THE COLD CEO OBSESSIVE POSSESSION

THE WARNING

Chapter 5:

The word cemetery kept repeating inside Amelia's head.

She stood in the middle of her bedroom, staring at the closed door through which Adrian had disappeared.

Victoria was alive.

The woman everyone believed had vanished three years ago was alive.

And she had left a warning.

A warning about Adrian.

Amelia's hand slowly moved beneath her pillow.

Her fingers touched the photograph.

She pulled it out.

Adrian and Victoria stared back at her from another life.

They looked happy.

Too happy.

Amelia turned the photograph over.

He doesn't love you.

She swallowed.

Then she remembered Adrian's words.

"Victoria didn't disappear."

"She's alive."

"She left something for you."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Why her?

She barely knew Adrian.

She had only been his fiancée for a short time.

Why would Victoria leave a warning specifically for her?

Amelia hurried toward the door.

She needed answers.

But when she opened it, two men immediately stood outside.

The guards.

They straightened.

"Mrs. Blackwood."

Amelia frowned.

"Where is Adrian?"

"Mr. Blackwood asked us to remain here."

"That wasn't my question."

One of them looked uncomfortable.

"He went downstairs."

Amelia walked past them.

"Wait, Mrs. Blackwood."

She stopped.

"Where are you going?"

"Downstairs."

"We were instructed not to let you leave the floor."

Amelia turned slowly.

"Excuse me?"

"Mr. Blackwood said—"

"I don't care what Mr. Blackwood said."

The guard stepped in front of her.

"Please."

Amelia stared at him.

"I am not a prisoner."

"No, ma'am."

"Then move."

The guards exchanged a look.

Finally, they stepped aside.

Amelia walked downstairs.

But Adrian wasn't there.

She found Mrs. Evelyn in the sitting room.

"Where is he?"

"Who?"

"Adrian."

Mrs. Evelyn's face became serious.

"He left."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"Did he go to the cemetery?"

The older woman's eyes widened.

"You know about that?"

"Yes."

Mrs. Evelyn looked away.

"Then you know more than you should."

Amelia stepped closer.

"Tell me about Victoria."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because some secrets are dangerous."

"So is ignorance."

Mrs. Evelyn sighed.

"You should ask Mr. Blackwood."

"I did."

"And?"

"He refused to answer."

The housekeeper looked at her sadly.

"Then perhaps he has a reason."

Amelia shook her head.

"Everyone in this house keeps saying that."

She walked away.

---

Three hours later, Adrian returned.

It was almost midnight.

Amelia was sitting in the living room waiting for him.

The moment he entered, his eyes found her.

"You should be sleeping."

"You should be explaining."

He removed his coat.

"Not tonight."

"Where were you?"

"Out."

"With Victoria?"

His hand stopped.

He looked at her.

"Who told you?"

"No one."

"Then how did you know?"

"You said she was found."

Adrian walked toward her.

"Did you speak to anyone while I was gone?"

"No."

"Did anyone come here?"

"No."

"Did anyone call you?"

"No."

His expression remained suspicious.

"Then answer my question."

"Which one?"

"Why are you so interested in Victoria?"

Amelia stood.

"Because she left a warning."

"She left you a photograph."

Amelia froze.

Adrian's eyes dropped briefly toward her handbag.

"You've seen it."

She said nothing.

"Give it to me."

"No."

"Amelia."

"No."

He walked closer.

"I am not asking again."

She held the photograph tightly.

"Why?"

"Because it isn't yours."

"It has your picture on it."

"It belongs to the past."

"Then why are you afraid of it?"

Adrian's eyes darkened.

"I'm not afraid."

"Then tell me the truth."

He stared at her.

Finally, he reached into his pocket and removed his phone.

He placed it on the table.

Then he looked at her.

"Victoria and I were engaged."

"I know."

"We were supposed to marry."

"I know."

"Three days before the wedding, she disappeared."

Amelia listened silently.

"Her family blamed me."

"Did you hurt her?"

"No."

"Did you have anything to do with her disappearance?"

"No."

"Then why did she leave you?"

Adrian's expression hardened.

"I don't know."

"She said you don't love me."

A muscle moved in his jaw.

"Victoria was wrong."

Amelia's heart skipped.

She wasn't expecting that answer.

"Then you do love me?"

Adrian stared at her.

"You've known me for days."

"Exactly."

"So don't ask me questions you already know the answer to."

She looked away.

"You're right."

He stepped closer.

"But there is something you should know."

"What?"

"Victoria isn't the person you think she is."

Amelia frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"She didn't disappear because she was afraid of me."

"Then why?"

"Because she was afraid of someone else."

"Who?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Amelia's frustration grew.

"You keep doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Giving me half the truth."

"Because the full truth could put you in danger."

She laughed bitterly.

"I already live in your house with armed guards outside my door."

Adrian's expression softened.

"Those guards are there because I don't want anything happening to you."

"I didn't ask for them."

"I know."

"Then stop controlling me."

He stared at her.

"I don't know how."

The words surprised both of them.

For the first time, Amelia saw something vulnerable in his eyes.

It disappeared almost immediately.

Adrian looked away.

"Go to bed."

She shook her head.

"Not until you answer one question."

"What?"

"Why did you choose me?"

Silence.

Long silence.

Adrian finally looked at her.

"Because you were the only woman I trusted."

"Why?"

"Because three months ago, I watched you refuse a diamond bracelet worth millions."

Amelia frowned.

"I told you that already."

"No."

His voice became quieter.

"There's more."

She waited.

"I was the man sitting inside the black car."

Amelia's breath caught.

"I know."

"No."

Adrian stepped closer.

"You didn't see me."

She stared at him.

"What do you mean?"

"I watched you."

His voice was almost a whisper.

"You were crying. You thought nobody cared."

Amelia felt uncomfortable.

"You watched me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's the truth."

His gaze remained fixed on hers.

"Something about you caught my attention."

Amelia didn't know what to say.

"I followed your life after that night."

Her eyes widened.

"You what?"

"I wanted to know who you were."

"That's stalking."

"Perhaps."

"You had people investigate me."

"Yes."

"That's insane."

"I know."

"Why would you do that?"

Adrian stepped closer.

"Because I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Amelia's heart skipped.

He continued.

"I told myself it was curiosity."

"And?"

"It wasn't."

The room became silent.

Adrian looked at her as if he were fighting something inside himself.

"From the moment I saw you, something changed."

Amelia's voice was barely audible.

"What changed?"

His eyes lowered to her lips for a brief moment.

Then he looked back into her eyes.

"Everything."

---

The next morning, Amelia woke to the sound of her phone ringing.

Unknown number.

She answered cautiously.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

A woman's voice finally spoke.

"Amelia."

She froze.

"Who is this?"

"Don't trust him."

Amelia sat upright.

"Who?"

"You know who."

"Victoria?"

The woman breathed heavily.

"Listen carefully."

Amelia's heart pounded.

"How do you know my name?"

"Because he chose you."

"Who?"

"Adrian."

Amelia gripped the phone.

"What are you talking about?"

"You weren't chosen because of the contract."

"Then why?"

The woman hesitated.

"Because you are connected to his family."

Amelia's blood ran cold.

"What?"

"Your father—"

The call suddenly ended.

"Hello?"

Amelia stared at the phone.

"Hello?"

Nothing.

She immediately called back.

The number didn't exist.

Her heart raced.

Her father.

What did her father have to do with Adrian?

She barely remembered him.

He had disappeared from her life when she was young.

Her mother had always refused to talk about him.

Amelia jumped out of bed.

She needed answers.

She rushed downstairs.

Adrian was already sitting at the breakfast table.

He looked up.

"You look frightened."

"My father."

Adrian's expression changed.

"What about him?"

"Do you know him?"

Silence.

Amelia stared at him.

"You do."

Adrian slowly placed his cup down.

"Who told you?"

"Answer me."

"Amelia—"

"Do you know my father?"

He looked away.

That was enough.

Her heart sank.

"You know him."

Adrian stood.

"There's something you need to understand."

"What?"

"Your father isn't who you think he is."

"Then who is he?"

Adrian walked toward her.

"He was my father's closest friend."

Amelia froze.

"What?"

"And before he disappeared..."

Adrian paused.

"He betrayed my family."

The room went silent.

Amelia could barely breathe.

"What did he do?"

Adrian looked into her eyes.

"He stole something from us."

"What?"

"Something worth more than money."

"What?"

Adrian's voice became cold.

"A secret."

Before Amelia could ask anything else, a loud crash came from upstairs.

Both of them turned.

One of the guards came running down the stairs.

"Sir!"

Adrian's expression hardened.

"What happened?"

"The woman's room."

"What about it?"

The guard swallowed.

"Someone broke into it."

Amelia's heart stopped.

"What?"

Adrian immediately grabbed her hand.

"Stay behind me."

They rushed upstairs.

Amelia's bedroom door was wide open.

The room had been completely searched.

Drawers were pulled out.

Clothes were scattered across the floor.

The mattress had been moved.

And on the center of the bed lay a single red rose.

Beside it was a note.

Adrian picked it up.

His face went pale.

Amelia looked at him.

"What does it say?"

He didn't answer.

She took the note from his hand.

Her eyes moved across the words.

YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT HER ALONE, ADRIAN.

Below that was another sentence.

NOW SHE WILL PAY FOR WHAT HER FATHER DID.

Amelia's blood turned cold.

Adrian's hand tightened around hers.

For the first time, there was unmistakable fear in his eyes.

Not for himself.

For her.

He pulled her against him.

"You're not leaving my side."

Amelia looked up at him.

"Adrian..."

His voice was deadly serious.

"From this moment onward, you're under my protection."

She stared at the note.

Someone had entered a supposedly secure mansion.

Someone knew about her father.

Someone knew about Victoria.

And someone had made it clear that Amelia was now the target.

But what frightened her most was the final line written at the bottom of the note.

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR BIRTH WILL DESTROY YOU.

Amelia's fingers went cold.

Her birth?

What could possibly be wrong with the way she had been born?

And why did Adrian look as though he already knew the answer?