Chapter 7: Brace Yourself

Lucian’s POV

The bidding for the new island had me completely devoted for 48 consecutive hours.

I spent the entire day in my office, sustained by cold coffee and the adrenaline of completing Walker Industries' biggest deal in five years.

"Lucian, love. You need to rest. Come. Here, I’ve made you some tea and protein muffins." Lydia’s voice was bright, yet tinged with a touch of affectation.

And I didn’t have time for tea and muffins.

"You’ve been locked away in this office all night," she said. "Take a break. It will be good for you."

"Leave. Or stay silent." Without lifting my head, I spoke in a voice so hoarse.

"But you haven’t slept in days," Lydia said.

Hunched over my desk, I averted my eyes. It was true. I hadn’t slept much in the past few days.

But it wasn’t because of the meeting. It was because my nightmare had come back.

In the nightmare, I’m standing in the hospital, the same hospital that caught on fire that night three years ago.

Elena is down the corridor, wringing her hands in front of her skirt.

She begs me to come and get her. She cries out for me as flames grow all around her.

But for some reason, I can’t move. I just stand there, useless, until…

There’s a massive explosion and Elena is blown up right before my eyes.

The nightmares began the moment I laid hands on Elena’s personal effects.

Three years ago, when I pulled her charred ID and wallet from the rubble, I lost my mind.

Had her distress call been real? Had she really been in danger?

I tried to claw my way back into the ruins, but the rescue team held me back.

In the end, the police told me no remains were found.

In an explosion of that magnitude, it usually meant the victims had simply turned to ash.

I bought the site of those ruins and kept the excavation going day and night.

I would have rather sifted through her ashes than face the reality that she had vanished from this world entirely.

I regret it now.

My guilt over what happened consumed me, like the flames that consumed the hospital.

The years went by, but Elena’s face never faded from my memory.

And slowly, with time, I came to learn that I couldn’t live without Elena.

Cheating. The pregnancy. Those things didn’t matter. Not really. The only thing that mattered was the one thing I couldn’t have…Elena by my side.

I stared at Elena's photo. But Lydia pouted, dissatisfied that my gaze was not focused on her.

"Honey, are you listening to me? I heard the bidding for this island isn’t going to be simple. Many people will come to fight for it." Lydia droned on.

I'm very grateful that Lydia was by my side encouraging me when I was deep in the pain of betrayal.

I forced myself to temporarily shelve the thoughts of Elena. And I finally shifted my attention to the documents in front of me. Lydia was pointing at the top line of the participant list—Wentworth Family.

This was an old rival of mine, especially Leon Wentworth. His ability for commercial expansion was not inferior to mine at all.

In the past, he always attended such bidding meetings alone, but this time it was different. I heard the Wentworth family has dispatched a new female CEO. She’s ruthless and mysterious. She became CEO in just two years. Her background is a mystery.

I must find out her cards. It would be best if I could make her work for me.

Two hours later, Lydia and I arrived at the bidding venue.

Lydia leaned in, her voice a low murmur against my ear, "You’ve seemed a bit distracted lately and I know how important winning this bid is for you. So I suggest you try to be friendly with the Wentworth CEO, whoever she is. Maybe you can build some sort of relationship with her. That could work to your advantage."

We walked to our seats as Lydia chatted on. I was barely listening though.

No matter how hard I tried, Lydia was right, I was distracted. The recurring nightmare had rattled me.

Suddenly, the lights all dimmed. The host, a galant-looking man in a tuxedo, took the microphone and announced that the CEO had arrived. All eyes turned to the back of the room, as a spotlight landed on a stunning woman. With a dazzling smile, she entered the room, extending her delicate hand to greet everyone in her path.

"Greetings, everyone." She finally spoke, her voice as smooth as silk.

I froze. That voice... it sounded familiar. Too familiar. It was the same voice I had tried to erase from my heart for the past three years—the one sound I had fought to forget, yet never truly could.

Despite this woman having different features than my wife, the feeling she gave me was familiar.

Is it her?

I couldn't stay in my seat a second longer. Propelled by a desperate urge, I pushed through the crowd toward her. I didn't know what I was going to say; I only knew that I couldn't stay there for another moment.

*****

Elena's POV

I saw him coming. Lucian broke through the sea of socialites. When I saw him squeeze through the crowd with bloodshot eyes, I was still startled.

"Stay calm," I hissed to myself.

I continued my conversation with a nearby investor, my smile perfect and professional, even as Lucian’s shadow fell over me.

"Elena?"

The name was a broken sob on his lips. I turned slowly, my gaze drifting over him with the cool, calculated indifference of a stranger.

"Do I know you?" I asked, my voice smooth and devoid of any recognition. "I believe you’ve mistaken me for someone else."

But Lucian didn't flinch. He stepped into my personal space, his hand snaking out to grip my wrist with a possessive strength.

"You can change your face, Elena." he hissed, leaning down until his lips brushed my ear, his voice a low, lethal promise.

"But I would know those eyes in hell. It’s been a long time...dear wife."