Chapter Three

THE BILLIONAIRE WHO NEVER MOVED ON

CHAPTER THREE

The Truth She Couldn't Tell

Amelia stared at her husband.

He stared back at her.

“Who were you talking to?”

She quickly ended the call.

“No one.”

He looked at the phone in her hand.

“You're lying.”

“I was talking to a client.”

“At eight in the morning?”

“Yes.”

“What client?”

“Why are you interrogating me?”

“Because I heard his voice.”

Amelia's heart dropped.

He stepped closer.

“Was it Adrian?”

She said nothing.

“Amelia.”

“It doesn't matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“He called me.”

“And you answered.”

“I didn't know it was him.”

Her husband gave a cold laugh.

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I don't care what you believe.”

His expression changed.

“Be careful.”

Amelia swallowed.

She had heard that tone before.

“Please don't start this.”

“You brought him back into our lives.”

“I didn't.”

“He found you.”

“Yes.”

“And now he's asking questions.”

“I didn't tell him anything.”

“Not yet.”

Amelia looked away.

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to make him disappear.”

She looked at him sharply.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“I can't control him.”

“You can.”

“How?”

“Tell him you never loved him.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I won't.”

He stepped closer.

“Then tell him you hate him.”

“I won't lie.”

“Then you leave me no choice.”

Amelia's heart pounded.

“No choice to do what?”

He didn't answer.

Instead, he picked up the photograph of Emma and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

He stopped.

“To pick up our daughter.”

Amelia rushed after him.

“Wait.”

He turned.

“You're not taking Emma anywhere.”

“She is my daughter.”

“She is my child too.”

“Then remember that before you make another stupid decision.”

He walked away.

Amelia stood frozen.

Her phone vibrated.

A message.

She looked down.

UNKNOWN NUMBER:

You have ten minutes to tell me the truth.

Another message came.

Or I will tell Adrian everything myself.

Amelia's blood ran cold.

She quickly typed.

Who is this?

The reply came almost immediately.

Someone who knows what happened eight years ago.

Her hands trembled.

What do you want?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally, the message came.

I want what you took from me.

Amelia stared at the screen.

What could anyone possibly want from her?

Then another message arrived.

And Adrian is the last person you should trust.

---

Across town, Adrian sat behind his desk.

Daniel stood in front of him.

“You found something?”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked up.

“Tell me.”

Daniel placed a folder on the desk.

“Her husband's name is Victor Hale.”

Adrian opened the folder.

“Age?”

“Thirty-six.”

“Business?”

“Real estate and private investments.”

“Family?”

“His father owns Hale Holdings.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“That's not all.”

Daniel hesitated.

“What?”

“You asked me to find everything.”

“I did.”

“And?”

Daniel opened another file.

“There was an incident eight years ago.”

Adrian stopped turning the pages.

“What kind of incident?”

“A car accident.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Who was involved?”

“Amelia.”

Adrian froze.

“What?”

“Eight years ago, Amelia was involved in a serious car accident.”

“Why didn't I know about this?”

Daniel looked uncomfortable.

“Because someone made sure you didn't.”

Adrian slowly stood.

“Who?”

“We're still trying to find out.”

“Where did it happen?”

“Outside the city.”

“Was Victor involved?”

Daniel nodded.

“Yes.”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“And Amelia?”

“She survived.”

“What about the baby?”

Daniel looked at him.

“That's where things get complicated.”

Adrian stared.

“What baby?”

Daniel took a breath.

“The accident happened about seven months before Emma was born.”

Adrian went completely still.

“Seven months?”

“Yes.”

“So Emma was conceived before the accident.”

“Possibly.”

“Possibly?”

“We don't know.”

Adrian slammed the folder shut.

“Find out.”

“I will.”

“And Daniel?”

“Yes?”

“Don't tell anyone what you're investigating.”

“Understood.”

Adrian picked up his phone.

“I’m going to see Amelia.”

Daniel frowned.

“Sir, is that wise?”

“No.”

“Then why go?”

Adrian looked toward the window.

“Because for eight years, everyone has been making decisions about my life without me.”

He grabbed his keys.

“I'm done letting them.”

---

Amelia stood outside her house, watching Victor's car disappear down the street.

She immediately called Chloe.

“Where are you?”

“At work. Why?”

“I need you.”

“What happened?”

“Adrian found me.”

Chloe went silent.

“Oh.”

“And Victor knows.”

“Oh, Amelia.”

“I don't know what to do.”

“You need to tell Adrian the truth.”

“I can't.”

“You can.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m scared.”

“Of Adrian?”

“No.”

“Then of Victor?”

Amelia closed her eyes.

“Yes.”

Chloe's voice softened.

“What exactly are you hiding?”

Amelia whispered,

“The night I left Adrian wasn't my decision.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was forced.”

“By Victor?”

“I don't know.”

“Amelia…”

“I received a message that night.”

“What message?”

“It said if I didn't leave Adrian, he would die.”

Chloe gasped.

“What?”

“I thought it was a threat.”

“And?”

“Two days later, someone attacked Adrian.”

Chloe went silent.

Amelia continued.

“I thought they were serious. I thought if I stayed, they would kill him.”

“Did you tell the police?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because the message came from Adrian's phone.”

Chloe whispered,

“What?”

“I thought he had sent it.”

“Then why would he threaten you?”

“He didn't.”

Amelia looked toward the street.

“Someone had his phone.”

A car suddenly stopped outside her house.

Her heart jumped.

“Chloe, I have to go.”

“Amelia, wait—”

She ended the call.

The car door opened.

Adrian stepped out.

He looked directly at her.

She couldn't move.

He walked toward her.

“You weren't going to tell me, were you?”

Amelia's eyes filled with tears.

“Adrian…”

“I found out about the accident.”

She looked away.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Stop lying to me.”

“I can't.”

“You can.”

“No.”

He stepped closer.

“Did someone threaten you?”

She stared at him.

Adrian's voice softened.

“Amelia, look at me.”

She did.

“Did someone threaten you eight years ago?”

Her lips trembled.

“Yes.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

“I already told you.”

“No.”

He shook his head.

“You told me you left because you had no choice.”

“I did.”

“Then what was the choice?”

She couldn't answer.

Adrian stepped closer.

“Was it me?”

She shook her head.

“Was it Emma?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

Amelia whispered,

“You.”

Adrian frowned.

“What?”

“You were the reason they threatened me.”

He stared at her.

“I don't understand.”

“They said if I didn't leave you…”

She began crying.

“They would kill you.”

Adrian's face went pale.

“Who said that?”

“I don't know.”

“You must know something.”

“I don't.”

“Amelia.”

“I swear.”

He took her hands.

“Then let me protect you this time.”

She looked at him through her tears.

“You can't.”

“Why?”

“Because whoever did it knows where I live.”

Adrian looked toward the house.

“What makes you think that?”

Amelia's eyes widened.

She suddenly noticed something on the ground.

A small white envelope.

It hadn't been there a moment ago.

She slowly walked toward it.

Adrian followed.

“Don't touch it.”

But Amelia had already picked it up.

Her name was written across the front.

She opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

Adrian looked over her shoulder.

His face changed instantly.

It was a photograph of him and Amelia from eight years ago.

On the back, someone had written:

You should have stayed apart.

Below it was another sentence.

This time, I won't warn you twice.

Amelia dropped the photograph.

Adrian picked it up.

His eyes hardened.

Then his phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

“Who is this?”

A distorted voice replied,

“You should have listened to her.”

Adrian's grip tightened around the phone.

“Who are you?”

A quiet laugh came through the line.

“Ask Amelia what happened the night she gave birth.”

The call ended.

Adrian slowly turned toward Amelia.

She was crying.

“Amelia…”

She couldn't look at him.

“What happened the night Emma was born?”

Amelia covered her face.

Then she whispered the words that changed everything.

“Emma wasn't the only baby born that night.”

Adrian stared at her.

“What?”

Amelia looked up.

“There were two babies.”

And before Adrian could ask another question, the front door behind them slowly opened.

A little boy stood there.

He looked exactly like Adrian.