Chapter Nine: A Dangerous Rescue
931 Words
The following morning, Blackwood Manor was unusually quiet.
Amelia found Adrian standing alone on the terrace, a cup of untouched coffee beside him. His eyes were fixed on the gardens, but she could tell his mind was somewhere else.
"You didn't sleep, did you?" she asked.
He turned toward her.
"I had work."
She smiled knowingly.
"You always say that when something is bothering you."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I'm becoming predictable."
"A little."
For a brief moment, the tension between them eased.
Then Adrian's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening instantly.
"I have to leave."
"So early?"
"There are a few urgent matters at the office."
He hesitated before adding,
"Please stay inside the estate today."
Amelia sighed.
"You know I don't like being told what to do."
"I know."
"But I'm asking."
There was something in his voice that made her pause.
"Alright."
He nodded.
"Thank you."
After Adrian left, Amelia decided to spend the morning helping the gardeners.
Working with flowers always calmed her mind.
Mrs. Wilson smiled as she watched Amelia carefully arrange fresh roses along the stone pathway.
"You've brought life back to this place."
"I think the garden was beautiful long before I arrived."
"It was."
Mrs. Wilson looked toward the mansion.
"But beauty has a way of fading when people stop noticing it."
Amelia wondered if she was talking about the garden...
Or Adrian.
Around noon, Amelia received a call from Sophie.
"I've missed you!" Sophie exclaimed.
"I've missed you too."
"You've completely disappeared since marrying Mr. Billionaire."
Amelia laughed.
"It's been a busy week."
"Let's have lunch."
Amelia hesitated.
"I'll only be gone for an hour."
After a moment's thought, she agreed.
She informed the security team before leaving, and two guards accompanied her to a quiet café across town.
The lunch was exactly what she needed.
For an hour, she felt almost normal again.
She and Sophie laughed about old memories, shared stories from college, and talked about the future.
As they left the café, Sophie hugged her.
"You seem happier."
"I think I'm starting to understand Adrian."
"And?"
"He's not the man everyone thinks he is."
Sophie smiled.
"I had a feeling."
As Amelia walked toward the waiting car, a delivery motorcycle suddenly sped onto the sidewalk.
Everything happened in seconds.
The rider wasn't slowing down.
He was heading straight toward her.
"Mrs. Blackwood!"
One of the security guards shouted.
Amelia froze.
The motorcycle came closer.
Too close.
At the last possible second, someone grabbed her around the waist and pulled her out of the way.
The motorcycle narrowly missed them before crashing into a parked car.
Amelia gasped, her heart pounding.
She looked up.
Adrian.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
His arms were still around her.
"I came because you ignored my request to stay home."
"I only went to have lunch."
"You should have told me."
"I told security."
His face was tense.
"This wasn't an accident."
The motorcycle rider jumped to his feet and tried to run.
Security officers chased after him.
Within moments, they tackled him to the ground.
Adrian walked over calmly.
"Who sent you?"
The man remained silent.
"I asked you a question."
Still nothing.
The rider suddenly laughed.
"You'll never protect her forever."
Before anyone could stop him, another black car sped past.
Its rear window rolled down for only a second.
Someone threw a small object onto the road.
A cloud of thick smoke erupted.
By the time the smoke cleared...
The rider was gone.
Security looked around in disbelief.
"He escaped!"
Adrian clenched his jaw.
"Damn it."
Back at Blackwood Manor, Amelia sat quietly in the living room.
Her hands still trembled.
Adrian entered carrying two cups of tea.
He handed one to her.
"You should drink."
She accepted it.
"Thank you."
Silence filled the room.
Finally, Amelia looked at him.
"You saved my life."
"I did what anyone would do."
"No."
She shook her head.
"You ran toward danger without thinking."
He looked away.
"I wasn't going to let anything happen to you."
His words hung in the air.
For the first time, Amelia saw genuine fear in his eyes.
Not fear for himself.
Fear of losing her.
She reached across the table and gently placed her hand over his.
"I'm okay."
Adrian looked down at their hands.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then, slowly, he turned his hand over and held hers.
It was the first time they had held hands without obligation.
Without a contract.
Without pretending.
Just two people finding comfort in each other.
That evening, Victoria arrived with troubling news.
"The motorcycle was stolen yesterday."
"No fingerprints?" Adrian asked.
"None."
"No witnesses?"
"Only one."
Victoria placed a photograph on the table.
"It was taken by a traffic camera."
Amelia leaned closer.
The image was blurry.
But one detail stood out.
The rider wore a silver ring engraved with the shape of a serpent.
Adrian's expression changed immediately.
He recognized it.
"You know that symbol?" Amelia asked.
He looked at the photograph for a long moment before answering.
"Unfortunately..."
"Yes."
"What does it mean?"
Adrian folded the photograph and slipped it into his pocket.
"It means whoever is after us..."
He paused.
"...is far more dangerous than I hoped."
Outside Blackwood Manor, hidden among the trees beyond the estate wall, a mysterious figure lowered a pair of binoculars.
"So," the stranger whispered with a cruel smile.
"You saved her again, Adrian."
The stranger turned and disappeared into the darkness.
"But next time..."
"...you won't get there in time."
- Writer
