The Woman on the Phone

Evelyn didn't move.

Her back remained pressed against the bedroom door while Adrian stood on the other side.

“Evelyn,” he called again. “Open the door.”

She looked down at her phone.

The unknown number was still displayed on the screen.

Her mind raced.

Who was that woman?

What had happened three years ago?

And why did she sound so certain that Adrian had never married Evelyn for love?

A soft knock came against the door.

“Please.”

The word made Evelyn's chest tighten.

Adrian rarely said please.

She unlocked the door but didn't open it immediately.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because we need to talk.”

“About her?”

Silence.

That silence was answer enough.

Evelyn opened the door.

Adrian stood in the hallway, his expression unreadable.

“Who is she?”

“It's complicated.”

“Then explain it.”

“I can't tonight.”

Evelyn stared at him in disbelief.

“You can't?”

“Not yet.”

She folded her arms.

“You expect me to stay married to you while you keep secrets from me?”

“I expect you to stay alive.”

The words stopped her.

Adrian looked toward the hallway before stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

“What does that mean?”

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he walked to the window and pulled the curtains closed.

Evelyn watched him carefully.

“You're scaring me.”

“I know.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

Adrian turned around.

“There are things about my family that you don't know.”

“Your family?”

“Yes.”

“What does your family have to do with our marriage?”

His jaw tightened.

“Everything.”

Evelyn felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her.

“Three years ago,” Adrian continued, “my father was involved in a serious business dispute.”

“I know about the dispute.”

“No. You know what the newspapers reported.”

He paused.

“You don't know what actually happened.”

Evelyn waited.

Adrian looked away.

“Someone tried to destroy my family.”

“Who?”

“We never found out.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

His eyes returned to hers.

“That is what I'm trying to protect you from.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“No. You're avoiding the question.”

She stepped closer.

“Why did you marry me?”

Adrian's expression changed.

For a moment, she saw something vulnerable in his eyes.

Then it disappeared.

“I had my reasons.”

“That's not an answer.”

“It is the only answer I can give you right now.”

Evelyn laughed bitterly.

“Right now?”

She turned away.

“Then maybe I should ask someone else.”

Adrian's voice hardened.

“Don't.”

She looked back at him.

“Why?”

“Because whoever contacted you wants you to doubt me.”

“Maybe I should.”

He stared at her.

“Evelyn—”

“Three years, Adrian.”

Her voice cracked.

“I've spent three years wondering why my husband looks at me like I'm a stranger. Now someone calls me in the middle of the night and tells me my marriage is a lie, and you expect me to ignore it?”

“I expect you to trust me.”

“I don't know if I can anymore.”

Those words hit him.

She could see it.

For a second, Adrian looked like a man who had just been wounded.

But then his phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His expression immediately became cold.

He answered.

“What?”

A man's voice came from the other end.

Evelyn couldn't hear everything, but she saw Adrian's face change.

“Where?”

A pause.

“I'm coming.”

He ended the call.

“What happened?” Evelyn asked.

“I have to go.”

“Of course.”

He walked toward the door.

“Adrian.”

He stopped.

“If you leave now, don't expect me to be here when you come back.”

He turned slowly.

His eyes met hers.

“You're not leaving.”

“You don't get to decide that.”

“I know.”

“Then stop acting like you do.”

He looked at her for several seconds.

Then he walked out.

The door closed.

Evelyn stood there, stunned.

A few seconds later, she heard the front door slam.

She rushed to the window.

Adrian got into his car and drove away.

She watched the taillights disappear into the darkness.

Then her phone buzzed again.

Another message.

This time, there was a photograph attached.

Evelyn's breath caught.

She opened it.

It was a picture of Adrian.

Three years younger.

Standing beside a woman.

The woman was smiling.

Adrian wasn't.

But his hand was resting protectively on her waist.

Evelyn zoomed in.

Her heart pounded.

The photograph had been taken outside a hospital.

There was a date printed in the corner.

Three years ago.

Another message appeared.

Unknown: Ask Adrian who she is.

Evelyn stared at the photograph.

She had never seen this woman before.

Never heard her name.

Never knew Adrian had been anywhere near a hospital three years ago.

She zoomed in again.

There was something else in the woman's hand.

A hospital bracelet.

Evelyn's fingers went cold.

She received another message.

Unknown: And ask him about the child.

Her phone nearly slipped from her hand.

“A child?”

She whispered the words.

A knock suddenly came from downstairs.

Evelyn froze.

Another knock.

She grabbed her phone and stepped into the hallway.

“Mr. Vale?”

It was the housekeeper.

Evelyn hurried downstairs.

“What is it?”

The housekeeper looked nervous.

“There is someone at the door.”

“Who?”

“I don't know.”

Evelyn approached the entrance.

Before she could reach it, the doorbell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then a woman's voice came from outside.

“Evelyn?”

She stopped breathing.

The voice.

It was the same voice from the phone.

Evelyn slowly opened the door.

A woman stood outside.

She was elegant, beautiful, and visibly pregnant.

Her eyes moved from Evelyn to the wedding ring on her finger.

Then she smiled.

Not warmly.

Almost sadly.

“You're Evelyn Vale.”

Evelyn couldn't speak.

The woman touched her stomach.

“My name is Clara.”

She looked directly into Evelyn's eyes.

“And I'm here because your husband has been lying to both of us.”

Evelyn's heart pounded.

“Who are you?”

Clara's smile disappeared.

“I was Adrian's fiancée.”

Evelyn's blood ran cold.

“Before you.”

She stepped closer.

“And the child I'm carrying…”

Her eyes dropped briefly to Evelyn's wedding ring.

“…is Adrian's.”