The Surprise
1617 Words
The photograph remained between them.
Elena couldn't take her eyes off it.
Daniel was standing beside a man she didn't recognize. Her brother looked thinner than she remembered, but there was no mistaking him.
He was alive.
That single truth was enough to make her heart ache.
But Adrian's reaction worried her more.
He had gone completely silent.
“You know him,” Elena said again.
Adrian looked at the photograph.
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
Adrian took a slow breath.
“His name is Vincent Cross.”
Elena stared at him.
“Cross?”
“My father's younger brother.”
She frowned.
“Your uncle?”
Adrian nodded.
“But your family said he died.”
“They did.”
“When?”
“Fourteen years ago.”
Elena looked back at the photograph.
“Then why is he standing beside my brother?”
“I don't know.”
Adrian took the photograph from her.
His eyes remained fixed on Vincent's face.
“I watched his funeral.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Are you sure?”
“I was seventeen.”
Adrian's voice became quieter.
“I remember standing beside my father while they lowered the coffin.”
“Then someone has been pretending to be dead.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Apparently.”
The lights suddenly came back on.
Both of them turned toward the door.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
Adrian walked toward it carefully.
He opened the door.
No one was there.
Only the piece of paper remained on the floor.
He picked it up.
On the back was another message.
Seven days. No delays.
Elena walked over.
“Whoever is doing this wants us married.”
Adrian nodded.
“But why?”
“Maybe because they think we're easier to control together.”
“Or maybe they need something from the marriage.”
Elena remembered the contract.
“The companies.”
Adrian looked at her.
“The merger.”
She nodded.
“If the two families become connected again, they gain access to both companies.”
Adrian's expression darkened.
“Which means the marriage may be part of a larger business scheme.”
Elena folded her arms.
“Then we need to understand exactly what we're signing.”
Adrian reached for his phone.
“I'll have my lawyers prepare everything.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I want to see the contract before anyone else does.”
“You will.”
“And I want my own lawyer.”
“Fine.”
“And there will be no hidden clauses.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“You haven't changed.”
“I hope not.”
For a moment, the tension between them softened.
Then Adrian's expression became serious again.
“There is one problem.”
“What?”
“If we go through with this, the entire city will know we're getting married.”
Elena looked at him.
“That's inevitable.”
“And everyone will start asking questions.”
“Let them.”
“You disappeared once.”
Elena's eyes hardened.
“This time, I'm not running.”
Adrian held her gaze.
“Good.”
---
The following morning, the news broke.
It happened faster than Elena expected.
A photograph appeared online.
She and Adrian were leaving the office building together.
The headline underneath it read:
ADRIAN CROSS'S MYSTERY WOMAN REVEALED?
Within hours, the story had spread everywhere.
Elena's phone wouldn't stop ringing.
Her friends sent messages.
Former colleagues called.
Reporters waited outside her apartment.
Then another headline appeared.
ELENA VALE RETURNS AFTER THREE YEARS.
She stared at the screen.
Her secret identity was gone.
The entire city knew she was alive.
Her hands began to shake.
Adrian called.
“Don't leave your apartment.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
“Security is on the way.”
“Adrian…”
“What?”
“Someone leaked my identity.”
“I know.”
“Was it you?”
Silence.
“No.”
Elena believed him.
But the question remained.
“Then who?”
“I don't know.”
She looked through the curtains.
A black vehicle was parked across the street.
“There's a car outside.”
“What does it look like?”
“Black SUV.”
“Stay away from the windows.”
“Why?”
“Because our enemies aren't interested in frightening you anymore.”
Elena's heart tightened.
“What are they interested in?”
Adrian's voice lowered.
“They're trying to make you disappear again.”
The call ended.
Minutes later, someone knocked on Elena's door.
She froze.
“Who is it?”
“Security.”
She looked through the peephole.
A man in a dark suit stood outside.
He held up an identification card.
Elena unlocked the door.
The moment she opened it, the man stepped inside.
“Ms. Vale, we need to leave.”
“Where?”
“Mr. Cross has arranged a secure location.”
Elena grabbed her bag.
As she walked toward the elevator, she noticed something strange.
The security man's reflection appeared in the mirrored wall.
He wasn't wearing the same identification badge anymore.
Elena stopped.
“Wait.”
The man turned.
“What is it?”
She looked at his badge.
The name was different.
Her heart dropped.
“You're not Adrian's security.”
The man's expression changed.
He reached for his phone.
Elena stepped backward.
Then the elevator doors opened.
Someone grabbed her arm from behind.
She cried out.
But before anything else could happen, another figure rushed from the stairwell.
Adrian.
He pulled Elena away.
“Run!”
She didn't question him.
They hurried down the emergency stairs.
Behind them, footsteps followed.
Adrian kept Elena close as they reached the parking garage.
A car was waiting.
“Get in.”
They climbed inside.
The driver accelerated immediately.
Elena looked back.
Two men appeared at the entrance.
“Who were they?”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“People who don't want you alive long enough to reach the wedding.”
Elena looked at him.
“You knew this could happen.”
“Yes.”
“And you still asked me to marry you?”
Adrian looked directly at her.
“Because I believe you're safer with me than alone.”
She looked away.
“That sounds like another excuse to control me.”
“I don't want to control you.”
“Then what do you want?”
Adrian was silent.
Finally, he answered.
“I want the truth.”
Elena looked at him.
“So do I.”
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither looked away.
Then the driver interrupted.
“We're here.”
The car stopped outside a large private estate surrounded by high walls.
Elena stepped out.
“This isn't your house.”
“No.”
“Whose is it?”
Adrian looked toward the entrance.
“My mother's.”
Elena froze.
“Your mother is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then why are we here?”
Adrian opened the door.
“Because after she died, she left this place in my name.”
They entered.
The house was quiet.
Dust covered several pieces of furniture, but everything else looked untouched.
Elena walked into the study.
A portrait hung above the fireplace.
Adrian's mother.
She looked elegant and composed.
Elena stared at the portrait.
Something about it felt familiar.
Then she noticed the necklace around the woman's neck.
Her eyes widened.
“I've seen that before.”
Adrian turned.
“Where?”
“In my father's office.”
He approached the portrait.
“What are you talking about?”
“The necklace.”
Elena pointed.
“My father had a photograph of your mother wearing it.”
Adrian's expression changed.
He moved toward the fireplace.
There was a small locked drawer beneath it.
He pulled out a key.
The drawer opened.
Inside was a letter.
Adrian picked it up.
The envelope had his name on it.
For Adrian, when Elena returns.
His breathing stopped.
Elena stepped closer.
“Open it.”
Adrian slowly tore the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
He read the first line.
Then his face went pale.
“What does it say?” Elena asked.
He handed her the letter.
Elena read it.
Her hands began to tremble.
The letter contained only one warning:
Adrian, if Elena ever returns, don't let her marry you until you discover what happened to Daniel.
Elena looked up.
“Your mother knew.”
Adrian stared at the letter.
“She knew everything.”
Before either of them could say another word, a sound came from upstairs.
A door slammed.
They both looked toward the ceiling.
Adrian immediately reached for his phone.
The house was supposed to be empty.
Yet someone was inside.
Elena whispered,
“Who could be here?”
Adrian looked at her.
“I don't know.”
Then another sound came from upstairs.
This time, it was unmistakable.
Footsteps.
Someone was walking toward the stairs.
And then a man's voice echoed through the house.
“Elena?”
She froze.
She knew that voice.
Her eyes widened.
“Daniel?”
The footsteps stopped.
For three years, Elena had dreamed of hearing her brother's voice again.
Now it was coming from the floor above them.
Adrian stared at the staircase.
“Elena, stay behind me.”
But she was already moving.
“Daniel!”
She ran upstairs.
Adrian followed.
At the end of the hallway stood a man.
Tall.
Pale.
Older than the brother she remembered.
But unmistakably Daniel Vale.
Elena stopped.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Daniel?”
He looked at her.
And whispered,
“You shouldn't have come back.”
End of Episode 7.
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