Chapter 8: A Race Against the Truth
647 Words
Elena sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the closed door of her room. The echo of Damian’s words still rang in her ears.
“I will find out the truth.”
She pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to think. The dinner had been a mistake. She had gone in hoping to convince him to stop digging, but instead, she had only made him more determined.
She needed to act—now.
A knock at the door made her jolt. Her heart pounded as she rose to her feet. Had Damian changed his mind?
She hesitated before opening it.
To her relief, it was just the maid. “Mr. Blackwood has left for a meeting,” the woman informed her.
Elena exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “Do you know where he went?”
The maid shook her head. “I only know that he left in a hurry.”
A bad feeling settled in Elena’s stomach. If Damian had left suddenly, it could only mean one thing—he had found a lead.
She had to stop him.
——
Damian’s black car pulled up in front of a small, unassuming café in the city. He stepped out, his expression unreadable as he made his way inside.
A man was already waiting at a table in the corner, shifting nervously.
“Mr. Blackwood,” he greeted, his voice tight.
Damian took a seat across from him. “You said you had information about Elena Carter.”
The man nodded quickly. “Yes. I—I worked at the estate she was staying in before she disappeared.” He glanced around, as if afraid someone might be listening. “I overheard things. She didn’t leave on her own. Someone forced her.”
Damian’s grip tightened on his glass. “Who?”
The man hesitated. “I—I don’t know their name, but I heard her crying one night. She was on the phone, begging someone to leave her alone.” He swallowed. “She said something about protecting you.”
Damian’s jaw clenched. Protecting him? That made no sense.
The man continued. “The next day, she was gone. And after that, I—” He stopped abruptly, looking behind Damian.
Damian turned just in time to see the man’s eyes widen in fear.
A second later, the man was on his feet, rushing toward the exit.
Damian stood immediately. “Hey—”
But the man was gone.
Damian’s fingers curled into fists. Someone was still watching Elena. Someone who didn’t want the truth coming out.
And that only made him more determined.
⸻
Elena was pacing the room when the door burst open.
Damian strode in, his expression dark, his presence suffocating.
“You lied to me,” he said.
Her stomach dropped. “Damian—”
He stepped closer. “You said leaving me was your choice. That it had nothing to do with me.” His voice was low, dangerous. “But someone threatened you, didn’t they?”
She looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His fingers caught her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Don’t lie to me again, Elena.”
Her throat tightened.
She couldn’t tell him. If she did, he would try to fix everything—and he would only end up getting hurt.
Damian searched her face, his eyes burning with something unreadable. Then, slowly, he released her.
“You’re not the only one who can keep secrets,” he murmured.
Elena’s breath caught.
“What are you—”
But before she could finish, Damian turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Elena stood frozen, dread curling in her stomach.
She had failed.
Now, it was only a matter of time before Damian uncovered the truth.
And when he did—
Everything would change.
- Writer
