Chapter 11 — The Woman He Blamed Me For

Lena couldn't breathe.

“My father killed her.”

Adrian's words echoed through the empty office.

My father killed her.

Lena stared at him, waiting for him to take the words back.

He didn't.

“Your mother…” Her voice trembled. “Your own father killed her?”

Adrian nodded slowly.

“She found out what he had done. The money. The cover-up. She threatened to expose him.”

“What happened?”

“He made sure she never saw the light of day.”

A heavy pain twisted in Lena's stomach.

“And you knew?”

“I found out years after her death.”

“Then why did you blame me?”

A strange look crossed his face.

For the first time since Lena had met him, Adrian looked at her without anger.

“I didn't know the truth when I blamed you.”

“What did you think?”

“I thought your mother had chosen my father over me.”

Lena frowned.

“What?”

“I was twenty-four. Angry. Hurt. I thought she had betrayed me and taken my child away.”

“You thought I was your daughter.”

“I did.”

“And when you learned Daniel Carter was raising me?”

“I thought your family had betrayed mine.”

A tear slipped down Lena's cheek.

“So that's why you hated me.”

Adrian looked away.

“I didn't hate you.”

“You did.”

“I hated what I thought you represented.”

Lena gave him a bitter smile.

“That isn't much better.”

“I know.”

Silence settled between them.

For the first time, Lena understood what she had seen behind Adrian's coldness.

He wasn't simply a ruthless CEO.

He was a man carrying twenty years of grief—a lost mother, a love he believed had betrayed him, and a family history built on lies.

But one question still remained.

“If my mother is alive, why did you tell me she was dead?”

Adrian's expression changed.

“I didn't mean your mother.”

Lena's breath caught.

“My mother?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I meant my mother.”

A chill ran through her.

“So my mother is alive?”

“Yes.”

Lena covered her mouth.

A rush of relief hit her so hard that her knees almost weakened.

“Then why did Victor say she was being held?”

“I don't know.”

Adrian reached for his phone.

Before he could unlock it, Lena's phone beeped.

Unknown Number: Now you know why he chose you.

Another message appeared.

He didn't hire you because you were qualified.

Lena's stomach tightened.

A third message followed.

He hired you because you were the last piece of the puzzle.

She showed Adrian the messages.

His expression hardened.

“Don't reply.”

“I wasn't planning to.”

Another message appeared.

Ask him about the night his mother died.

Lena slowly looked at Adrian.

“What happened that night?”

Adrian stared at the screen.

“I told you.”

“You told me your father killed her. You never told me what happened.”

His jaw tightened.

“I was there.”

Lena's heart stopped.

“You saw it happen?”

“I heard them arguing.”

His voice became distant, as if he were no longer standing in the office.

“My mother was pleading with him to stop. I didn't understand what was happening. I went to get help.”

He swallowed.

“When I came back, she was gone.”

Lena's eyes filled with tears.

“I was twenty-four years old,” he continued quietly. “I stood outside that hotel while my father told the press that her death was an accident.”

Lena stepped closer.

“Adrian…”

“I believed him for years.”

His voice cracked.

“Until I found the evidence that she had been trying to expose him.”

Without thinking, Lena reached for his hand.

Adrian looked down.

Neither of them moved.

Then slowly, he turned his hand over and clasped hers.

The simple touch felt more intimate than anything they had shared before.

The wall between them was finally beginning to crack.

“I don't hate you,” Adrian whispered.

Lena looked into his eyes.

“Then what do you feel?”

His thumb brushed gently across her knuckles.

“That's the problem.”

Her heart jumped.

“I don't know anymore.”

He stepped closer.

Lena could feel his breath against her skin.

For one dangerous second, she thought he might kiss her.

Then—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

They immediately stepped apart.

Daniel entered the office.

“Sir, we found Victor.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“Where?”

“Not far.”

“Is Lena's mother with him?”

Daniel shook his head.

“No.”

Lena's stomach twisted.

“Then where is she?”

Daniel hesitated.

“She contacted us.”

Adrian went still.

“What did she say?”

Daniel turned toward Lena.

“She said she wanted to see her daughter.”

Tears filled Lena's eyes.

“Where?”

Daniel handed her a small slip of paper.

“A church just outside the city.”

“Why there?”

“She didn't say.”

Adrian immediately grabbed his coat.

“We're going.”

Lena followed him.

They had barely reached the elevator when Daniel's phone rang.

He answered.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then his face changed.

“Sir…”

Adrian stopped.

“What?”

Daniel lowered the phone.

“There's been an accident.”

Adrian's expression darkened.

“What kind of accident?”

Daniel looked at Lena.

“Your mother was on her way to the church.”

Lena's knees weakened.

Adrian caught her before she fell.

“Is she alive?” he demanded.

A long silence followed.

“She survived,” Daniel finally said.

Lena released a shaky breath.

“But there's a problem.”

Adrian's voice turned cold.

“What kind of problem?”

Daniel swallowed.

“The vehicle responsible for the accident was registered to Blackwood Enterprises.”

Adrian's face turned to stone.

Lena stared at him.

“You said you didn't send anyone.”

“I didn't.”

Daniel's voice dropped.

“Then someone is using your name.”

Adrian looked toward the elevator doors.

And Lena suddenly realized something terrifying.

Whoever had tried to silence her mother wasn't afraid of Adrian.

They were trying to make Adrian take the blame.