Chapter 3

Elena…”

Adrian’s voice came low beside her

But Elena barely heard him.

Her eyes remained glued to the blurry CCTV image trembling on her phone screen.

"Victor Kane, it had to be him"

The broad shoulders, the expensive dark coat.

The cold posture she had seen so many times at business galas beside her father.

A violent chill crawled through her chest.

“He was there,” she whispered.

Her throat tightened painfully.

“He was there the night my father was attacked…”

Silence swallowed the luxurious bedroom.

The city lights outside painted shadows across Adrian’s sharp face, making him look darker somehow.

Dangerously unreadable.

“Elena,” he said carefully, “we don’t know who sent that message.”

“But the photo”

“Could be manipulated.”

His response came too quickly, too smoothly.

And for a brief second, something uncomfortable flickered inside her.

Why did it sound like he wanted her to doubt the evidence?

But then Adrian reached for her gently, brushing his thumb against her trembling hand.

The warmth of his touch weakened her instantly.

“You need facts,” he murmured softly. “Not emotions.”

Her chest tightened.

That was exactly what her father used to say.

Tears stung her eyes again.

“I just want the truth.”

Adrian stared at her for a long moment.

Then quietly:

“And what if the truth destroys everything?”

The next morning, rain still blanketed the city in gray.

Elena sat silently in the grand dining room of the Wells mansion, untouched coffee cooling in front of her.

She hadn’t slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her father gasping for breath.

Don’t trust anyone.

A shiver ran through her.

“You should eat something.”

Richard Wells entered the room dressed in a charcoal suit, every inch the powerful billionaire chairman the world admired. Yet this morning, his face carried gentle concern.

Fatherly concern.

And somehow, that nearly made Elena cry again.

“I’m not hungry,” she whispered.

Richard sighed softly before taking the seat beside her instead of across from her.

That small gesture felt intentional.

Comforting.

“You remind me so much of your father,” he said quietly. “Stubborn. Strong. Too willing to carry pain alone.”

Elena’s eyes burned.

Richard placed a reassuring hand over hers.

“We’re family, Elena. You don’t have to go through this alone” ,the sincerity in his voice felt real.

Painfully real.

For a moment, she found herself grateful for him.

Then Richard’s expression darkened slightly.

“I’ve been thinking about the investigation.”

Elena looked up immediately.

“There’s someone I trust,” he continued. “A private investigator. Former detective. One of the best in the city.”

Adrian entered the dining room just then, his dark gaze immediately finding Elena.

Something softened in his expression the moment he saw her.

God.

Even grieving, he looked devastatingly handsome.

Black shirt.

Rolled sleeves.

Luxury watch gleaming against strong wrists.

Power seemed woven into his skin.

“You already contacted him?” Adrian asked calmly.

Richard nodded.

“He’s discreet, reliable and loyal.”

A strange look passed briefly between father and son, gone so quickly Elena almost missed it.

Then Richard smiled gently at her again.

“His name is Marcus Reed.”

An hour later, Marcus Reed arrived.

The man carried himself with quiet confidence, dressed in an expensive navy suit that fit him too perfectly to belong to an ordinary investigator.

Everything about him screamed competence.

“Elena Hart,” he greeted politely, shaking her hand. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

His grip was firm.

Professional.Trustworthy.

At least, that was the first impression.

Marcus opened a leather file on the table.

“I’ve already begun looking into Victor Kane.”

Elena’s pulse jumped instantly.

“What did you find?”

Marcus leaned back slightly.

“Enough to suggest he’s hiding something.”

The room grew still.

He slid several photographs across the table.

Victor Kane entering private meetings, secret warehouse transactions,late-night movements.

All carefully organized and convincing

Marcus tapped one document calmly.

“Three days before your father’s death, Kane transferred a large amount of money through an offshore route.”

Elena’s stomach twisted.

“Why?”

“We don’t know yet.”

But the way Marcus said it implied something darker.

Something criminal.

Elena noticed Adrian watching the investigator quietly.

Then Marcus placed another document before her.

“A witness claims your father and Victor Kane had a violent argument the night before the attack.”

Elena’s hands curled into fists.

“What kind of argument?”

Marcus hesitated just enough to appear careful.

“Your father threatened to expose him.”

Boom.

Hatred exploded violently inside her chest.

Victor Kane killed him to protect himself.

He had to.

Marcus lowered his voice slightly.

“I believe your father discovered something dangerous.”

“Mrs. Wells.”

The familiar male voice behind her made Elena freeze completely.

Her breath caught.

Slowly, she turned around and saw Daniel Brook her ex boyfriend who stood near the mansion entrance.

And suddenly, the world tilted.

He looked handsome than before.

His dark coat was damp from the rain outside, his slightly messy hair giving him the same effortless charm she remembered from years ago.

But it was his eyes that unsettled her most, because the moment they landed on her,everything in them changed.

Concern.

Pain.

Love.

Unmistakable love.

“Elena,” he said softly.

The way he said her name made Adrian’s posture instantly stiffen beside her.

Tension thickened the air immediately.

“What are you doing here?” Elena asked quietly.

Daniel looked at her for several seconds before answering.

“I heard about your father.”

His voice carried genuine grief.

And something else.

Something dangerously personal.

Elena suddenly felt uncomfortable beneath his gaze.

Like he was seeing too much and  he still remembered every version of her.

“I came because something about this case doesn’t make sense.”

Adrian’s expression darkened immediately.

“That’s not your concern anymore,” he said coldly.

Daniel ignored him completely.

His attention remained fixed on Elena.

“You need to slow down before accusing Victor Kane.”

Elena stared at him in disbelief.

“What?”

“I’m serious,” Daniel continued carefully. “The evidence feels too clean.”

Marcus Reed folded his arms calmly.

“You questioning my investigation, Mr. Brook?”

Daniel finally looked at him.

And instantly disliked him.

Elena felt it immediately.

Two intelligent men silently sizing each other up dangerously.

“I’m questioning conclusions reached too quickly,” Daniel replied smoothly.

Marcus smiled faintly.

“Sometimes the obvious answer is the correct one.”

“Or the most convenient one.”

The room turned colder.

Adrian stepped forward slightly trying to be  protective and possessive.

“You’ve said enough.”

But Daniel kept looking at Elena.

And the pain in his eyes disturbed her more than his words.

“You’re emotional right now,” he said quietly. “Don’t let grief blind you.”

That sentence shattered the fragile control she had left.

“Blind me?” Elena laughed bitterly.

“You think I’m stupid?”

“No.”

“Then stop acting like I can’t think for myself.”

“Elena”

“You lost the right to tell me what to do years ago.”

Silence crashed down brutally.

Daniel’s jaw tightened slightly a pain flickered across his face.

But even now he still looked at her like she was the only woman in the room.

And somehow, that made her angrier.

“You’re only here because you want back into my life,” she snapped.

The accusation hit hard.

Elena saw it.

Daniel’s eyes darkened briefly with hurt.

But he didn’t deny it immediately.

That hesitation made Adrian’s expression turn dangerous.

“Elena is my wife,” Adrian said coldly.

“And I suggest you remember that.”

The tension between the two men became almost suffocating.

Daniel finally looked away first.

But before leaving, he turned back toward Elena one last time.

“Just investigate deeper,” he said quietly.

Then he walked out into the rain.

Elena exhaled shakily.

Why did his warning suddenly linger in her chest like fear?

Later that evening, Marcus Reed called unexpectedly.

“I found something.”

Elena immediately sat upright on the couch.

Adrian looked up from across the penthouse silently.

“What is it?” she asked quickly.

Marcus’s voice lowered.

“There’s an offshore account linked to Victor Kane.”

Her heart pounded violently.

“And?”

“There was a transfer made the exact night your father was attacked.”

The room spun.

“How much?”

“A large enough amount to hire professionals.”

Elena stopped breathing.

No.

No, no, no

"This couldn’t be coincidence anymore, Victor Kane paid someone.He planned it.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Then slowly

Very slowly

She lifted her eyes toward Adrian.

“He paid someone to kill my father,” she whispered.

And for one terrifying second

Adrian silently looked away.