CHAPTER 5-THE WOMAN FROM HIS PAST

Victoria's hand remained extended between us.

I looked at it for a moment before slowly taking it. Her grip was firm, almost deliberately so, and the smile on her face never reached her eyes. There was something unsettling about the way she studied me, as if she were trying to find a weakness she could use later.

"Nice to meet you," I said politely.

"Is it?"

I released her hand.

Her smile widened.

Adrian stepped forward, placing himself slightly between us. "Victoria, this isn't appropriate."

She looked at him with an expression I couldn't understand.

"What's inappropriate about congratulating my former fiancé?"

"You're not here to congratulate me."

Her eyes flickered toward me.

"You're right."

The room became painfully quiet.

I looked at Adrian, waiting for him to explain, but his expression had hardened. Whatever history existed between him and Victoria was clearly more complicated than a broken engagement.

His older brother suddenly cleared his throat.

"Perhaps we should all sit down."

Nobody moved.

Victoria crossed the room and sat comfortably on the sofa as if she still belonged there.

I noticed several members of the family exchange glances.

That told me everything I needed to know.

Victoria hadn't been a stranger to this family.

She had been part of it.

Perhaps she still believed she was.

Adrian reached for my hand.

"Come with me."

I followed him toward the hallway.

"Where are we going?" I whispered.

"Upstairs."

"Are you trying to escape?"

"Yes."

Despite everything, I almost smiled.

We reached the staircase when Victoria's voice followed us.

"Adrian."

He stopped.

I looked back.

She remained seated, watching him.

"I need to speak with you."

"Not now."

"It's important."

"Whatever you have to say can wait."

Victoria's expression changed.

"Can it?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

I looked between them.

"Maybe you should talk to her."

His eyes immediately moved to mine.

"No."

"Adrian, it's fine."

"It isn't."

I lowered my voice.

"I don't want to be the reason you avoid something important."

He stared at me for several seconds.

Then he turned toward Victoria.

"Five minutes."

Victoria smiled.

"I only need five."

Adrian looked at me.

"Go upstairs."

I nodded.

As I climbed the stairs, I could still feel Victoria's eyes following me.

I didn't know why, but something about her presence made me uneasy.

Maybe it was jealousy.

Maybe it was simply the fact that she knew Adrian in ways I didn't.

She knew his past.

His habits.

His family.

The woman he had once planned to marry.

I knew almost nothing about him.

And yet I was wearing his ring.

When I reached the bedroom, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it.

The room was enormous.

Everything was elegant, expensive, and completely unfamiliar. A large bed occupied the center, with dark curtains framing the windows and a sitting area near the balcony.

I walked toward the window and looked outside.

Six months.

I only needed to survive six months.

Then the contract would end, the debt would be paid, and I would go back to my normal life.

Simple.

At least, that's what I wanted to believe.

A knock came at the door.

I turned.

Adrian entered without waiting for an answer.

"Is everything okay?"

He closed the door behind him.

"Victoria left."

I nodded.

"What did she want?"

"To remind me that she doesn't intend to disappear."

I frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like."

I folded my arms.

"Adrian, I need to know what I'm dealing with."

His expression became guarded.

"You're dealing with a woman from my past."

"Who still loves you?"

He didn't answer.

That was an answer by itself.

My stomach tightened.

"Do you still love her?"

His eyes met mine.

"No."

The answer came quickly.

Too quickly.

I looked away.

"Good."

"Why does that matter to you?"

"It doesn't."

"Then why did you ask?"

I turned toward him.

"Because I'm your wife."

His expression softened slightly.

"Temporary wife."

I hated those words now.

I didn't know why.

"Yes," I said quietly. "Temporary wife."

A strange silence settled between us.

Adrian stepped closer.

"You don't have to worry about Victoria."

"That's easy for you to say."

"I mean it."

"What if she causes problems?"

"Then I'll deal with them."

I looked into his eyes.

"And what if she causes problems for me?"

His face became serious.

"Then I'll protect you."

My heart skipped.

I immediately looked away.

"You don't have to protect me."

"I know."

"Then why would you?"

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, his gaze remained on me.

"Because you're my wife."

Again, those words.

But this time, they sounded different.

Before I could respond, his phone rang.

He stepped away and answered.

"Blackwood."

His expression changed almost immediately.

"What?"

I watched him carefully.

He turned toward the window.

"Send me everything."

There was a pause.

"How long has this been happening?"

Another pause.

His voice became colder.

"Don't contact anyone. I'll handle it."

He ended the call.

I frowned.

"What happened?"

He looked at me.

"There has been a problem at the company."

"What kind of problem?"

"Someone leaked confidential financial information."

My eyes widened.

"Isn't that serious?"

"Very."

"Could it affect you?"

"It already has."

He walked toward the door.

I followed.

"Where are you going?"

"To the office."

"Now?"

"Yes."

I hesitated.

Then I remembered something.

"Adrian."

He stopped.

"What?"

"Do you want me to come with you?"

His eyebrows lifted.

"You don't have to."

"I know."

I gave him a small smile.

"But if I'm supposed to be your wife in public, shouldn't I start learning how this works?"

He studied me.

Then he nodded.

"Get changed."

"Why?"

"We're attending a press conference."

My stomach dropped.

"A press conference?"

"The leak is already being reported."

I stared at him.

"And what exactly am I supposed to do?"

"Stand beside me."

I almost laughed.

"That's it?"

"For now."

Twenty minutes later, we were back downstairs.

The family had left, but Victoria was still there.

She stood near the entrance with her coat in her hands.

Her eyes immediately moved to me.

Then she looked at Adrian.

"You're going to the company."

"Yes."

"Because of the leak?"

Adrian stopped.

"How do you know about that?"

Victoria smiled.

"I still have friends in the business world."

His expression darkened.

"Victoria."

She stepped closer.

"You should be careful, Adrian."

"About what?"

"About trusting the people around you."

Her eyes moved toward me.

The implication was obvious.

I felt Adrian's hand settle against my waist.

"That's enough."

Victoria smiled.

"You always hated being warned."

She walked toward the door.

Before leaving, she turned back.

"One more thing."

Adrian said nothing.

"Ask your wife where she was the night before your wedding."

I froze.

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about?"

Victoria looked directly at me.

"She knows."

Then she walked out.

The front door closed behind her.

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

Adrian slowly turned toward me.

"Elena."

I swallowed.

"Yes?"

His voice was calm, but there was suspicion in his eyes now.

"Where were you the night before our wedding?"

My heart began pounding.

"At my mother's house."

He continued staring at me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He took a step closer.

"Then why did Victoria say you know?"

"I don't know."

His phone rang again.

He glanced at the screen.

This time, his expression changed completely.

He answered.

"Speak."

I watched the color slowly disappear from his face.

"What?"

He listened in silence.

Then he looked at me.

"Send it to my phone."

He ended the call.

"What happened?" I asked.

Adrian didn't answer.

He opened a message on his phone and stared at the screen.

I stepped closer.

"Adrian?"

He turned the phone toward me.

There was a photograph on the screen.

It was a picture of me.

Taken the night before our wedding.

I stared at it in confusion.

"I don't understand."

Adrian's eyes hardened.

"Neither do I."

I looked more closely at the photograph.

I was standing outside a hotel.

And beside me was Daniel.

But that wasn't what made my blood run cold.

It was the timestamp.

The photograph had been taken at 11:47 p.m.

And Daniel was holding something in his hand.

Something I had never seen before.

Adrian's voice was dangerously quiet.

"Why were you meeting your ex the night before you agreed to marry me?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

Because there was one problem with the photograph.

I had never met Daniel that night.

At least, I didn't remember doing so.

And suddenly, I wasn't sure I could trust my own memory.