope.

Inside was a newspaper clipping, a handwritten letter, and a photograph.

Her fingers trembled as she unfolded the letter.

The handwriting was unmistakable.

It belonged to her father.

She read the first line.

My dearest Elena, if you're reading this, it means I failed to protect you from the truth about the Westbridge family.

Her breath caught.

Then she read the final sentence.

Whatever happens, never trust the son.

Elena slowly raised her eyes to Adrian.

He looked as though his entire world had collapsed.

"Elena," he whispered. "Please let me explain."

She clutched the letter against her chest.

"Tell me one thing, Adrian."

He nodded desperately.

"Anything."

Her voice broke.

"Did you know what your father did to mine?"

Adrian stared at her.

And this time, he couldn't hide behind another lie.

"Yes," he whispered.

Elena felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.

Victoria watched silently as tears rolled down Elena's cheeks.

Then Adrian said something that made Elena's blood run cold.

"But there's something else you need to know."

She looked at him one last time.

"What?"

Adrian swallowed hard.

"Your father didn't disappear because of my family. He disappeared because he discovered what YOUR family had done."

Elena froze.

"What are you talking about?"

Adrian looked at the letter in her hands.

"Your father wasn't the innocent man you think he was."

Suddenly, Elena's phone rang.

The caller ID displayed a number she hadn't seen in years.

A number she thought no longer existed.

Her father's number.

With trembling fingers, she answered.

"Hello?"

For several seconds, there was only silence.

Then a familiar voice whispered:

"Elena, my little girl… don't trust Adrian. He's not the only one lying to you."

The call ended.

Elena stared at her phone in disbelief.

Her father was alive.

But if he was alive, why had he abandoned her?

And why did he sound afraid?

TO BE CONTINUED… 🖤