CHAPTER 9

Elena’s POV

When I wake up, my eyes feel heavy and sore. My pillow is damp, and my chest hurts like I swallowed stones. The sun sneaks through the curtain, but I don’t feel its warmth.

When I stepped out of my room, I heard his footsteps in the living room and I forced myself to get up, wash my face, and tied my hair and tried to look normal, but my reflection looked broken.

When I walked out, Lucien looked up from his tablet and his jaw was tight, his expression was also unreadable.

“Goor morning,” I said gently 

He hummed and he didn’t look at me, he just flipped another page and then I pulled a fake smile. “I’ll be going out for a bit.”

His eyes lifted sharply. “Where?”

I hesitated. “Just... fresh air. Maybe the park.”

He watched me too long and I felt my throat tighten. He did say anything, but I could feel the question burning behind his stare.

After I dressed up, grabbed my bag and walked out before I lost courage.

The wind outside was colder than usual. I took a cab to a small cafe downtown where I was supposed to meet someone. 

The man sat in a corner booth, wearing a cap and dark glasses and his voice was low and rough.

“Mrs. Stone,” he said, nodding once. “I found something.”

My heart raced. “You did?”

He slid a small envelope across the table. “It’s not much, but the people who took the boy… they’re not small-time.”

I opened the envelope and inside were grainy photos, black vans, men in masks and my hands shook. “Who are they?”

He sighed. “That’s what worries me. They have ties to someone high up in Stone Enterprises.”

I blinked. “What?”

He leaned closer. “Someone inside is feeding them information. You need to be careful. Don’t trust anyone.”

The sound of my heartbeat filled my ears and my voice cracked. “Please find my son. I will pay whatever it takes.”

He nodded slowly. “I’ll do my best, but stop digging too loud,  they are watching.”

By the time I returned to the penthouse, the sky was already turning gray and my steps slowed as soon as I saw Lucien waiting by the elevator. His arms were crossed, and his eyes were sharp.

“Where have you been?” His voice was calm but dangerous.

“Out,” I said quietly.

“I asked where.”

“I told you,” I murmured, walking past him.

He caught my wrist before I could move another step. “You disappear for hours without telling me. Are you hiding something?”

His grip was firm, too firm. I twisted but he didn’t let go.

“Lucien, let go.”

He stared at me, and his voice dropped lower. “Who did you meet?”

My chest rose fast. “I can’t breathe,” I whispered.

He blinked, realizing his hand was still on me. Slowly, he let go and silence filled the air between us.

He looked away first, jaw tightening. “Next time, tell me where you’re going. I’m not your enemy, Elena.”

I swallowed the words burning in my throat. You don’t know what’s happening.

I walked past him, and tried not to shake and my hands still trembled when I reached the bedroom. My phone buzzed on the table.

One new message. From an unknown number.

You think we don’t see you? Stop searching.

My breath caught and I dropped the phone.

Someone knew, someone was watching me.

My hands shook as I stared at the message again, my chest felt tight, and my heart rang too fast and I quickly deleted the text before Lucien walked in. If he saw it, he would start asking questions I couldn’t answer.

I dropped my phone, pressed my palms against my face, and took a deep breath, my throat burnt. I was scared…not only for Jace but for myself too.

That night, I couldn't stay in my room, the air felt heavy and his cologne still hung in the sheets, and every breath reminded me how close he was earlier when he held my wrist. I quietly moved to the guest room, closed the door, and sat on the bed. I buried my face in a pillow so my sobs didn’t echo.

I whispered into the dark, “Please be safe, Jace… please.”

The next morning, Lucien told me we have a business brunch. I almost said no, but his tone left no space for argument.

In the car, he looked focused, unreadable and I stayed quiet, staring out the window. My reflection looked pale, and tired.

When we walked into the restaurant, everyone turned and the clink of glasses and soft music filled the air. Then I saw her…Valeria.

Tall, elegant, dressed in white silk, her smile was sharp when her eyes landed on me.

“Lucien,” she said sweetly, and touched his arm. “It’s been too long.”

Lucien nodded stiffly. “Valeria.”

Her gaze slid to me. “And this must be your… wife?” She dragged the word like it tasted bitter.

“Yes,” Lucien said and his tone was cool. “Elena.”

She studied me from head to toe. “You are quite simple. Refreshing.” Her lips curved in a fake smile. “Lucien always had a thing for…simplicity.”

My chest tightened and I forced a polite nod. “Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, we already know each other… in some way,” Valeria said lightly. “Right, Lucien?”

Something flashed across his face and straightened. “Enough, Valeria.”

The table went quiet and her smile faded, but her eyes glinted with something cruel.

I looked away, and pretended to check the menu, my heart beating painfully fast.

The brunch dragged on and I barely tasted the food. Valeria kept stealing glances at Lucien, laughing softly at everything he said, even when he ignored her.

 Every look, every word was like a test, and I was the one losing

When we finally left, I exhaled in relief, Lucien opened the car door for me, but his face was tight, and unreadable again. I didn’t ask what he was thinking. I’m afraid of the answer.

That night, I couldn't sleep, the scene at the restaurant kept replaying in my head, her hand on his arm, her words, his silence and I sat by the window, and hugged my knees.

Then I heard something, a voice outside the hall. I got up quietly and moved closer to the door.

It was Valeria’s voice.

“…don’t worry,” she whispered over the phone. “If Elena falls, Lucien will return to me. Just make sure everything goes as planned.”

My stomach twisted, she was plotting something.