Chapter 7: MY FIANCE, MY KILLER

Marcus's smile disappeared for only a moment before returning.

“Richard, I appreciate your confidence in me,” he said, straightening in his chair. “I'd be happy to help Elena understand the business.”

Dad nodded. “That's what I hoped to hear. You've gained experience in the business world, and I believe you could be a good guide for her.”

I set down my fork.

“A guide in what way?”

Both men turned toward me.

Marcus reached for his glass. “There's no need to worry about the details tonight, sweetheart. Your father and I were only discussing possibilities.”

“But it's my future you're discussing.”

His smile tightened.

“Of course it is.”

“Then I'd like to understand what you're proposing.”

Dad looked at me with mild surprise, but he didn't interrupt.

Marcus leaned forward. “Hart Group is a large company. You can't learn everything overnight. I thought I could help oversee a few projects while you become familiar with the business.”

“Which projects?”

“Expansion and investment, mainly.”

“And who would report to you?”

He paused before answering. “That would depend on what your father decides.”

I held his gaze. “Would you have access to the company's financial records?”

“Some.”

“Would you be allowed to approve contracts?”

“Only if necessary.”

“Would you have authority to make decisions without Dad's approval?”

The pleasant expression on his face began to fade.

“Elena, why are you asking me all these questions? I'm trying to help you.”

“I'm asking because I want to know what kind of help you're offering.”

Dad cleared his throat. “She's right, Marcus. We should establish the terms before making any decisions.”

Marcus nodded, although his jaw had tightened.

“Certainly. I have a preliminary proposal prepared. I'll send it to you both tomorrow.”

“Good,” I replied. “I'll review it before we discuss anything further.”

He looked at me as if he had never heard me speak that way before.

Perhaps he hadn't.

The Elena he knew had always accepted his advice. When he told me something was for my own good, I rarely questioned him. I had believed love meant trusting someone even when I didn't understand their decisions.

That belief had nearly cost me everything.

“Are you sure you want to involve yourself in all the complicated details?” Marcus asked gently. “You should enjoy your life, too.”

“I can do both.”

“Of course.” He smiled again. “I only want what's best for you.”

I wondered whether he had rehearsed that sentence in front of a mirror.

Dad changed the subject, asking Marcus about a recent business deal. Marcus answered confidently, and soon the conversation moved away from Hart Group.

I barely touched the rest of my meal.

I was too busy studying the man sitting across from me.

His gestures were familiar. His voice was familiar. Even the way he occasionally glanced at Dad before answering a question was familiar.

But I now understood something I hadn't understood before.

A person didn't need to look cruel to cause terrible harm.

Sometimes, the most dangerous person at the table was the one smiling at you.

When dinner ended, Dad returned to his study to finish some work. Marcus offered to walk me to the sitting room.

The moment we were alone, he took my hand.

“You embarrassed me tonight.”

I looked at him in surprise.

“Excuse me?”

“You questioned me in front of your father as if I were trying to steal something from him.”

“I'm sorry you felt embarrassed, but I asked reasonable questions.”

“I'm your fiancé, Elena. I thought you trusted me.”

His words struck a familiar nerve. In my previous life, those were the words he used whenever I questioned something that didn't feel right.

He would make me feel guilty until I apologized.

Not this time.

“Trust doesn't mean I should agree to something I don't understand.”

He released my hand.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he sighed and softened his expression.

“I don't want us fighting over business. I'm doing this because I want to build a future with you.”

I studied his face.

“And what does that future look like to you, Marcus?”

He seemed surprised by the question.

“Marriage. A family. Success. Everything we've talked about.”

“And Hart Group?”

“Your father's company will eventually become yours. I want to help you protect it.”

I almost laughed at the irony.

In the future I remembered, he had helped destroy everything I was supposed to inherit.

“Then you won't mind if I learn to protect it myself,” I said.

His eyes searched mine.

“Of course not.”

He leaned forward to kiss my forehead. I turned slightly, and his lips brushed my hair instead.

The change in his expression was small, but I saw it.

“Goodnight, Marcus.”

He stared at me for another second before forcing a smile.

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

I watched him leave, then hurried upstairs.

My hands were trembling, and I hated that he could still affect me that way.

I wasn't afraid of him.

I was afraid of making the same mistakes again.

The next morning, I went straight to Dad's study.

He looked up from his desk when I entered.

“Is something wrong, Elena?”

“I want to start learning about Hart Group immediately.”

He put down his pen.

“I thought we agreed on that.”

“I mean properly. I want to review the financial reports, understand the departments, and attend meetings. I don't want to depend on someone else to explain every decision to me.”

Dad studied me for a moment.

“That's a big responsibility.”

“I know. I'm ready.”

His expression softened.

“You sound very determined.”

“I am.”

He rose and came around the desk, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Your mother would have been proud to hear you say that.”

My chest tightened at the mention of her.

For a moment, I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to explain why I suddenly cared so much about the company and why the thought of losing him terrified me.

But how could I tell him I remembered a future he hadn't lived?

So I simply smiled.

“Then I'll do my best to make her proud.”

Dad kissed my forehead before returning to his desk.

“I'll ask Mr. Bennett to prepare the reports. And don't worry about Marcus's proposal. Nothing will be approved without my consent.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

For the first time since waking up in the past, I felt that I had taken a real step toward changing my future.

But I couldn't afford to relax.

Marcus wasn't the kind of man who gave up easily.

Later that morning, Mr. Bennett delivered a folder to my room. I sat beside the window and began reading through the documents.

Most contained ordinary company information: quarterly figures, departmental summaries, and proposed expansion plans.

Then I found a document titled Preliminary Management Advisory Proposal.

Marcus Cole's name appeared beneath the heading.

I read the first page carefully.

The proposal would give him access to confidential financial information and allow him to participate in decisions involving several major company projects.

This was much more than the temporary assistance he had described at dinner.

I turned to the final page.

A small handwritten note had been attached to it.

Once Elena agrees, Richard will have no reason to interfere.

I read the sentence again, my stomach tightening.

Who had written it?

My eyes moved to the initials in the corner.

C.H.

Chloe Hart.

I stared at the letters, struggling to control my anger.

Marcus and Chloe weren't simply discussing my future.

They were planning something together—and my father was standing in their way.

I reached for my phone, then stopped.

Confronting them now would only warn them that I was suspicious.

Instead, I carefully returned the note to the folder.

If they believed I was still the trusting Elena they remembered, I would let them keep believing it.

But before I could expose their plan, I needed to understand one thing.

Why did Marcus and Chloe want control of Hart Group before I had even agreed to marry him?