Chapter 5 — The Woman He Never Forgot
2085 Words
The alarm shattered the silence of the Blackwood mansion.
Elena jumped out of bed.
For one terrifying second, she couldn't remember where she was.
Then the sound came again.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The emergency lights along the hallway flashed red.
Someone was inside the mansion.
Elena's heart pounded.
She reached for her phone, but before she could unlock it, the door suddenly opened.
Adrian stood outside.
His face was hard.
“Stay behind me.”
Elena immediately stepped back.
“What happened?”
“Someone breached the security perimeter.”
“You said this place was safe.”
“It was.”
“Was?”
Adrian looked down the hallway.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“You don't get to lock me in a room and disappear.”
His jaw tightened.
“I need you to trust me.”
She stared at him.
“That's exactly what you keep asking me to do.”
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Elena flinched.
Adrian immediately moved in front of her.
“Stay behind me.”
They moved down the hallway.
The mansion was unusually dark.
The security lights flickered.
Adrian pulled out his phone.
“Where is security?”
“They're checking the east wing,” he said.
“Then who entered?”
“I don't know.”
They reached the staircase.
Adrian stopped.
A figure moved quickly across the foyer below.
Elena's breath caught.
“Someone's there.”
“I know.”
Adrian took her hand.
“Stay close.”
They descended quietly.
The figure disappeared behind a doorway.
Adrian followed.
Elena remained close behind him.
Suddenly, a man emerged from the darkness.
Adrian moved quickly.
He grabbed the man's arm and slammed him against the wall.
“Who sent you?”
The man struggled.
“Let me go!”
Adrian tightened his grip.
“Who?”
“I don't know what you're talking about!”
Elena watched in shock.
The man suddenly reached into his jacket.
“Adrian!”
Adrian reacted instantly.
He pushed Elena aside as the man pulled out a small weapon.
Security rushed into the room.
The intruder was restrained within seconds.
Adrian immediately turned toward Elena.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
His hands rested briefly on her shoulders.
His eyes searched her face.
Only after confirming she was unharmed did he step back.
Elena noticed something.
His hands were shaking.
“Adrian…”
“I'm fine.”
“You're not.”
He looked away.
“I said I'm fine.”
“You were scared.”
He didn't answer.
Elena looked at the man being dragged away.
“Who was he?”
“I don't know.”
“He came into your house.”
“I'll find out.”
The intruder suddenly laughed.
Everyone stopped.
“You think this is over?”
Adrian's expression became cold.
The man looked directly at Elena.
“You should ask your husband what happened three years ago.”
Elena froze.
Adrian's face changed.
“Take him away.”
Security pulled the man toward the door.
But the intruder continued laughing.
“He'll never tell you the truth!”
The door slammed shut.
Silence filled the mansion.
Elena slowly turned toward Adrian.
“What did he mean?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“What happened three years ago?”
“Elena…”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“I'm done with half-truths.”
He looked at her.
“There are things you don't understand.”
“Then explain them.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
Her eyes hardened.
“You always say soon.”
Adrian lowered his gaze.
She walked away.
“I'm going to bed.”
“Elena.”
She stopped.
“If you want me to trust you,” she said quietly, “stop making me regret that I ever did.”
Then she disappeared upstairs.
Adrian remained in the foyer.
His expression was grim.
Three years.
He had spent three years protecting one secret.
And now it was coming apart.
The next morning, Elena woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains.
For several seconds, she forgot everything.
Then she remembered the alarm.
The intruder.
Adrian.
The threat.
She sat up.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
Mia entered.
“Elena!”
She immediately rushed toward her.
“I heard what happened.”
Elena frowned.
“How did you know?”
“Adrian called me.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“He called you?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“That you were safe and that I should stay with you.”
Elena sighed.
Of course.
Adrian was still controlling everything.
Even from a distance.
Mia sat beside her.
“So…”
Elena looked at her.
“So what?”
“You're back with him?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Mia raised an eyebrow.
“You spent three years avoiding his name.”
“I know.”
“And now you're staying in his mansion.”
“Because someone is trying to hurt me.”
“And he is protecting you.”
“Yes.”
Mia smiled slightly.
“That sounds complicated.”
“It is.”
“Do you still love him?”
Elena looked away.
“I don't know.”
Mia didn't push.
Instead, she asked,
“Do you want to know what I think?”
“No.”
“I think you never stopped.”
Elena remained silent.
Because deep down, she knew Mia was right.
Downstairs, Adrian stood in his office.
Several security officers were gathered around the table.
The intruder's photograph was displayed on a screen.
“His name is Daniel Ross,” one officer said.
Adrian frowned.
“Who is he?”
“We don't know much. He has no major criminal record.”
“Then how did he get past the security system?”
“We're investigating.”
Adrian looked at another screen.
“Show me the footage.”
The footage began.
A man in dark clothing approached the mansion.
He bypassed the first security gate.
Then the second.
Then the final security door.
Adrian watched carefully.
Something didn't make sense.
“He knew the codes.”
The security officer nodded.
“Yes.”
“Who has access?”
“Yourself, your father, Victor, and a few senior security staff.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Victor.”
The room became silent.
One officer asked,
“Do you think Mr. Blackwood is involved?”
Adrian didn't answer.
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Victor.
Adrian answered.
“What?”
“Good morning.”
“Where are you?”
“At the office.”
“Were you at the mansion last night?”
A pause.
“Why?”
“Someone broke in.”
Victor's voice became concerned.
“Is Elena safe?”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“How do you know Elena was there?”
Another pause.
“I assumed she was.”
Adrian's grip tightened around the phone.
“Don't assume anything.”
“Adrian—”
“Stay away from her.”
“She's part of this whether you like it or not.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“What did you say?”
Victor sighed.
“You know exactly what I'm talking about.”
The call ended.
Adrian stared at the phone.
Then he looked toward the window.
He remembered the photograph.
The threatening messages.
The divorce.
Victor had known.
Maybe he had known everything.
Later that afternoon, Elena walked into the mansion's library.
She found Adrian standing beside the large windows.
He was holding an old photograph.
She recognized it immediately.
Their wedding day.
She approached him.
“You still keep that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I couldn't throw it away.”
Elena looked at the photograph.
“You told me our marriage meant nothing.”
“I lied.”
“You told me you never loved me.”
“I lied.”
“You told me you married me because it was convenient.”
“I lied.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Was anything you told me that night true?”
Adrian took a breath.
“One thing.”
“What?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“Then why did you let me go?”
“Because I thought it was the only way.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it was.”
“No.”
Elena shook her head.
“There was always another choice.”
“What?”
“You could have trusted me.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“And you thought I would rather live without you than die beside you?”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
She looked away.
“That was never your decision to make.”
“I know.”
She was quiet for several seconds.
Then she asked,
“Who was threatening you?”
Adrian looked at the photograph.
“Someone who wanted something my family had.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“Then what were they after?”
“Control.”
“Of your company?”
“More than that.”
Elena frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
Before he could respond, the library door opened.
Victor Blackwood entered.
Elena turned.
She hadn't seen him since the divorce.
Victor smiled.
“Elena.”
Her expression immediately hardened.
“Victor.”
He looked at Adrian.
“We need to talk.”
Adrian's voice was cold.
“Not here.”
Victor glanced toward Elena.
“She should hear this.”
Adrian stepped between them.
“Leave.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“You still think you can protect her?”
Elena looked between them.
“What is going on?”
Victor sighed.
“Ask your husband.”
Adrian's eyes became dangerous.
“Ex-husband.”
Victor smiled faintly.
“For now.”
Elena's heart skipped.
“For now?”
Victor looked at her.
“You really don't know, do you?”
“Know what?”
Adrian grabbed Victor's arm.
“Enough.”
Victor pulled away.
“You can't hide it forever.”
Then he left.
Elena stared at Adrian.
“What was he talking about?”
Adrian remained silent.
“Adrian.”
He finally looked at her.
“There's something I need to tell you.”
“What?”
He took a step toward her.
“The divorce papers weren't what they seemed.”
Elena froze.
“What does that mean?”
“The agreement you signed…”
His voice lowered.
“Was never supposed to be the end of our marriage.”
She stared at him.
“Then what was it?”
Adrian opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?”
A voice spoke urgently.
Adrian's face turned pale.
He ended the call.
Elena stepped toward him.
“What happened?”
Adrian looked at her.
“They found the person who ordered the threats.”
“Who?”
He hesitated.
Then he said the name.
“Victor.”
Elena's eyes widened.
“No.”
Adrian nodded.
“And there's something worse.”
“What?”
“He wasn't acting alone.”
Elena's heart pounded.
“Who was helping him?”
Adrian looked toward the door.
His voice was barely a whisper.
“Someone who was inside our marriage.”
Elena's blood ran cold.
“Our marriage?”
Adrian nodded.
“Someone was watching us from the beginning.”
The room seemed to spin.
Three years of memories suddenly felt different.
Every dinner.
Every argument.
Every private conversation.
Every moment she thought belonged only to her and Adrian.
What if someone had been there?
What if their entire marriage had been manipulated?
Elena looked at Adrian.
“Who?”
Adrian stared at her.
“I don't know yet.”
She stepped back.
For the first time, fear wasn't coming from outside the mansion.
It was coming from the memories inside her own mind.
Because if someone had been watching them from the beginning...
Then Elena had no idea which parts of her marriage had been real.
And which parts had been a lie.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD