Chapter 3 — The Woman in the Photograph

Lena barely slept.

By three in the morning, she was still staring at the ceiling, replaying Adrian's words in her head.

The woman in the photograph is your mother.

It didn't make sense.

Her mother had always told her that her father was the only man she had ever loved. She had never mentioned another man. Never mentioned Adrian Blackwood. Never mentioned a photograph.

And yet, Adrian had looked at her mother as if he'd known her better than anyone.

Lena reached for her phone.

She opened the photograph she had secretly taken before leaving Adrian's office.

The image was slightly blurred, but the three faces were still recognizable.

Her father.

Adrian.

And her mother.

She zoomed in on her mother's face.

There was something about the way she was looking at Adrian.

Not fear.

Not hatred.

Something softer.

Something Lena couldn't name.

Her phone rang.

She almost dropped it.

“Mom?”

“Why are you calling me at this hour?”

“I need the truth.”

Silence.

“About Dad.”

Her mother's breathing changed.

“Lena, please.”

“And Adrian Blackwood.”

Another silence.

That was enough.

“You knew him.”

Her mother didn't answer.

“You knew him, Mom.”

“I was young.”

Lena sat up.

“How young?”

“Twenty-two.”

“And Adrian?”

“Twenty-four.”

Lena's heart pounded.

“What happened between you?”

“I loved him.”

The words were barely audible.

Lena closed her eyes.

“Then why did you marry Dad?”

Her mother's voice trembled.

“Because I had no choice.”

“Why?”

“I can't tell you.”

“You have to.”

“No, Lena.”

Her mother suddenly sounded terrified.

“Some things are dangerous to remember.”

Before Lena could ask anything else, the call ended.

Lena stared at her phone.

Then she noticed a message.

Unknown Number: Stop digging into the past.

Her blood ran cold.

She immediately locked the screen.

Someone was watching her.

The next morning, Lena arrived at Blackwood Enterprises earlier than usual.

She hadn't changed her mind.

If anything, she was more determined.

But when she reached the executive floor, she noticed something strange.

Daniel was waiting outside Adrian's office.

“You're early,” he said.

“So are you.”

He smiled faintly.

“Mr. Blackwood has been here since five.”

Lena frowned.

“Why?”

Daniel glanced toward the closed office door.

“Your arrival yesterday caused some problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

Before he could answer, Adrian's voice came from inside.

“Send her in.”

Lena took a breath and entered.

Adrian stood behind his desk.

He looked exhausted.

Dark circles surrounded his eyes, and several documents were scattered across the desk.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes.”

He pushed a folder toward her.

“Your employment contract.”

Lena looked at it.

“What about it?”

“I want you to resign.”

Her eyes widened.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“Why?”

“Because you're not safe here.”

“From whom?”

Adrian's jaw tightened.

“I can't tell you.”

“Then I'm not resigning.”

“Lena.”

“No.”

She pushed the folder back.

“You don't get to hire me and fire me because you suddenly decided I'm dangerous.”

“I am trying to protect you.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

Adrian stared at her.

“You don't know what you're asking.”

“Yes, I do.”

She stepped closer.

“My mother knew you.”

His expression changed.

Lena saw it.

“You loved her.”

Adrian looked away.

“Don't.”

“She was the woman in the photograph.”

“Stop.”

“What happened between you?”

“Enough.”

His voice echoed through the office.

Lena went silent.

Adrian took a slow breath.

“When I met your mother, I believed she was the only person I could trust.”

His eyes lowered.

“She proved me wrong.”

Lena's chest tightened.

“What did she do?”

“She disappeared.”

“Why?”

“I never found out.”

“My father knew.”

Adrian's eyes snapped toward her.

“How do you know?”

“Because my mother said he told her what happened.”

Adrian walked around the desk.

“What exactly did she say?”

“That you would never forgive him.”

For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely shaken.

He reached for the edge of the desk.

“Your mother told you that?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else?”

“She said she had no choice but to marry my father.”

Adrian closed his eyes.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then he whispered—

“She was pregnant.”

Lena froze.

“What?”

Adrian looked at her.

“She was pregnant when she left me.”

Lena's heart slammed against her ribs.

She suddenly understood why he had looked at her differently from the moment they met.

“Are you saying…”

Adrian didn't answer.

Lena's voice trembled.

“Are you saying you thought I was your daughter?”

He stared at her.

“I don't know.”

The silence between them became unbearable.

Then Adrian walked toward a locked cabinet.

He entered a code.

The door opened.

Inside was a small box.

He took it out and placed it on the desk.

“This is everything I had left from your mother.”

Lena stared at the box.

“Why are you showing me this?”

“Because last night, someone broke into my private records.”

Her stomach dropped.

“What?”

“They weren't looking for company information.”

Adrian opened the box.

Inside was a stack of old letters.

And on top of them—

Was a hospital bracelet.

Lena picked it up.

Her fingers began to shake.

There was a name written on it.

Baby Girl Blackwood.

She looked at Adrian.

He was staring at her with an expression she'd never seen before.

Fear.

“We need to find out,” he said quietly.

“Find out what?”

“Whether you're my daughter.”

Before Lena could respond, the office lights suddenly went out.

A loud crash came from the hallway.

Adrian immediately pulled her behind him.

Then they heard footsteps running toward the office.

Someone stopped outside the door.

And slowly—

The handle began to turn.