My husband doesn't know I'm his wife

The Envelope

Elena stood outside the old woman's house, unable to move.

The envelope felt strangely heavy in her hands.

She looked down at it again.

DAMIAN BLACKWOOD — THE TRUTH

Her fingers trembled.

For five years, Elena had believed the worst thing that could happen to her was losing Damian.

Now she was beginning to realize something far more terrifying.

Maybe she had never lost him.

Maybe someone had taken him from her.

She quickly opened the envelope.

Inside were several photographs, a hospital document, and a small black flash drive.

Elena's heart pounded.

She picked up the first photograph.

It showed Damian standing beside his car on the night of the accident.

But something immediately caught her attention.

Damian wasn't alone.

A man stood several feet behind him.

Elena stared at the photograph.

She didn't recognize him.

She picked up another picture.

This time, the unknown man was speaking to Damian.

Then another.

The man's hand was on Damian's shoulder.

Elena's breathing became shallow.

"Who are you?" she whispered.

She turned the photograph over.

There was a handwritten message on the back.

Ask Sophia. She knows him.

Elena froze.

"Sophia?"

Damian's stepmother.

The woman who had told Elena five years ago that Damian had died.

The woman who had never allowed Elena anywhere near the Blackwood family after the accident.

A cold realization settled in Elena's chest.

Could Sophia have known what really happened?

She quickly opened the hospital document.

Her eyes scanned the page.

Patient: Damian Blackwood.

Condition: Severe head trauma.

Memory loss: Confirmed.

Elena swallowed.

Then she noticed something else.

The date.

It was three days before the accident.

Her eyes widened.

"That can't be..."

The document stated that Damian had already been examined for memory problems before the crash.

Someone had deliberately hidden this information.

But why?

Elena reached for the flash drive.

Before she could examine it, her phone rang.

Ethan.

She answered immediately.

"Ethan?"

"Elena, where are you?"

His voice sounded unusually tense.

"Why?"

"Because someone just came looking for you."

Elena's stomach dropped.

"Who?"

"I don't know. A man. He asked questions about you."

"What kind of questions?"

There was silence.

Then Ethan lowered his voice.

"He asked if you had found Damian."

Elena's heart stopped.

She looked around the dark street.

"Did you tell him anything?"

"No. But Elena..." Ethan paused. "You need to be careful."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

His voice became softer.

"You're finally getting close to the truth."

Elena closed her eyes.

"I think Sophia knows."

Ethan was silent for several seconds.

"I was afraid you'd say that."

Elena frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I found something too."

"What?"

"I can't explain it over the phone."

"Then tell me now."

"No. Come to my apartment."

Elena hesitated.

"Why?"

"Because I found a recording from the night Damian disappeared."

Her blood ran cold.

"You have a recording?"

"Yes."

"What does it show?"

"I don't know yet."

Elena frowned.

"You just said you found it."

"I found the file. I haven't watched it."

"Why not?"

Ethan took a deep breath.

"Because it was encrypted."

Elena's eyes moved to the flash drive in her hand.

"Maybe this can unlock it."

"What?"

"I have a flash drive."

"Elena, don't open it."

"Why?"

"Because whoever gave it to you might be watching."

She looked toward the empty street.

"How could they be watching?"

A sudden sound came from behind her.

Elena turned sharply.

Nothing.

Just darkness.

"Ethan..."

"I'm here."

"I think someone is outside."

"Get inside somewhere safe."

Elena stepped backward.

Then her phone slipped from her hand.

It hit the ground.

The call disconnected.

She bent down quickly.

That's when she heard footsteps.

One.

Two.

Three.

Someone was approaching.

Elena's heart raced.

She grabbed the envelope and ran.

She didn't look back.

But the footsteps followed.

Faster.

Closer.

She reached the corner and suddenly someone grabbed her wrist.

Elena screamed.

"Let me go!"

She struggled violently.

Then a familiar voice whispered in her ear.

"Elena."

She froze.

She knew that voice.

Slowly, she turned around.

It was Damian.

His face was pale, his eyes filled with confusion.

But there was something else in his expression.

Fear.

He looked at the envelope in her hand.

"Where did you get that?"

Elena couldn't speak.

Damian stepped closer.

"Elena..."

His voice trembled.

"Please."

He stared at her as if he was fighting something inside his mind.

"I remembered something."

Elena's heart shattered.

"What?"

Damian closed his eyes.

A tear slipped down his cheek.

"I remembered you."

He opened his eyes.

"And I remembered the night I was shot."