The Lie Between Us

Victor's words lingered in the office long after he finished speaking but Adrian didn't look away.

He had spent his entire life respecting the man standing before him. Victor Ashford was many things...ruthless, calculating, impossible to deceive but never careless with his words.

Today, he had slipped and Adrian slowly rose from his chair. "Whose lie?"

Victor's expression remained unreadable. "What?"

"You said everything I believed about Serena was a lie." Adrian folded his arms. "Whose lie was it?"

The older man walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.."The past is buried for a reason."

"I didn't ask about the past."

"I know what you asked."

"Then answer me."

Victor remained silent and the silence irritated Adrian more than any argument could have.

"For five years," Adrian continued, "I believed Serena walked away because she'd found someone else."

Victor said nothing. "I believed she left me a letter."

Still nothing. "I believed she chose another life."

Victor finally turned around. "And believing otherwise changes what?"

"It changes everything."

A flicker crossed Victor's face before disappearing just as quickly. "You've built your life without her."

Adrian's jaw tightened. "I don't want philosophy."

"What do you want?"

"The truth."

Victor sighed. "The truth is expensive."

"I can afford it."

"No." Victor's voice hardened. "You can't."

Adrian stepped closer. "You know something."

"Did Serena write that letter?"

Victor's eyes narrowed. "You are asking the wrong questions."

"Then tell me the right ones."

"I won't."

The room fell silent again and finally, Victor adjusted the cuff of his suit. "End this investigation."

"No."

"I wasn't asking."

"And I'm no longer a child."

For the first time in years, the two men stood as equals rather than grandfather and grandson.

Victor studied Adrian carefully. "I spent decades building this family."

"And?"

"I won't watch you destroy it because of one woman."

Adrian laughed bitterly. "One woman?"

Victor didn't respond.."She's the woman I was going to marry."

Victor's features softened for the briefest second.."I know."

"Then why are you trying so hard to keep us apart?"

Victor looked away. "I am trying to protect you."

"From what?"

There was no answer. "If you continue digging into the past, you won't like what you find."

Victor walked toward the door and his hand rested on the handle then without turning back, he said quietly, "Some truths cannot be undone."

Then he left. Adrian stared at the closed door for several seconds before pressing the intercom. "Send Daniel in."

Less than a minute later, his assistant entered. "You called, sir?"

Adrian picked up the investigation file Victor had closed. "We're expanding the investigation."

Daniel hesitated. "Your grandfather specifically instructed..."

"I don't work for my grandfather."

"No, sir."

"I want everything."

"What exactly should we focus on?"

"The apartment Serena and I shared."

"What else?"

"The letter."

Daniel frowned. "The breakup letter?"

"I want it examined."

"You think it was forged?"

"I don't know what to think anymore."

Daniel scribbled another note. "Anyone else?"

"Find everyone who entered that apartment during the week Serena disappeared."

"That was five years ago."

"I know."

"It won't be easy."

Daniel nodded. "I'll get started."

Adrian looked up. "And don't let my grandfather know."

Daniel's eyes widened. "You believe he's involved?"

"I believe he's hiding something."

Across the city, Serena sat on a blanket spread beneath the shade of a large oak tree. The park overlooked a small lake where children chased ducks and couples strolled hand in hand.

Noah looked genuinely carefree and he laughed as he ran after a bright red ball another child had accidentally kicked in his direction. "Careful!" Serena called. "I'm okay!" he shouted back.

Ethan sat beside her with two cups of coffee. "You finally smiled."

She accepted the cup. "I guess I did."

"It's nice."

"I don't know how long it'll last."

He looked toward Noah. "He deserves days like this."

"He deserves a normal childhood."

"He still can."

Serena shook her head.v"Not if people keep finding us."

Ethan followed her gaze. "What do you mean?"

She subtly nodded toward the opposite side of the street.vA black SUV was parked beneath a tree. "It was outside the apartment this morning."

"You sure?"

"I noticed it when we left."

"And now it's here."

Ethan frowned. "Could be a coincidence."

"I thought so too."

A man stepped out of the driver's seat but he wasn't dressed like a parent.

Instead, he remained beside the vehicle, pretending to check his phone while occasionally glancing toward the playground.

Serena's instincts screamed. "He's watching us."

Ethan discreetly observed the man. "Stay here."

He walked toward a nearby snack stand, deliberately changing direction to get a better look and the moment the stranger noticed Ethan approaching, he climbed back into the SUV.

Ethan stopped walking but the SUV remained where it was.

He returned to Serena. "I don't like this."

"Neither do I."

She stood. "Noah."

The little boy came running over, cheeks flushed from playing. "Already?"

"We need to go."

"But I just made a friend."

"You can come back another day."

He pouted but nodded. "Okay."

They left through the park's western exit and Ethan deliberately drove in the opposite direction from the apartment.

Serena kept checking the side mirror and five minutes later the black SUV appeared behind them. "Ethan."

"I see it."

He turned onto another road and the SUV followed, he took another unexpected turn but the SUV was still there.

Ethan expression darkened. "They're definitely following us."

Serena's pulse quickened. "Who are they?"

"I don't know."

He accelerated just enough to create distance before weaving through a crowded shopping district. At the next intersection, Ethan made a sharp right turn and by the time they reached the following traffic light, the SUV was gone and only then did Serena release the breath she'd been holding.

Night had fallen over the city but inside the Ashford estate, Victor sat alone in his study.

A knock sounded. "Enter."

The same man from the surveillance team stepped inside. "We located Serena Hayes."

Victor looked up from the documents on his desk. "Did anyone see you?"

"No."

"Adrian?"

"He has no idea she's being watched."

Victor nodded."Good."

"The child was with her."

"I expected that."

"What are your orders?"

Victor's gaze drifted toward the dark window. "Continue watching them."

The man hesitated. "Sir..."

"What?"

"The boy..."

Victor's eyes sharpened. "What about him?"

"He's beginning to resemble Mr. Adrian more each day."

Victor closed his eyes briefly. "I know."

Late that evening, Adrian returned to his penthouse and the exhaustion of the day settled over him as he loosened his tie.

His housekeeper met him near the entrance. "Mr. Ashford."

"Yes?"

"A package arrived while you were at the office."

"I wasn't expecting one."

"There was no sender."

She handed him a plain brown envelope and it was surprisingly light.

Adrian thanked her and carried it into his study.

Inside was a flash drive, he frowned before inserting it into his laptop and a video file appeared on the screen.

The date beneath it made his heart skip. September 14th which was five years ago.

The day Serena disappeared, Adrian clicked Play and the grainy security footage showed the hallway outside the apartment he had once shared with Serena.

A timestamp counted silently in the corner and seconds later, Serena stepped into view.

She looked upset, pacing outside the apartment while checking her phone over and over.

Adrian leaned closer to the screen then another figure appeared at the end of the hallway and the moment Adrian recognized the man's face, every muscle in his body locked. "...Grandfather?"