Chapter 10 — Adrian’s Secret Protection
2147 Words
The photograph slipped from Elena’s fingers.
It landed on the floor between her and Adrian.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
The words on the back seemed to burn into Elena's mind.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DIVORCED.
Adrian picked up the photograph.
His expression was unreadable.
“Everyone leaves this building,” he ordered.
The security team immediately moved.
Mia looked at Elena.
“Are you okay?”
Elena nodded, although she wasn't.
Adrian turned toward his head of security.
“Lock down the building.”
“Already doing it, sir.”
“No one enters or leaves without my authorization.”
“Yes, sir.”
Adrian looked at Elena.
“Come with me.”
She didn't move.
“Where?”
“My office.”
“Why?”
“Because we need to talk.”
Elena folded her arms.
“About what?”
“About the fact that someone has been watching you.”
She looked toward the broken window.
“They've been watching me for years.”
Adrian's expression darkened.
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes.”
The words stopped her.
“What do you mean?”
Adrian walked toward his office.
Elena followed.
Mia started to follow too, but Adrian looked at her.
“Give us a few minutes.”
Mia hesitated.
Elena nodded.
“It's okay.”
Mia left.
The office door closed.
Elena turned toward Adrian.
“You said you've known someone was watching me.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Three years.”
Her heart dropped.
“Since the divorce?”
“Before it.”
“How long before?”
Adrian stared at the city through the windows.
“Six months.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“You knew someone was following me six months before our divorce?”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
“I couldn't.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I know.”
“Then explain.”
Adrian turned around.
“I hired someone to watch over you.”
Elena stared at him.
“A bodyguard?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?”
“An undercover security team.”
She shook her head.
“I never noticed anyone.”
“They were trained not to be noticed.”
“Why?”
“Because the people watching you were trained too.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
“Who were they?”
“We never identified all of them.”
“You're telling me strangers were following me for months?”
“Yes.”
“And you just watched?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I stopped several attempts.”
Elena went silent.
“What attempts?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Your car was tampered with twice.”
Her face went pale.
“What?”
“I had the mechanic replace the damaged parts before you noticed.”
“My car…”
“The first time, the brake line had been cut.”
Elena covered her mouth.
“The second?”
“Someone loosened one of the wheels.”
She stared at him.
“I thought those were accidents.”
“They weren't.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“What about the night I almost got attacked outside my office?”
“I was there.”
She looked at him.
“You?”
“I was in the car across the street.”
“Why didn't you come to me?”
“Because the man who approached you was being watched by someone else.”
Elena shook her head.
“This is insane.”
“I know.”
“You were protecting me without me knowing.”
“Yes.”
“And then you divorced me.”
“Yes.”
“To protect me.”
“Yes.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You know what the worst part is?”
Adrian said nothing.
“I might have forgiven you sooner if you had just trusted me enough to tell me.”
His expression broke.
“I know.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You don't know.”
“You're right.”
He lowered his eyes.
“I don't.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Elena asked,
“Was there ever another woman?”
Adrian looked confused.
“What?”
“During our marriage.”
“No.”
“After?”
“No.”
“Not even once?”
“No.”
She searched his face.
“Why?”
“Because I was still married to you.”
“You were divorced.”
“On paper.”
Her heart skipped.
“You really never moved on?”
“I tried.”
“And?”
“I couldn't.”
Elena looked away.
“Why didn't you date anyone?”
“Because every time someone got close to me, I saw you.”
She swallowed.
“That isn't fair.”
“I know.”
“You're making this difficult.”
“I know.”
She laughed softly.
“You really only know three sentences.”
Adrian smiled.
For a moment, the tension disappeared.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes?”
His expression changed.
“Where?”
He listened.
“Send it to me.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?” Elena asked.
“Security found something.”
“What?”
“A vehicle.”
“Whose?”
“We don't know.”
“Where?”
“Outside your old apartment.”
Elena's heart stopped.
“My apartment?”
“Yes.”
She grabbed her bag.
“I'm going there.”
“No.”
“Adrian—”
“It's not safe.”
“That's my home.”
“It may be compromised.”
“I don't care.”
“I do.”
He stepped in front of her.
“Elena, listen to me.”
She looked into his eyes.
“I have spent three years being told what I can and cannot do.”
“I know.”
“So don't start again.”
He exhaled.
“You're right.”
Then he reached for his coat.
“I'll go with you.”
She frowned.
“You don't have to.”
“I want to.”
“You might be recognized.”
“Probably.”
“That isn't a good idea.”
“I don't care.”
Elena stared at him.
“You really are impossible.”
“I've been told.”
They arrived at Elena's old apartment forty minutes later.
The building looked exactly as she remembered.
Except now there were police vehicles outside.
Adrian's security team had already secured the area.
Elena stepped out of the car.
Memories flooded back.
This was where she had lived after leaving Adrian.
The first night she cried herself to sleep.
The first morning she woke up and realized she was truly alone.
The first time she convinced herself she didn't need him.
Adrian stood beside her.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
He didn't try to touch her.
That small gesture meant more than he realized.
They entered the building.
Her old apartment door was open.
Elena stopped.
“Who opened it?”
“Security,” Adrian said.
Inside, everything looked disturbed.
Drawers had been pulled out.
Books were scattered across the floor.
The bedroom closet was open.
Someone had searched the apartment.
Elena walked inside.
“What were they looking for?”
Adrian's security chief answered.
“We don't know.”
Adrian looked around.
“Search everything.”
The team moved.
Elena entered the bedroom.
She opened the nightstand.
Nothing.
Then she noticed something beneath the bed.
A small black box.
She pulled it out.
Adrian immediately walked toward her.
“Don't touch it.”
She stopped.
“Why?”
“Because we don't know what it is.”
Security carefully examined the box.
After several minutes, they opened it.
Inside was an old key.
And a photograph.
Elena picked up the photograph.
Her father.
She turned it over.
There was writing.
HE LEFT IT WHERE YOU WOULD NEVER LOOK.
Elena looked at Adrian.
“Where would my father hide something?”
Adrian thought.
“Somewhere you would never search.”
She frowned.
Then her eyes widened.
“The wedding house.”
Adrian stared at her.
“Our old house?”
“Yes.”
They had never sold it.
After the divorce, Elena had refused to return.
Adrian had kept it untouched.
“Why would he leave something there?”
“I don't know.”
Adrian took the key.
“This key isn't for your father's office.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I recognize the symbol.”
“What symbol?”
He turned the key over.
A tiny black crown was engraved on it.
The same crown from the letter.
Adrian's face hardened.
“This belongs to the Blackwood estate.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“Then why did my father have it?”
“I don't know.”
She looked at him.
“Let's find out.”
The old Blackwood estate stood beyond the city.
It had once been their home.
The place where Elena and Adrian had spent the happiest year of their marriage.
The place where they had planned their future.
The place she had walked away from three years ago.
As they entered the driveway, Elena felt her chest tighten.
“Nothing has changed.”
Adrian looked at the house.
“I couldn't change it.”
“Why?”
“Because you weren't here.”
She looked at him.
“You kept everything?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I was waiting.”
“For what?”
“For you.”
Her heart ached.
They entered the house.
The furniture was covered with white sheets.
Their wedding photograph still stood on the fireplace.
Elena walked toward it.
She touched the frame.
“You really couldn't let go.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Neither could I.”
Adrian froze.
Elena immediately looked away.
“Forget I said that.”
“I won't.”
She sighed.
“Of course you won't.”
They searched the house.
Finally, Elena remembered something.
“The study.”
They entered the room.
Her father's photograph hung on the wall.
Elena looked behind it.
Nothing.
She searched the desk.
Nothing.
Then Adrian noticed a small indentation beneath the bookshelf.
He moved it.
A hidden compartment appeared.
Inside was a metal box.
Elena's hands trembled.
The black key fit perfectly.
She opened the box.
Inside was a USB drive.
And another letter.
This time, her father's words were only one sentence.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS, ADRIAN HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU THE TRUTH.
Elena looked at Adrian.
“He knew.”
Adrian stared at the letter.
Then Elena noticed something else.
A second line had been written underneath.
BUT HE HAS NOT TOLD YOU EVERYTHING.
Silence.
Elena slowly looked at Adrian.
“You said no more secrets.”
Adrian's face went pale.
“I know.”
“What haven't you told me?”
He didn't answer.
Elena stepped closer.
“What?”
Adrian looked at the USB drive.
“There is something on that drive.”
“What?”
“Something I never wanted you to see.”
“Then I definitely need to see it.”
“Elena…”
“No.”
She held up the drive.
“You don't get to protect me from the truth anymore.”
Adrian looked at her for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
“Okay.”
She connected the USB to the laptop.
A single video file appeared.
Marlowe_Confidential.mp4
Elena clicked it.
The screen flickered.
Her father's face appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Afraid.
Elena covered her mouth.
“Dad…”
Her father looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Elena, then I'm already gone.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I need you to understand something.”
He paused.
“The Blackwood family did not kill me.”
Elena looked at Adrian.
His face was frozen.
Her father's voice continued.
“But someone inside our family did.”
The video suddenly glitched.
Then the screen went black.
A final message appeared.
THE PERSON YOU TRUST MOST IS THE ONE WHO BETRAYED YOU.
Elena slowly turned toward Adrian.
He was staring at the screen.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
He answered.
A security officer's voice came through.
“Sir…”
Adrian's expression changed.
“What?”
“We found the person who accessed the building records.”
“Who?”
A pause.
Then:
“Your personal security officer.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“He disappeared an hour ago.”
Elena's blood ran cold.
The man who had been protecting her for three years—
was missing.
And suddenly, Elena realized the greatest danger wasn't someone outside their lives.
It might have been someone Adrian had trusted enough to let inside.
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