My Husband's Secret Twin

Chapter 7

Chapter 7.

The night air was colder than usual as Elara drove home with Damien. Throughout the journey, her mind kept spinning, trying to make sense of the strange pieces that were beginning to form a dark picture of the world she had entered. Vale Mansion loomed silently before them, the dim lights in the long corridors emphasizing how large and empty it was.

As soon as the door closed, Elara turned quickly to Damien. "Explain," she demanded in a trembling voice. "What do you mean by threats?"

Damien took off his black coat with a quiet gesture, but his eyes were sharp, full of secrecy. He placed the coat on the back of the chair, then took a sip of the glass of water the waiter had prepared before actually answering.

"It has to do with Adrian's past," he said finally, his voice deep and controlled. "A past he never told you about."

Elara frowned.

"What past? Adrian always said he was clean. He's always kept his distance from dirty politics and gray business. He even used to sneer at people who dealt with that world."

Damien smiled slightly, but it wasn't a comforting smile. It was more like an irony that only he understood.

"She's good at keeping up an image, Elara. You married Adrian who you saw before your eyes as calm, classy, and seemingly flawless. But underneath that, he has a trail. And that trail... now puts you in danger."

Elara felt her heart pounding inside her chest. It seemed impossible. Adrian, the man she fell in love with, was involved in something dirty? She clenched her fingers together, trying to stop herself from trembling.

"What do you mean?" Her voice was almost a whisper. "Adrian is not that kind of person."

Damien stepped closer, his eyes piercing, as if to make sure Elara had no room for denial.

"You think I'm lying?" he asked flatly. "You think I'm standing here making up stories? I may not be your choice, Elara, but trust me on one thing. Only I can keep you alive. Only I can protect you from the people who are now targeting the Vale's name."

Elara swallowed, her throat dry. His words were like daggers, both frightening and reassuring. But her heart rebelled.

"Then." Elara took a deep breath, looking at Damien with teary eyes. "Where's Adrian?"

The question hung in the air, breaking the silence of the room. Damien didn't answer immediately. He just stood still, staring at Elara for a long time. His face was hard to read whether he was angry, sad, or cold as usual.

The silence made Elara even more panicked. "Damien!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "I have a right to know! Where is my husband?"

Damien exhaled, as if the answer was too much to say. His eyes dimmed, then in a low voice, he said, "You're not going to like the answer."

Elara felt her knees go weak. Her body almost faltered, but before she could fall, Damien turned around and grabbed something from the desk drawer in his study. He walked back, carrying a small box wrapped in black leather.

"Look at this."

Elara stared at the box in confusion, then with trembling hands she opened it. Inside was a watch. It was a silver watch with a small engraving on the back.

Her eyes widened immediately. Her breath caught in her throat.

It was not just any watch. It was the watch she had given Adrian for his birthday. She even remembered that Adrian smiled and accepted it, saying that he would never let it go.

Tears welled up in Elara's eyes. Her fingers touched the watch carefully, as if touching something fragile. "This... this was Adrian's," she whispered, barely audible. "He always wore it. He... he even said that this watch brought him good luck."

Damien nodded slowly. His gaze was dark and serious. "This watch was found on the city docks. Alone. Without its owner."

Elara sobbed, her chest tight. She shook her head violently.

"No... that's not possible. Adrian wouldn't give up this watch. It can't be the only thing found. No way."

Damien stared at her for a long moment, then in a quiet voice that grew increasingly piercing, he added.

"It's the only thing we found. And that means." He paused, looking at Elara with a cold but heavy gaze. "Adrian is probably dead."

The words hit Elara harder than anything she had ever heard. The world seemed to spin, the floor shifting beneath her feet. Her hands shook violently, her watch almost slipping out of her grasp.

"No..." Her voice broke, tears in her eyes. "Don't say that. Don't you dare say Adrian is dead!"

Damien didn't answer. He just stood there, looking at her with a serious face, as if not wanting to give her false hope. The silence it brought was far more frightening than a thousand words.

Elara knelt down, hugging the box as if she could hug Adrian through the inanimate object.

Her tears flowed freely, mixed with anger, pain, and loss.

Damien, who was usually cold, stepped closer. For a moment, there was something in his eyes, pity, or perhaps regret. But he didn't say a word of comfort. He just stood beside Elara, letting her cry, letting her face the harsh reality she had just revealed.

In her head, Elara could only wonder if Adrian was really gone, or was this just part of the Vale family's dark game that she had yet to fully understand?