CHAPTER THREE: THE SECRET I BURIED

"What was that?"

Adrian's voice followed me across the room. I didn't answer. I couldn't because if i opened my mouth right now, the truth might come out and I refused to give him that. Not after tonight, not after tonight, not after everything. 

The tiny pieces of the hospital report remained scattered across the floor between us.

A few minutes ago, that paper held the happiest news of my life. Now it was nothing but trash. Just like my marriage. Adrian took a step forward. 

"What did you tear up?"

I grabbed my suitcase.

"None of your business."

His eyes narrowed.

"Elena."

I laughed bitterly. The sound surprised even me. 

"You suddenly care about my business?"

His jaw tightened.

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

I walked toward the door. He moved in front of me immediately. My chest burned. 

"Move."

"No."

The answer came fast, firm, possessive like he still has the right. Anger exploded inside me. 

"You lost the right to stop me the second you handed me divorce papers."

Something flashed across his face. Regret maybe. I didn't care enough to figure it out 

"You aren't leaving tonight."

I stared at him then shook my head slowly. 

"You don't get to decide that anymore."

The words landed harder than I expected. For the first time, Adrian looked uncomfortable. Good. Let him feel something because I had spent years feeling enough pain for both of us. His phone rang again. Vivian. The name lit up the screen. My stomach twisted. He declined it immediately then it rang again and again and again. I laughed. A cold laugh this time. 

"She seems worried."

His expression darkened.

"This isn't about Vivian."

I looked at him in disbelief.

"Really?"

My voice rose.

"Because it looks exactly like it's about Vivian."

The phone rang once more. He finally answered

"What?"

Silence followed.

Then Adrian's face changed immediately. Every drop of color disappeared. Fear real fear. I had never seen it before. 

"What happened?"

My grip tightened on the suitcase handle. Adrian listened quietly then cursed. My stomach dropped.

"What is it?"

He looked toward me then away. For some reason, that scared me. 

"Vivian collapsed."

The room went silent. I blinked once, twice then looked away. I wanted to feel sympathy. I really did. Instead, exhaustion settled inside me because tonight had taken everything. Adrian grabbed his car keys. 

"I have to go."

The words stung. Not because he was leaving, because of how fast he decided. No hesitation, no second thought, nothing just immediate concern for her, not me, not us. Her. I nodded slowly 

"Of course."

His eyes met mine. Something strange passed between us then it disappeared. He moved toward the door. Halfway there, he stopped. For a moment, I thought he might say something important like an apology, a goodbye, anything instead he simply said

"Don't leave."

Then he walked out. The door closed behind him. I stood there for several seconds completely still, completely empty, then I laughed, a painful laugh because even now, Adrian thought he could tell me what to do. 

My gaze drifted toward the shattered report. A lump formed in my throat. Slowly I crouched down. My fingers touched one of the torn pieces. 

Pregnant. The word stared back at me. Fresh tears filled my eyes. I closed them immediately. No. Not tonight. I had cried enough. I deserved better than this. My child deserved better than this. An hour later, I left. No dramatic goodbye, no final note, nothing. 

I carried my suitcase downstairs and walked out of the mansion. The place I had called home for three years, the place where I learned how lonely marriage could be, the place where my heart broke. Cold air hit my face. For the first time all night, I felt like I could breathe then my phone rang.

Marcus. My older brother. I answered immediately 

"Hello?"

His voice came through instantly.

"Where are you?"

I swallowed.

"Leaving."

A pause then he sighted.

"Good."

I frowned.

"Good?"

"You should have left a long time ago."

The honesty almost made me smile. Almost. Marcus continued

"Come stay with me."

Part of me wanted to refuse. The other part was too tired to fight. 

"Okay."

"Send your location."

I did. Forty minutes later, I arrived at his penthouse. The moment the door opened, Marcus pulled me into a hug. That was all it took. The tears returned. I buried my face against his shoulder. Everything came out at once. The divorce, Vivian, the pregnancy, the betrayal, every ugly piece. Marcus listened quietly. When I finally finished, his face looked murderous. 

"I'm going to kill him."

Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me.

"No."

"Yes."

"Marcus."

His jaw tightened.

"I warned him."

That caught my attention. I pulled back. 

"What?"

His expression changed too fast, too suspicious. My stomach tightened. 

"What do you mean?"

Silence then March looked away. That never happened. Not with him. Fear crawled into my chest. 

"Marcus."

His voice lowered.

"There are things you don't know."

The room suddenly felt colder.

"What things?"

Another pause then another. I hated pauses, especially tonight. Finally he sighed.

"He wasn't supposed to divorce you."

Confusion flooded through me.

"What are you talking about?"

Marcus sat down slowly, carefully like every word mattered because it did.

"He made a promise."

I stared at him.

"A promise?"

Marcus nodded.

"To Dad."

The world seemed to stop. My heartbeat stumbled then accelerated fat, painfully fast. 

"What?"

His expression softened.

"The night our parents died, dad met Adrian."

Nothing made sense anymore.

"That's impossible."

"I thought so too."

Marcus rubbed a hand across his face.

"But it's true."

I shook my head.

"No."

"Elena"

"No."

My voice cracked.

"My father died when I was four."

Marcus looked directly at me.

"And before he died, he trusted Adrian with something important."

Fear spread through my entire body. I didn't know why but every instinct told me I wasn't going to like what came next. 

"What?"

Marcus hesitated then his phone suddenly rang. The sound cut through the room. Both of us looked down. An unknown number. Marcus frowned then answered. 

"Hello?"

His expression changed instantly. Every bit of color drained from his face. My stomach dropped. 

"Marcus?"

He didn't answer instead, he stood up abruptly. 

"What do you mean she's gone?"

A chill raced down my spine.

Gone? Who was gone? Marcus listened for several seconds then slowly lowered the phone. His eyes met mine. For the first time in years, I saw genuine fear in them and what he said next stopped my heart. 

"Elena"

My hands started shaking.

"What happened?"

Marcus swallowed then spoke the words that changed everything. 

"Someone just kidnapped Vivian."