THE WOMAN BEFORE HER
1677 Words
Chapter 4
The bedroom door remained closed.
Amelia stood several feet away from Adrian, her phone still clutched tightly in her hand.
Her heart was beating so hard that she could hear it.
Adrian didn't move.
He simply watched her.
"Who sent the messages?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Amelia swallowed.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Then give me the phone."
She shook her head.
"No."
Adrian took one slow step toward her.
Amelia instinctively stepped backward.
His eyes immediately noticed the movement.
Something flickered across his face.
"You are afraid of me."
It wasn't a question.
Amelia said nothing.
"Good."
Her eyes widened.
"Good?"
"It means you're finally beginning to understand that this isn't a game."
"Then tell me the truth."
Adrian stared at her.
"About what?"
"The woman who was married to you before me."
For the first time, Adrian went completely still.
Amelia's heart sank.
So it was true.
There had been a woman.
And something had happened to her.
"Who told you?"
"The message."
"What exactly did it say?"
Amelia hesitated.
Then she repeated it.
"The last woman who tried to become Mrs. Blackwood never survived long enough to wear the ring."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Delete it."
"What?"
"Delete the message."
"No."
His eyes darkened.
"Amelia."
"I want answers."
"You don't know what you're asking for."
"Then tell me."
Silence.
Adrian turned away from her and walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Finally, he spoke.
"Her name was Victoria."
Amelia remained silent.
"She was not my wife."
"But you were engaged?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Adrian's fingers tightened around the edge of the curtain.
"She disappeared."
Amelia's stomach dropped.
"Disappeared?"
"Three years ago."
"Did you report it?"
"Yes."
"Did they find her?"
"No."
"Is she dead?"
Adrian turned toward her.
"We don't know."
Amelia stared at him.
"Then why would someone say she didn't survive?"
"Because someone wants you afraid."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You must have an idea."
"I have several."
"Then tell me."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"No."
Amelia let out a frustrated breath.
"You expect me to live in this house while strangers send me death threats, and you won't tell me anything?"
"I expect you to trust me."
"Why should I?"
"Because I am the only person in this house who will protect you."
Amelia laughed bitterly.
"You are the reason I'm trapped here."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"You're not trapped."
"Then let me leave."
He said nothing.
"Exactly."
She walked toward the door.
Adrian moved before she could reach it.
He stood between her and the exit.
"Move."
"No."
"Adrian."
"You are staying here tonight."
"Because of the messages?"
"Because I don't know who sent them."
"I can protect myself."
"No."
His answer was immediate.
"You can't."
Amelia's pride was wounded.
"You don't know what I'm capable of."
"I know exactly what you're capable of."
She stared at him.
"And what is that?"
"You're brave."
His voice softened.
"Too brave."
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Adrian stepped aside.
"Sleep."
Amelia looked at him suspiciously.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
He walked to the door.
Before opening it, he stopped.
"Lock your balcony."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because the garden isn't as empty as it looks."
He left.
Amelia rushed to the balcony doors and locked them.
Then she pulled the curtains closed.
---
The next morning, the mansion was unusually busy.
People were moving around the house.
Flowers were being arranged.
Staff members carried boxes through the hallways.
Amelia walked downstairs and found Mrs. Evelyn giving instructions.
"What is happening?"
Mrs. Evelyn smiled.
"The engagement announcement."
Amelia's eyes widened.
"Today?"
"Yes."
"But I wasn't prepared."
"You have an entire wardrobe upstairs."
"That's not what I mean."
Mrs. Evelyn understood.
"You mean emotionally."
Amelia nodded.
The older woman sighed.
"Mrs. Blackwood..."
"Please don't call me that yet."
Mrs. Evelyn smiled faintly.
"You will get used to it."
"I don't think I will."
Mrs. Evelyn looked at her carefully.
"Nobody does at first."
Amelia frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The housekeeper immediately returned to arranging the flowers.
"Nothing."
"Mrs. Evelyn."
"Yes?"
"Did you know Victoria?"
The older woman's hands stopped.
For a second, the room was silent.
Then she continued working.
"Yes."
"What was she like?"
Mrs. Evelyn looked toward the staircase.
"Beautiful."
"Did she love Adrian?"
A long pause.
"Yes."
"And did he love her?"
Mrs. Evelyn's expression became sad.
"I don't know."
Amelia noticed something in her face.
"You do know something."
"I know that this house has seen too much sadness."
Before Amelia could ask another question, footsteps sounded behind them.
Adrian.
He walked into the room wearing a perfectly tailored black suit.
His eyes immediately went to Amelia.
She was wearing a simple dress.
He studied her silently.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You've been staring."
"I was looking."
"At me."
"Yes."
Amelia folded her arms.
"Do I look strange?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Adrian walked closer.
"You look beautiful."
Amelia froze.
It was the first genuine compliment he had given her.
She looked away.
"Thank you."
His gaze lingered on her.
Then he turned to Mrs. Evelyn.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good."
Amelia looked at him.
"Where are we going?"
"To the Blackwood headquarters."
"Why?"
"The press will be there."
Her stomach tightened.
"You didn't tell me there would be press."
"I didn't think it mattered."
"It matters to me."
Adrian looked at her.
"From today, people will know your name."
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
He stepped closer.
"You'll be fine."
"And if I'm not?"
His voice became quiet.
"Then stay beside me."
---
Blackwood Enterprises was surrounded by reporters.
The moment Adrian's car arrived, cameras began flashing.
Amelia's heart raced.
The car door opened.
Adrian stepped out first.
Immediately, reporters surrounded him.
"Mr. Blackwood!"
"Is it true you're engaged?"
"Who is the woman?"
"How long have you been together?"
Adrian ignored them.
Then he turned toward the car.
He extended his hand.
Amelia stared at it.
For a second, she hesitated.
Then she placed her hand in his.
The cameras exploded.
Flash after flash.
Adrian's fingers closed around hers.
Firmly.
Possessively.
Amelia looked at him.
He leaned toward her.
"Smile."
She whispered, "I hate this."
"I know."
"You seem to enjoy it."
"I enjoy knowing you're beside me."
She looked at him.
He was serious.
Before she could respond, a reporter shouted:
"Mr. Blackwood! Is this the woman who replaced Victoria?"
The crowd went silent.
Amelia's smile disappeared.
Adrian's expression became terrifying.
The reporter continued.
"People are saying your previous fiancée disappeared because of you. Is that true?"
Adrian stepped forward.
The temperature around him seemed to drop.
"Ask me another question."
The reporter swallowed.
"Sir—"
"Another."
Nobody spoke.
Adrian looked at the cameras.
"My private life is not entertainment."
Then he turned toward Amelia.
"Let's go."
They entered the building.
The moment the doors closed behind them, Amelia pulled her hand away.
"You knew they'd ask about her."
"I suspected."
"You should have told me."
"I didn't want you worried."
"Too late."
Adrian stared at her.
"You handled yourself well."
"Don't change the subject."
"I'm not."
"You expect me to pretend everything is normal?"
"No."
He stepped closer.
"I expect you to understand that from today, people will try to use you to get to me."
Amelia's eyes narrowed.
"And what are you going to do about it?"
His answer was immediate.
"Protect you."
She looked away.
"I don't need a bodyguard."
"You have one."
"What?"
"Two, actually."
She turned sharply.
"Two?"
"They're outside your room."
"You put guards outside my room?"
"Yes."
"Without asking me?"
"Yes."
"You're unbelievable."
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"You're welcome."
Amelia almost screamed.
---
That evening, Amelia returned to the mansion exhausted.
She entered her room and immediately noticed something wrong.
One of the drawers was open.
She was certain she had closed it.
She approached slowly.
Her heart began pounding.
Inside the drawer was a photograph.
She picked it up.
It showed Adrian.
Standing beside Victoria.
They looked happy.
Very happy.
Amelia stared at the picture.
Then she noticed something written on the back.
He doesn't love you.
Her fingers trembled.
She turned the photograph over again.
Another line was written beneath it.
Ask him what happened on the night Victoria disappeared.
Amelia's breathing became shallow.
She heard footsteps in the hallway.
She quickly hid the photograph under her pillow.
The door opened.
Adrian walked inside.
He looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
His eyes narrowed.
"You look frightened."
"I'm tired."
He stepped closer.
"Amelia."
She looked into his eyes.
"What happened the night Victoria disappeared?"
Adrian froze.
The room became completely silent.
His face changed.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Something deeper.
Something darker.
"Who told you to ask me that?"
Amelia didn't answer.
He took another step toward her.
"Amelia."
She stood her ground.
"What happened?"
Adrian stared at her for several seconds.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
"Victoria didn't disappear."
Amelia's eyes widened.
"Then where is she?"
Adrian's voice dropped to a whisper.
"She's alive."
Amelia's heart stopped.
"Where?"
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
He answered.
"Speak."
A man's frightened voice came through.
Adrian listened.
His face became colder with every second.
Then he hung up.
Amelia watched him.
"What happened?"
He looked at her.
"Someone just found Victoria."
Amelia's breath caught.
"Where?"
Adrian's eyes locked onto hers.
"At the Blackwood cemetery."
A chill passed through her.
"The cemetery?"
He nodded.
"And she left something for you."
Amelia's heart pounded.
"For me?"
Adrian walked toward the door.
"What did she leave?"
He stopped.
"A warning."
"About what?"
He looked back at her.
"About me."
Then he walked out.
Amelia remained frozen in the room.
The photograph beneath her pillow suddenly felt much heavier.
Because now she knew one thing for certain.
Victoria was alive.
And somehow, she had already entered Amelia's life.
The question was no longer why did Victoria disappear?
The question was—
What did she know about Adrian Blackwood that could destroy him?
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