Chapter 3 — Three Years Ago
2593 Words
Three years ago, Elena Marlowe believed she had everything.
She had a husband who loved her.
A beautiful home.
A family she had slowly learned to call her own.
And a future she thought would last forever.
She had been wrong.
The memory came back to her that night as she drove through the city.
The rain tapped softly against the windshield, blurring the lights outside. Her hands remained tight around the steering wheel, but her thoughts were no longer inside the car.
They were three years in the past.
Back when Adrian Blackwood still smiled at her.
Back when she still believed every promise he made.
Back when she had no idea that one sentence could destroy an entire marriage.
I don't love you anymore.
Elena closed her eyes for half a second.
Then she immediately opened them.
She couldn't afford to get distracted.
Not tonight.
Especially not after the messages.
She glanced at the rearview mirror again.
The black SUV was still there.
Her heart began beating faster.
Maybe it was nothing.
Maybe the driver was simply heading in the same direction.
But after receiving two threatening messages, Elena wasn't willing to take chances.
She turned onto a different street.
The SUV followed.
Her grip tightened around the wheel.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Stay calm.”
She made another turn.
The SUV followed again.
Fear crawled slowly up her spine.
Elena reached for her phone.
Before she could unlock it, another message appeared.
You were warned.
She stared at the screen.
Her breathing became shallow.
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
She hesitated before answering.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Who is this?”
Nothing.
Then a man's voice finally came through.
“You should have stayed away from Adrian Blackwood.”
Elena's blood ran cold.
“Who are you?”
“You don't need to know.”
“What do you want?”
“We want you to understand something.”
His voice was calm.
Almost emotionless.
“Adrian cannot protect you forever.”
The line went dead.
Elena immediately called the police.
But before the call connected, the black SUV suddenly accelerated.
It moved closer.
Elena's heart jumped.
She pressed the accelerator.
The SUV followed.
For several terrifying minutes, neither vehicle slowed down.
Elena turned toward a crowded avenue.
The SUV disappeared behind several cars.
She breathed a shaky sigh of relief.
Maybe they had lost her.
Maybe—
Her phone rang again.
This time, the screen displayed a name.
Adrian.
Elena stared at it.
She almost ignored the call.
But something inside her told her to answer.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?”
His voice was tense.
Elena frowned.
“How did you get my number?”
“You've had the same number for three years.”
She didn't answer.
“Where are you?” he repeated.
“Why?”
“Because you're being followed.”
Elena's heart stopped.
“How do you know?”
“Because I'm watching the car behind you.”
She looked in the mirror.
The black SUV was there again.
“How—”
“Don't panic.”
“Don't tell me not to panic!”
“Elena, listen to me.”
His voice became firm.
“Drive to the nearest police station.”
“I can handle this.”
“I know you can.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“Because I don't want you handling it alone.”
Her chest tightened.
Those words sounded too much like the Adrian she remembered.
The Adrian who used to wait outside her office when she worked late.
The Adrian who would call to make sure she had eaten.
The Adrian who once stayed awake all night when she had a fever.
She hated that she still remembered those things.
“I'm going to the police station,” she said.
“Good.”
“And don't follow me.”
A pause.
“I already am.”
Elena looked in her mirror again.
A black sedan was several cars behind her.
Adrian's car.
“You're insane.”
“Probably.”
“Adrian—”
“I'll explain everything.”
She wanted to hang up.
Instead, she asked,
“Why did you say someone was watching me tonight?”
Silence.
“Adrian?”
“I didn't want you to know yet.”
“Know what?”
“That the past is coming back.”
Elena's heart sank.
“What past?”
He didn't answer.
“Adrian!”
The line suddenly disconnected.
Elena stared at her phone.
“What the hell?”
She drove straight to the police station.
By the time she arrived, the black SUV was gone.
Adrian's car was parked across the street.
She stepped out.
The rain had become heavier.
Adrian emerged from the sedan.
His suit was already damp from the rain.
He walked toward her.
Elena immediately held up a hand.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
She looked at him angrily.
“You don't get to appear whenever you want and act like you're still my husband.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then act like it.”
His eyes softened.
“I will.”
Elena laughed bitterly.
“Three years ago, you didn't.”
Something flashed across his face.
Pain.
Guilt.
Regret.
“I know.”
She stared at him.
“Why?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“Why did you divorce me?”
He looked away.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“I don't want somewhere safe. I want the truth.”
“You're not ready.”
Her eyes filled with anger.
“Don't tell me what I'm ready for.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You're right.”
She waited.
For once, he didn't argue.
Instead, he said,
“Come with me.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“I said no.”
“Then at least let me take you home.”
“I can drive myself.”
“You've just been followed.”
“And I'm still standing.”
His jaw tightened.
“I don't want to lose you again.”
The words silenced her.
Elena stared at him.
Again?
He said it like losing her had already happened once.
Like he had spent three years regretting it.
“You already lost me,” she whispered.
Adrian's eyes dropped.
“I know.”
She walked past him.
But his next words stopped her.
“I never stopped loving you.”
Elena closed her eyes.
There it was again.
The sentence she had secretly wished to hear for three years.
But now that she had heard it, it didn't feel like victory.
It felt dangerous.
She turned around.
“Then why?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Because I thought leaving you was the only way to keep you alive.”
Three years earlier...
Elena stood in front of the mirror, smiling at her reflection.
She was wearing a simple white dress.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing extravagant.
Just something Adrian had once told her looked beautiful.
Her wedding ring glimmered on her finger.
She touched it gently.
They had been married for almost two years.
Two wonderful years.
Two years of learning each other's habits.
Two years of arguments over stupid things.
Two years of late-night conversations.
Two years of love.
She picked up her phone.
Are you coming home for dinner?
She sent the message to Adrian.
A few seconds later, his response arrived.
I'll be home soon.
She smiled.
That was Adrian.
Always busy.
Always working.
But he always came home.
At least, he used to.
Elena went downstairs.
The dining table was already prepared.
Candles flickered softly.
Their favorite dishes were waiting.
She had even baked his favorite chocolate cake.
She checked the clock.
7:00 p.m.
Then 8:00.
Then 9:00.
At 9:30, the front door finally opened.
Adrian walked inside.
But something was wrong.
Elena knew immediately.
His expression was cold.
His shoulders were tense.
And he didn't look at her.
“Adrian?”
He removed his coat.
“I need to talk to you.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Is something wrong?”
“We need to sit down.”
She followed him into the living room.
Adrian stood near the window.
Elena sat on the sofa.
She waited.
“What's happening?”
He remained silent.
“Adrian?”
Finally, he turned around.
“I want a divorce.”
The words didn't make sense.
Elena stared at him.
“What?”
“I said I want a divorce.”
She laughed nervously.
“That's not funny.”
“I'm not joking.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Elena stood.
“Why?”
“I don't love you anymore.”
Her heart shattered.
“No.”
Adrian didn't move.
“No,” she repeated.
“You don't mean that.”
“I do.”
“Look at me and say it.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“I don't love you anymore.”
Her lips trembled.
“Is there someone else?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“I've changed.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“It is.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Two weeks ago, you told me you loved me.”
“I was wrong.”
“You kissed me this morning.”
“I shouldn't have.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“What happened to you?”
Adrian's expression remained cold.
But beneath the surface, something was breaking.
He wanted to walk toward her.
He wanted to pull her into his arms.
He wanted to tell her everything.
But he couldn't.
Not after the phone call he had received that afternoon.
Not after the photograph.
Not after the threat.
He remembered the words.
We know about your wife.
Leave her, or she dies.
Adrian had stared at the photograph for nearly an hour.
It showed Elena leaving her office.
A red circle had been drawn around her.
There had been another message beneath it.
You have seventy-two hours.
Adrian knew his enemies.
He knew what they were capable of.
And he knew they wouldn't hesitate to hurt Elena.
So he had made the hardest decision of his life.
He would make her hate him.
He would make her leave.
He would make her believe that their love had never mattered.
Because if Elena hated him, she might survive.
He forced himself to remain cold.
“I'm sorry.”
Elena wiped her tears.
“Sorry?”
“Yes.”
“You're sorry?”
Adrian nodded.
She stared at him as if seeing a stranger.
“Was any of it real?”
His heart nearly broke.
“What?”
“Our marriage.”
He wanted to say yes.
He wanted to tell her that every moment had been real.
Every kiss.
Every smile.
Every night.
Every promise.
Instead, he said the cruelest thing he could.
“No.”
Elena went completely still.
“No?”
“I married you because it was convenient.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Adrian nearly reached for her.
He stopped himself.
“You were never the woman I wanted.”
The lie tasted like poison.
Elena slowly removed her wedding ring.
She placed it on the table.
“You could have just told me.”
Adrian's hands curled into fists.
“I am telling you now.”
She nodded.
“Fine.”
She walked upstairs.
Every step felt like a knife cutting into his chest.
Adrian remained standing alone in the living room.
He heard drawers opening.
A suitcase being dragged across the floor.
Then footsteps.
Elena appeared at the bottom of the stairs carrying one suitcase.
She looked at him one last time.
“Goodbye, Adrian.”
He wanted to run after her.
He didn't.
The front door opened.
She walked into the night.
The door closed.
And Adrian finally allowed himself to breathe.
He dropped to his knees.
His hands shook.
He pressed his palms against his face.
“I'm sorry.”
No one heard him.
Except the empty house.
He stayed there for several minutes before his phone rang.
He answered immediately.
“Did she leave?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Adrian looked toward the door.
“She won't be harmed now.”
A pause.
Then the voice on the other end said,
“You've done the right thing.”
Adrian's eyes became cold.
“No.”
He looked at the wedding ring Elena had left behind.
“I've done the only thing I could.”
Three years later...
Elena stared at Adrian in the rain.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“You expect me to believe you broke my heart to protect me?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head.
“You should have told me.”
“I couldn't.”
“You should have trusted me.”
“I was afraid.”
“You?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Yes.”
The honesty in his voice surprised her.
“I was afraid of losing you.”
“You lost me anyway.”
“I know.”
“And I spent three years believing I wasn't enough.”
His face twisted with regret.
“You were always enough.”
“Then why didn't you fight for us?”
“Because I thought you would be safer without me.”
Elena looked away.
She didn't know what hurt more.
The possibility that he had lied three years ago...
Or the possibility that he was telling the truth now.
She wiped the rain from her cheek.
“Who threatened you?”
Adrian's expression darkened.
“I don't know yet.”
“You don't know?”
“I know who they work for.”
“Who?”
He hesitated.
Then he said,
“Someone inside my family.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“Your family?”
Adrian nodded.
“And whoever it is…”
He stepped closer.
“They know you're back in my life.”
A chill passed through her.
“That's why the messages started?”
“Yes.”
“And the man following me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why bring me into this again?”
Adrian stared into her eyes.
“Because I didn't bring you into it.”
His voice became quiet.
“They never let you leave it.”
Elena's heart pounded.
She finally understood.
The divorce had not ended the danger.
It had only hidden it.
For three years, she had believed Adrian was the person who had destroyed her life.
But perhaps he had been fighting something she had never known existed.
And now that she was back in his world...
The enemy had found her again.
Adrian extended his hand.
“This time, I won't make the decision for you.”
Elena looked at his hand.
Then at him.
“I don't trust you.”
“I know.”
“I don't forgive you.”
“I know.”
“I don't know if I still love you.”
His eyes softened.
“That one isn't true.”
Elena's breath caught.
“How do you know?”
Adrian gave her a faint, sad smile.
“Because I don't know how to stop loving you either.”
She looked away.
For the first time in three years, Elena allowed herself to wonder—
Maybe their story had never truly ended.
Maybe the divorce had only been the beginning.
And somewhere in the darkness, someone was still watching them.
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