Chapter 4 — The Box

ELIANA Pov

“Stay here.”

Dalawang salita.

Pero sa paraan ng pagkakasabi ni Adrian, parang hindi iyon simpleng request.

It was an order.

I stared at him.

“Hindi ako bata.”

“I know.”

“Then stop telling me what to do.”

His jaw tightened.

“Then stop acting like you're not in danger.”

Napatahimik ako.

Hindi dahil wala akong maisagot.

Kundi dahil alam kong may punto siya.

A few minutes ago, I was convinced that Adrian was the biggest mystery in my life.

Now, I wasn't even sure if he was the biggest danger.

Or the only person keeping me alive.

Sa labas ng office, biglang naging mabilis ang mga galaw ng mga security personnel.

People were being escorted away from certain areas.

The elevators had stopped operating.

The main doors were closed.

And Adrian—

He was standing in front of me with a phone pressed against his ear.

“Check every entrance.”

A pause.

“No one gets inside without authorization.”

Another pause.

His eyes moved toward me.

“And find out how they knew about the box.”

He ended the call.

I crossed my arms.

“You're not going to explain?”

“I will.”

“When?”

“When we're somewhere safe.”

“This building is supposed to be safe.”

“It was.”

The way he said it made my stomach drop.

“Was?”

Adrian walked toward the window.

His expression was unreadable as he looked down at the streets below.

“Someone bypassed my security system.”

“How?”

“I don't know yet.”

“Then maybe we're already too late.”

He turned toward me.

“No.”

His answer was immediate.

Too immediate.

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because if they wanted to hurt you, they wouldn't have warned you.”

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“The messages.”

He took my phone from my hand.

I instinctively tried to pull it back.

“Hey.”

“Let me see.”

I hesitated.

Then gave it to him.

He read the messages carefully.

His expression became darker with every line.

“This isn't a random threat.”

“How do you know?”

“Because they know about the box.”

I stared at him.

“And?”

“They're testing us.”

“Testing us?”

“Yes.”

He handed my phone back.

“They want to know how much you remember.”

“And what happens if they find out?”

Adrian looked directly into my eyes.

“Then they'll stop warning you.”

Silence.

A chill ran through me.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

“Tell me about the box.”

His eyes narrowed.

“What do you remember?”

“My father gave it to me.”

“When?”

“The night before he died.”

“Where is it?”

“At home.”

He immediately reached for his phone.

“Lucas.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Prepare a vehicle.”

I looked at him.

“I'm going home.”

“No.”

My eyebrows rose.

“Excuse me?”

“You're not going home.”

“It's my house.”

“Exactly.”

“I need the box.”

“We'll get it.”

“I'll get it.”

“No.”

I stepped toward him.

“You can't keep me here.”

“I can.”

“Adrian—”

“You're not walking into a possible trap.”

“And you're going to walk into it instead?”

“Yes.”

I stared at him.

“You're unbelievable.”

“I've heard that before.”

“You're arrogant.”

“Yes.”

“Controlling.”

“Yes.”

“Annoying.”

“Frequently.”

I almost laughed.

Almost.

But then he looked at me.

And that tiny moment of amusement disappeared.

“I'm serious, Eliana.”

His voice softened.

“If someone is watching your house, I won't risk you walking into it.”

I looked away.

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

“We go together.”

I looked back at him.

“Together?”

“Yes.”

“You just said I shouldn't go.”

“I said you shouldn't go alone.”

I hated the fact that his logic made sense.

“Fine.”

He picked up his coat.

“Let's go.”

---

The underground parking area was almost empty.

Too empty.

I walked beside Adrian while two security guards followed several steps behind us.

The silence was uncomfortable.

I glanced at him.

“Do you always have this many security guards?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I have enemies.”

“Of course you do.”

He looked at me.

“You're not afraid?”

“I should be?”

“Most people are.”

I shrugged.

“I'm too tired to be afraid.”

A small smile appeared on his lips.

“That's dangerous.”

“What?”

“Being fearless when you're actually scared.”

I stopped walking.

“How do you know I'm scared?”

He stopped too.

“You've been gripping your phone for the past five minutes.”

I looked down.

He was right.

My fingers were wrapped tightly around it.

I loosened my grip.

“Stop noticing everything.”

“I can't.”

“Why?”

He stared at me.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then he looked away.

“Habit.”

Something about his answer bothered me.

But before I could ask, a car pulled up.

Black.

Tinted windows.

The same kind of car he had used the night we met.

I stopped.

“No.”

Adrian looked at me.

“What?”

“Not that car.”

He frowned.

“Why?”

“It reminds me of the first night.”

“When I offered you a ride?”

“Yes.”

“And you refused.”

“You were a stranger.”

“And now?”

I looked at him.

“You're still a stranger.”

His lips curved slightly.

“Fair.”

He opened the passenger door.

I hesitated.

Then got in.

He followed.

As soon as the doors closed, the world outside became quiet.

The driver started moving.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

Then Adrian said—

“You can ask.”

I turned toward him.

“Ask what?”

“Whatever you've been thinking.”

I stared at the passing buildings.

“Why did my father trust your father?”

“I don't know.”

“You said they were meeting.”

“Yes.”

“What were they going to discuss?”

“A file.”

“What file?”

“A financial record.”

“About what?”

“Money being transferred through several companies.”

I looked at him.

“Illegal money?”

“Potentially.”

“And my father discovered it?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn't he go to the police?”

“He tried.”

“What happened?”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“He disappeared before he could.”

My heart sank.

“Was he killed?”

“We never found his body.”

I looked at him.

“You said he died.”

“Officially.”

“Officially?”

“Your father's car was found after the accident.”

“So there was no body?”

“No.”

I felt the air leave my lungs.

All these years—

I had mourned someone without knowing whether he had actually died that night.

My voice trembled.

“Why didn't anyone tell me?”

“Because you were seventeen.”

“So?”

“Because whoever was responsible would have come after you.”

I looked at him.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

“And you still stayed away.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His eyes met mine.

“Because your father asked me to.”

I shook my head.

“You keep saying that.”

“Because it's true.”

“You could have protected me.”

“I did.”

I stared at him.

“How?”

“You just didn't know.”

Silence filled the car.

I looked outside again.

Suddenly, all the strange things over the years felt different.

The anonymous gifts.

The unknown calls.

The feeling that someone was always nearby.

I had always thought it was coincidence.

But what if it wasn't?

“Was it you?”

Adrian looked at me.

“What?”

“All those years.”

He didn't answer.

“Were you watching me?”

His silence was enough.

My heart started beating faster.

“You were.”

“Yes.”

The answer was quiet.

Honest.

Terrifying.

“How long?”

“Since the accident.”

I stared at him.

“Seven years?”

“Yes.”

“That's insane.”

“I know.”

“You watched me for seven years?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I promised your father.”

“That doesn't make it okay.”

“I know.”

“Did you know everything?”

“No.”

“Did you know where I went?”

“Sometimes.”

“Who I dated?”

A pause.

“Yes.”

I turned toward him sharply.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“You're unbelievable.”

“I never interfered.”

“That doesn't make it less creepy.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

He looked out the window.

“Because every time I thought I could finally stop…”

He paused.

“…something happened.”

“What?”

“Threats.”

“Against me?”

“Yes.”

I swallowed.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because I wanted you to have a normal life.”

I laughed bitterly.

“And now?”

He looked at me.

“Now they know you're protected.”

I frowned.

“Because of you?”

“Yes.”

“Then maybe you made things worse.”

His eyes darkened.

“Maybe.”

That answer surprised me.

He didn't defend himself.

He didn't deny it.

He simply accepted it.

And somehow, that made me trust him a little more.

Only a little.

---

When we arrived at my house, everything looked normal.

Too normal.

The gate was closed.

The lights were on.

No strange cars.

No unfamiliar people.

No obvious signs of danger.

I looked at Adrian.

“See?”

He didn't answer.

He stepped out first.

The security guards followed.

I stayed inside the car.

“What's wrong?”

He scanned the area.

“Nothing.”

“Then?”

“That's what bothers me.”

He walked toward the house.

I followed.

“Stay behind me.”

“I'm not helpless.”

“I know.”

“Then stop treating me like I am.”

“I'll stop when you're safe.”

We reached the front door.

Adrian raised one hand.

Everyone stopped.

He examined the lock.

Then looked at Lucas.

“Has anyone entered?”

“No, sir.”

Adrian opened the door.

The house was silent.

“Mom?”

No answer.

My heart dropped.

“Mom?”

I ran inside.

“Elle!”

I heard her voice from upstairs.

“Mom!”

She appeared at the top of the stairs.

She looked confused.

“Why are there so many people?”

I rushed toward her.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.”

I hugged her tightly.

She laughed softly.

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing.”

I pulled away.

“Did anyone come here today?”

She frowned.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Adrian entered the house.

My mother looked at him.

Her face changed.

For one brief second—

Fear.

Pure fear.

Then it disappeared.

“Mrs. Reyes,” Adrian said.

My mother stared at him.

“You…”

I looked between them.

“You know each other?”

My mother's expression became tense.

“Of course not.”

Adrian didn't say anything.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Mom?”

“I don't know him.”

But Adrian's face said otherwise.

I stepped closer.

“Mom.”

She avoided my gaze.

“I need to rest.”

She walked away.

I turned toward Adrian.

“What was that?”

“Ask her.”

“You know something.”

“Yes.”

“What?”

He looked toward the staircase.

“Not here.”

“Then where?”

He walked toward my father's old study.

I followed.

The room hadn't changed much.

The old desk was still there.

The shelves were still filled with books.

And in the corner—

the wooden box.

My breath caught.

“That's it.”

Adrian looked at it.

“You're sure?”

“Yes.”

I walked toward the box.

My hands trembled.

It was small.

Dark brown.

There was a silver lock on the front.

I remembered my father placing it inside the cabinet.

I remembered his words.

Not yet, Elle.

When you're older.

You'll understand.

I picked it up.

Adrian stood beside me.

“Do you have the key?”

I shook my head.

“I don't remember.”

“Try.”

I looked around.

Then noticed a tiny compartment underneath the desk.

I opened it.

Inside was an old key.

My heart raced.

I picked it up.

“It fits.”

Adrian immediately became alert.

“Wait.”

I looked at him.

“What?”

“Let me check it.”

“Why?”

“Because we don't know what's inside.”

“It's my father's box.”

“Exactly.”

He examined it carefully.

Then nodded.

“Open it.”

I inserted the key.

Turned it.

Click.

The lock opened.

My hands shook as I lifted the lid.

Inside was a black envelope.

A flash drive.

And a small photograph.

I picked up the photograph first.

It was my father.

But he wasn't alone.

Beside him were two men.

One was Adrian's father.

The other—

I stopped breathing.

It was my uncle.

All three men were standing in front of the same building.

But written at the bottom of the photograph were four words.

WE TRUSTED THE WRONG MAN.

My hands began shaking.

“Adrian…”

He took the photograph.

His expression became stone-cold.

“This is bad.”

“What?”

He turned the photograph over.

There was writing on the back.

A date.

Seven years ago.

And underneath—

VALE HOUSE — 11:45 PM

Adrian looked at me.

“That's the night your father disappeared.”

I stared at him.

“What happened at Vale House?”

Before he could answer—

CRASH!

A loud sound came from downstairs.

My mother screamed.

Adrian immediately grabbed my wrist.

“Stay here.”

“What happened?”

He pulled me behind him.

The security guards rushed downstairs.

Then—

BOOM!

The lights went out.

The entire house became dark.

My heart pounded.

“Adrian…”

“I'm here.”

Another sound.

A window breaking.

Someone was inside.

Adrian's hand tightened around mine.

“Don't move.”

Footsteps echoed downstairs.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Coming closer.

I held my breath.

Then a man's voice floated through the darkness.

“Miss Reyes.”

I froze.

The voice was familiar.

Too familiar.

Adrian went completely still.

The footsteps stopped outside the study.

Then the door slowly opened.

A figure stood in the darkness.

And when the emergency lights flickered on—

I saw his face.

My uncle.

He looked directly at me.

Then smiled.

“It's been seven years, Eliana.”

Adrian stepped in front of me.

My uncle's smile disappeared.

“Adrian Vale.”

Adrian's expression was ice-cold.

“You should have stayed dead.”

My blood ran cold.

My uncle laughed softly.

“And you should have stayed away from her.”

I looked at Adrian.

Then at my uncle.

“What's going on?”

Neither answered.

My uncle's eyes moved toward the wooden box.

“So you finally opened it.”

Adrian's hand tightened around mine.

My uncle smiled.

“Now you finally know.”

“Know what?” I demanded.

He looked straight at me.

“Your father wasn't killed because of what he discovered.”

He paused.

“He was killed because of who he was protecting.”

I stared at him.

“Who?”

My uncle's eyes shifted toward Adrian.

And then he said—

“Ask Adrian.”

My heart dropped.

Because Adrian didn't deny it.

He simply looked at me.

And for the first time—

I wondered if the person my father had been protecting all those years…

wasn't me.

But Adrian himself.