Chapter 4: The Husband I Wanted To Destroy
2346 Words
Type your text or you can copy the content of the file which suffixed. ’doc’ or ’.txt’ to here. The content must be 200 words at leastThe sound of the gunshot echoed through the room.
For a few seconds, Alina could not understand what had happened.
Everything moved too quickly.
One moment she was standing in front of Lucien, demanding answers.
The next moment, she was on the floor with his arms wrapped around her.
Then she saw the blood.
Her eyes widened.
“Lucien.”
He did not respond immediately.
His body was tense.
His breathing was controlled.
Like he was trying to ignore the pain.
But she saw it.
The small change in his expression.
The way his hand pressed against his side.
He was hurt.
Because of her.
“Are you okay?”
The question made her angry.
Even now.
Even after taking a bullet for her, he was worried about her.
She pushed against him.
“Are you seriously asking me if I am okay?”
His eyes met hers.
“I need to know.”
She stared at him.
The man she came to destroy was bleeding.
The man she believed had betrayed her had just protected her again.
And she hated that she did not know what to feel.
“You are unbelievable.”
His brows moved slightly.
“Why?”
“Because you keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Acting like you care.”
The words came out sharper than she intended.
Lucien looked at her.
Not angry.
Not hurt.
Just tired.
“Alina.”
“No.”
She stood quickly.
Her hands were shaking.
“You do not get to save me and expect everything to disappear.”
“I do not.”
“Then what do you expect?”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“I expect you to stay alive.”
The answer silenced her.
Because there was no pride in his voice.
No attempt to win.
Just fear.
Real fear.
She looked at the blood on his shirt.
“You could have died.”
“Yes.”
“And you still moved in front of me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Lucien did not answer.
That hurt more than anything.
Because she knew there was a reason.
There was always a reason with him.
Before she could ask again, footsteps approached.
Security entered the room.
Lucien immediately changed.
The cold businessman returned.
“Lock down the building.”
The guards nodded.
“Find every exit.”
Alina watched him.
Even injured, he was in control.
Even bleeding, everyone listened.
That was Lucien.
The man who built an empire.
The man who destroyed enemies without mercy.
The man who somehow became the person standing between her and death.
A paramedic arrived.
Lucien refused to leave until he was sure Alina was safe.
She noticed.
And it annoyed her.
Because she wanted to hate him.
She needed to hate him.
But every action made it harder.
After the bullet was removed, Lucien sat in his office.
The wound was not life threatening.
But it was enough to remind everyone how close they had come.
Alina stood near the window.
She did not know why she was still there.
She should have left.
She should have walked away.
But she stayed.
Lucien noticed.
“You can go.”
She looked at him.
“Is that what you want?”
His expression changed slightly.
“No.”
The honesty surprised her.
She crossed her arms.
“At least you admit something.”
Lucien looked down.
“I have admitted many things.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Like what?”
He looked at her.
“That I failed you.”
The words caught her off guard.
She expected excuses.
She expected him to defend himself.
Instead, he accepted the blame.
“You did.”
“I know.”
“You decided I was too weak to know the truth.”
“Yes.”
“You took away my choice.”
“Yes.”
She stepped closer.
“Do you understand what that felt like?”
Lucien looked at her.
His silence was answer enough.
“You let me wake up in a room with no idea what happened.”
“I know.”
“You let me read about my own funeral.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“You let me believe you hated me.”
His voice became quiet.
“I know.”
Her eyes burned.
“Then why?”
For the first time, Lucien looked like he was struggling.
Because the answer was not simple.
“I thought if you hated me, you would stay away.”
“And?”
“And you would survive.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You really believed you could control everything.”
“No.”
His eyes met hers.
“I believed I could control the danger.”
She shook her head.
“That is the same thing.”
Maybe it was.
Maybe that was Lucien’s biggest flaw.
He protected people by making decisions for them.
He loved by controlling.
He feared losing by pushing people away.
And she hated that she understood him.
Because she knew him.
Even after everything.
She still knew him.
“Who is after me?”
Lucien became serious.
The change was immediate.
“Someone we trusted.”
Her heart sank.
“We?”
“Yes.”
“You keep saying we.”
“Because this involves both of us.”
“Who?”
He looked away.
“Not here.”
She stepped closer.
“No.”
Her voice became firm.
“You do not get to hide things again.”
Lucien looked at her.
“I am not hiding.”
“You are.”
He remained silent.
She pointed toward the door.
“If you want me to believe you, then start telling me the truth.”
Lucien studied her.
Then he finally said,
“Her name is Seraphine Hale.”
The name meant nothing.
Alina frowned.
“Who is she?”
Lucien’s expression darkened.
“Someone from my past.”
“That is not enough.”
“She is dangerous.”
“Everyone is dangerous according to you.”
His jaw tightened.
“You do not understand.”
“Then explain.”
He looked at her.
“She knows things about you.”
Alina froze.
“What things?”
Before he could answer, every light in the building went out.
The room became dark.
Alina immediately stepped back.
Lucien reacted faster.
“Stay down.”
She heard movement.
Someone was inside.
Again.
A shadow moved across the room.
Alina felt fear rise.
Not because she was helpless.
Because she knew this person had entered one of Lucien’s most secure places.
That meant they were powerful.
A sharp sound came from behind them.
Lucien grabbed her and moved.
A blade passed where her shoulder had been.
She gasped.
The attacker moved quickly.
Lucien fought back.
Even injured, he was stronger.
Alina watched as he blocked every attack aimed at her.
Not himself.
Her.
The attacker tried again.
This time, Alina reacted.
She grabbed a metal object from the desk and struck the person.
They stumbled.
Lucien grabbed their arm.
But before they could remove the mask, they escaped through the broken window.
Silence returned.
Alina stood there, breathing heavily.
Lucien looked at the empty window.
His expression was cold.
“He wanted us to see him.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“That was not an assassination.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he had chances.”
Alina understood.
The attacker could have killed them.
But did not.
It was a message.
A warning.
Lucien walked to the window.
His eyes followed the darkness outside.
“They want us scared.”
Alina looked at him.
“Who?”
He turned.
“The person who started this.”
“Seraphine?”
A pause.
Then he nodded.
“But she is not acting alone.”
The words made her uncomfortable.
“How many people are involved?”
Lucien did not answer.
And that scared her.
Later that night, Lucien took her somewhere safe.
Not Viktor’s place.
Somewhere else.
A private house outside the city.
Alina noticed immediately.
“You have many hiding places.”
“Yes.”
“That should concern me.”
“It should.”
She looked at him.
At least he was honest.
They sat in silence.
The tension between them was unbearable.
Finally, Alina spoke.
“I saw the letter.”
Lucien looked up.
“What letter?”
“The one you wrote.”
His face changed.
For a second, he looked exposed.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
She studied him.
“You wrote that I was the key.”
Lucien looked away.
“I hoped you would never see that.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted you to have a normal life.”
She laughed.
“Normal?”
Her eyes filled with anger.
“I died.”
His expression broke slightly.
“I know.”
“No, you do not.”
She stood.
“You do not know what it feels like to see your own death.”
Lucien stood too.
“I watched it.”
The words stopped her.
“What?”
His voice was low.
“I watched the world believe I lost you.”
She stared at him.
“I saw your name removed from records.”
He swallowed.
“I saw people send flowers.”
A pause.
“I saw your coffin.”
His eyes became darker.
“And I had to stand there pretending I accepted it.”
Alina did not know what to say.
Because for the first time, she heard the pain in his voice.
Not the pain of losing control.
The pain of losing her.
“You should have told me.”
“Yes.”
“You should have trusted me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
Lucien looked at her.
“Because the person hunting you had already reached you once.”
Her heart stopped.
“What?”
He stepped closer.
“The accident was not the first attempt.”
She froze.
“There was another.”
“When?”
“Before our wedding.”
Her mind raced.
She searched through memories.
Nothing.
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying someone was watching you before I ever met you.”
The room felt colder.
“Why did you marry me?”
The question came out quietly.
Lucien went still.
Because this was the question he feared most.
“Alina.”
“Answer me.”
His eyes met hers.
“At first?”
She waited.
“At first, I married you because I needed to protect you.”
Her heart sank.
The words hurt.
Even though she expected them.
“So it was not love.”
Lucien looked at her.
“That is not what I said.”
“But it is what you mean.”
“No.”
His voice became stronger.
“When I met you, I did not know how to keep you safe without keeping you close.”
She looked away.
“And later?”
Silence.
Then he said,
“Later, I realized I was not protecting you because of a duty.”
Her eyes moved back to him.
“I was protecting you because I could not imagine losing you.”
The honesty was painful.
Because she wanted to believe it.
She wanted to forgive him.
But she was not ready.
Before she could respond, her phone rang.
Unknown number.
Lucien immediately looked serious.
“Do not answer.”
But she already did.
Silence.
Then a voice.
A woman’s voice.
“Alina.”
Her blood went cold.
She knew that voice.
Not personally.
But from somewhere.
The woman continued.
“You are searching for the truth.”
Alina said nothing.
Lucien moved closer.
“Who is this?”
The woman laughed softly.
“Still protecting her, Lucien?”
His expression changed.
“Seraphine.”
The call continued.
Alina’s heart raced.
“You ruined everything,” the woman said.
Lucien’s voice was cold.
“You tried to kill her.”
“No.”
A pause.
“I tried to reveal who she really is.”
Alina frowned.
“What does that mean?”
The woman ignored her.
“Lucien never told you, did he?”
Alina looked at him.
“Told me what?”
The woman laughed.
“That your husband did not save you.”
Lucien’s face changed.
“Enough.”
But the voice continued.
“He only delayed what was coming.”
The call ended.
Alina stared at Lucien.
The silence between them felt heavier than before.
“What did she mean?”
Lucien did not answer.
“Lucien.”
He looked at her.
And the fear in his eyes told her everything.
There was still a secret.
A bigger one.
“What is she talking about?”
Lucien lowered his gaze.
“I was hoping you would never have to know.”
Her heart sank.
“What?”
He looked back at her.
“The truth about who you were before me.”
Before she could respond, her phone received another message.
She opened it.
A picture appeared.
Her and another woman.
A woman she had never seen before.
But something about the picture terrified her.
Because she was smiling.
Happy.
Standing beside the woman.
Under the picture was a message.
Stop searching for the truth, Alina.
The truth is what killed you once.
Her fingers began shaking.
She looked at Lucien.
“Who is she?”
Lucien stared at the image.
His face turned pale.
Because he knew.
And that scared Alina more than anything.
“Lucien?”
He looked at her.
Then whispered,
“That is Seraphine.”
Alina’s breath stopped.
Because the woman in the picture was not a stranger.
She was someone Alina had known.
Or at least...
Someone she had forgotten.
- Writer
