CHAPTER FOUR : SHADOWS.

Liam stopped short and looked at her. His eyes narrowed.

"This shouldn't be one of your teenage tricks, Ellie." he said, all atom of formality gone.

She flinched at first then relaxed. The Ellie of before would have absolutely nothing to do with him, but not her, not this version.

She smiled at him.

"I'm past all that. I'm serious. A date would be nice, but it probably won't be today." She said.

Liam didn't say anything for a while . "I'd text you the time, place and day. I'll reach out to your family for that." he Said and went out of her sights.

She inhaled deeply, as she watched him go. Then she turned around and went to the garage where her driver was parked.

She was suprised to see Ethan, resting on the bonnet of his car. Her bodyguards stood to one side watching them. She wasn’t expecting to see anyone—least of all Ethan, leaning against his car like a dark memory that refused to fade.

“Eliana,” he said, pushing off the door, his voice softer than she remembered, but no less manipulative.

Her stomach tightened. “What are you doing here?”

“I saw the news. You and Liam Morgan … business partners now?” He stepped closer. “I thought we should talk.”

“It’s late.”

“Then let me drop you off. It’s not safe at night.”

She knew the tone—sweet on the outside, dangerous underneath. Saying no could be a risk. So she nodded and got in.

The ride was quiet, charged with unspoken tension.

“You’ve changed,” he said finally. “You dress and look different. I like this version."

“Nah” Eliana replied with a nervous chuckle “I'm just trying something new. "

He offered no reply.

" That's a welcome change" he said.

She didn't reply.

He dropped her off with an unsettling smile. “Goodnight, ma chérie."

She watched him go.

The next morning, Eliana arrived at the office before anyone else. She buried herself in paperwork, determined not to let last night shake her.

By noon, Ivy strutted into her office like she owned the building.

“Morning,” she said brightly. “I heard about the Horizon project. Sounds like a dream team.”

Eliana didn’t bother with small talk. “What do you want, Ivy?”

“Can I be a part of it Ellie? " she pouted. " I'll be needing to add to my portfolio when applying for department manager. "

Eliana narrowed her eyes. “You’ve never shown any interest in project work.”

“People change,” Ivy replied with a smug smile. “I want to be helpful.”

Eliana leaned back in her chair.She thought for a while “Fine. You’ll be on the support staff. Logistics assistant.”

The smile on Ivy’s face faltered.

“That’s... very basic.”

“I know. But you said you wanted to help.”

"But I'm your friend," she protested. Eliana didn't provide a reply, but stared at her.

Ivy gritted her teeth. “Fine. Thank you.”

As she turned to leave, Eliana caught the flicker of resentment in her eyes.

Later that evening, Liam sent a message: Dinner to discuss the next phase? I'll send my driver over.

She laughed softly and replied, I’ll see you at seven.

They met at a quiet restaurant on the Upper East Side. Liam was all charm and sharp wit, but there was warmth beneath it.

“You were brilliant in the meeting,” he said. “You’ve always had the mind for business.”

Eliana smiled. “I forgot how good it felt to be up there, but then i was only doing my job."

He tilted his head. “And what else did you forget?”

“Maybe... how to enjoy good company?"

They shared wine, soft laughter, and lingering glances.

But just across the street, hidden behind a tinted car window, Ivy was snapping pictures on her phone. She smiled and sent the pictures to Ethan's phone.

The next morning, Ethan stormed into the Moore estate, fuming. The butlers didn't stop him. He had become a regular face already.

“You went on a date with Liam?” he demanded immediately he walked into her room.

Eliana froze. “That’s none of your business. And it was a business meeting."

“It is when people start talking about you like you’re available. We are to be married Eliana! " he was shouting now.

“I am available, Ethan. And I'm not marrying you. I made that very clear. What right do you have to question me? " she didn't back down

He took a threatening step closer. “Don’t make me do what I'd regret Ellie?"

"This is my house! And you'd damn well not try anything funny at all. "

He stepped even closer " Don't ruin things between us, there are alliances that shouldn't be broken " it looked like he would hit, she flinched but Before she could respond, a strong hand grabbed Ethan’s shoulder and yanked him back.

It was her brother, Damian. Relief washed through her when she saw him.

“Don’t ever talk to her like that again,” said Damian, stepping between them. “You don’t get to control her anymore.”

Ethan’s eyes burned with fury. “She is mine. Is this how the Moore's train their daughters? With no regard of set down principles."

"I'm not sure that a question I am to answer." Damian said threateningly. “You’ll see yourself out.”

Ethan left, slamming the gate on his way out.

"and don't bother coming back to this house." Damian shouted after him.

Eliana turned to him, shaken. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to face him alone anymore,” he said gently. “I’m with you. Don't ever allow him talk to you like that again. it's not allowed on your behalf "

She smiled. "with a brother like you, I feel like i own the world.

Damian smiled. And patted her hair

That night, Eliana couldn’t sleep. !!!She pulled out old journals, old files, anything from the past that might help her make sense of things.

And then she found it—a letter from her father dated years ago, sealed and hidden in one of her old suitcases. Her breath hitched as she read it. She tore it from the old envelope. It was dated, march 2024 and this was 2014. Could this?.. ....

What happened? How had something that happened in the future be in the past? What was her father trying to say.

Eliana, if you ever find this, know that there were things I couldn’t say then. Things about the company .About Ivy.

There was a deal made long before your engagement to Ethan. One Ivy tried to destroy.

The letter ended abruptly—as if her father had hidden it in haste. She needed to know why this was here. She remembered how her father died in her past life . The financial ruin caused by her in a bid to help Ethan , had given him a heart attack and he'd died before his prime. This time it would let be so.

Her heart pounded. Ivy had been sabotaging more than just her love life. What had her father wanted to write? Why had he let her marry Ethan? What was the end goal?