Chapter 9 The Person Beside You

Evelyn slowly lowered her phone.

The caller's final words repeated in her mind.

The person standing beside you.

She looked at Adrian.

He was standing only a few steps away.

For the first time, she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake trusting him.

Adrian noticed the change in her expression.

“What did he say?”

Evelyn hesitated.

“Nothing.”

“Evelyn.”

Before she could answer, a loud sound came from downstairs.

Someone had entered the house.

Adrian immediately moved toward her.

“Stay here.”

“No.”

“Evelyn, please.”

“I heard what he said.”

Adrian froze.

“What?”

“The caller said the person who killed my father is standing beside me.”

His face went blank.

“And you think that's me?”

“I don't know what to think anymore.”

Adrian took a step toward her.

“You know me.”

“Do I?”

The question hurt him.

He looked away.

“You have every reason to doubt me.”

Evelyn swallowed.

“But I need the truth.”

“You'll have it.”

Another sound came from downstairs.

Adrian reached for her hand.

“Whatever happens, don't leave my side.”

She hesitated.

Then she allowed him to hold her hand.

They walked downstairs together.

The house was dark.

Adrian switched on the flashlight on his phone.

“Who's there?”

No answer.

They entered the living room.

Nothing.

The front door was still open.

Evelyn looked outside.

“Maybe they left.”

Adrian shook his head.

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“Because the door was locked when we came upstairs.”

Evelyn's heart began racing.

Someone was still inside.

Adrian moved toward the kitchen.

Evelyn followed.

They checked every room.

Nothing.

Then Evelyn noticed the study door.

It was open.

She remembered closing it earlier.

“Adrian.”

He turned.

“The study.”

They entered.

Everything appeared untouched.

Until Evelyn noticed the safe.

It was open.

Her heart sank.

“The documents.”

Adrian rushed over.

The black folder was gone.

Someone had taken the evidence.

Evelyn looked around.

“Who knew about the safe?”

“Victor.”

“Your mother.”

“Yes.”

“And us.”

Adrian nodded.

“Then one of them betrayed us.”

Evelyn's eyes narrowed.

“Or someone was already watching.”

Adrian suddenly looked toward the window.

A small red light blinked outside.

“What is that?”

He grabbed Evelyn and pulled her down.

A sharp crack followed.

The window shattered.

Evelyn screamed.

Adrian covered her with his body.

“Don't move.”

Another crack.

Then silence.

Adrian slowly lifted his head.

“Are you hurt?”

Evelyn shook her head.

“No.”

He looked at her carefully.

“You're bleeding.”

She touched her cheek.

A tiny piece of glass had cut her skin.

Adrian's expression tightened.

“Stay here.”

He moved toward the window.

“Adrian!”

He stopped.

“Don't go.”

He turned.

Her eyes were filled with fear.

“I don't want you to get hurt.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian returned to her.

“I won't leave you.”

He took her hand.

“We're leaving.”

---

They drove to a private apartment Adrian owned across the city.

Evelyn sat silently beside him.

When they arrived, Adrian cleaned the small cut on her cheek.

She watched him.

His fingers were gentle.

“You really loved me?”

Adrian paused.

“Yes.”

“Even when you acted like you didn't?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn't you ever say it?”

“Because I was afraid.”

“Of losing me?”

“Of being the reason you died.”

Evelyn looked away.

“I wish you had trusted me enough to tell me.”

“I know.”

He finished cleaning her wound.

Then he reached into a drawer and pulled out a small box.

Evelyn frowned.

“What is that?”

Adrian opened it.

Inside was a necklace.

Her necklace.

The one she had lost two years ago.

She stared at it.

“I thought I lost that.”

“You did.”

“You found it?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn't you return it?”

Adrian smiled faintly.

“Because it reminded me of you.”

Evelyn's heart tightened.

She reached for it.

Their fingers touched.

Neither moved.

Then Adrian leaned closer.

For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her.

But he stopped.

“I won't do this while you don't trust me.”

Evelyn looked into his eyes.

“I want to.”

He froze.

“So do I.”

Their faces were inches apart.

Then Adrian's phone rang.

He pulled away.

“What?”

A man's voice came through.

Adrian's expression changed.

“Where?”

He listened.

Then stood.

“Don't let her leave.”

Evelyn's stomach tightened.

“Who is it?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Victor.”

“What happened?”

“He's missing.”

Evelyn stood.

“What?”

“He disappeared from the security station.”

“Who took him?”

Adrian's face darkened.

“We don't know.”

He grabbed his jacket.

Then Evelyn noticed something on the floor.

A photograph.

She picked it up.

Her eyes widened.

It showed Adrian standing outside her father's house.

But the date was different.

It was taken two days before her father's death.

Evelyn turned the photograph over.

There was a handwritten message.

HE WASN'T ALONE.

She looked at Adrian.

“Who was with you?”

Adrian stared at the photograph.

His face went pale.

“I don't remember.”

Evelyn's heart dropped.

“You don't remember?”

He shook his head slowly.

Then another photograph slipped from the envelope.

This one showed Adrian.

His father.

Margaret.

And a fourth person whose face had been deliberately scratched out.

On the back were four words:

SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.

Evelyn looked at Adrian.

“Who is she?”

Adrian stared at the damaged photograph.

Then he whispered,

“I think I know.”

“Who?”

He looked at Evelyn.

“Clara.”

Evelyn's heart stopped.

At that exact moment, her phone buzzed.

A message from Clara appeared.

Evelyn, don't trust Adrian.

A second message followed.

I know who killed your father.

Then came the final message.

And it wasn't Adrian.