LOGINIn the old building, Elena could no longer tell how much time had passed.She had eaten some of the food the kidnappers had left for her, then returned to examining the room with her eyes. She didn't want to waste her energy on anger or shouting, especially after realizing that neither would make anyone open the door.She sat near the high window and tried to look outside, but all she could see was a narrow patch of sky and a distant wall."Wonderful... Even the sky doesn't want to tell me where I am."She muttered with faint sarcasm, then sighed.This was hardly the time for jokes, but she needed anything that could help her resist the fear that was beginning to creep in the longer the silence lasted.She tried to keep her thoughts organized, reminding herself that panicking would not help her understand the situation. Every small detail might matter, and she couldn't afford to overlook anything simply because she was frightened.Suddenly, she heard a loud thud in the corridor, follo
On the other side of the city, Alexander looked at his phone for the third time in just a few minutes.No reply.He tried calling Elena again. The phone rang without an answer before the call was redirected to voicemail.This time, he could no longer ignore the worry beginning to creep into him.He opened his call history, then tapped Sophia's name.She answered after two rings."Alexander?"He asked her directly,"Have you spoken to Elena today? Do you know where she is?"A brief silence fell on the other end."No, I haven't spoken to her since earlier. Why?"Alexander stood up from behind his desk."I haven't been able to reach her since this morning. I thought she might have told you about her plans."Sophia's voice immediately changed."That's strange. Elena doesn't disappear like this without telling me, especially when she has something keeping her busy."Alexander tightened his grip around the phone."I'll try reaching her again. If she calls you, let me know immediately.""Ale
Alexander continued staring at the door through which Elena had left, unaware that Victoria was silently watching him.His frustration wasn't simply because she had left, but because he felt that a small opportunity had been given to him, only to slip away before he could make use of it.Victoria said, turning her glass of water between her fingers,"Are you going back to your partners? I think they're waiting for you."Alexander finally tore his eyes away from the door."And I think you've overstepped your boundaries tonight."Her smile disappeared for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure."I was trying to help you.""I didn't ask for your help."He stood up from his seat, then added firmly,"We have a meeting tomorrow morning. Don't be late."He left without giving her a chance to reply.Victoria watched him walk away, her fingers tightening around the glass.This was no longer a matter of an old flame in his life. Elena had become a real threat to everything Victoria ha
The conversation gradually became more casual. Sophia talked about the restaurant, and Ryan asked Elena about the book she had started reading. She answered him enthusiastically. Alexander listened to them, then suddenly said, "?Do you still like reading during dinner" Elena looked at him in surprise. "?Since when do you remember that" He answered without hesitation, "Since a long time ago. I'm your husband, and it's easy for me to know everything about my angel." Her expression changed slightly. The question hadn't been as casual as she wanted to make it seem. Alexander remembered so many things about her, even the little details she hadn't expected him to keep in his memory. And that made his presence in front of her more unsettling than it should have been. At that moment, a woman's voice came from behind him. "?Alexander" His expression froze for a moment before he turned around. Victoria was standing behind him, a wide smile on her face, as though her appearance here
Since morning, Alexander hadn't been in the best of moods.He sat behind his desk, trying to finish a series of accumulated reports, but his concentration faded with every passing minute. He picked up one file and read the first page, then closed it and opened another. He barely read a few lines before pushing it aside.One of his employees had been standing in front of his desk for several minutes, explaining the details of a new project, but Alexander wasn't listening with his usual attention."...And this way, we can sign the agreement before the end of the month."Alexander suddenly raised his eyes."Repeat what you said."The employee hesitated slightly."I was talking about the date for signing the agreement.""Right."Alexander took a deep breath, then gestured for him to continue.He tried to gather his thoughts, but failed once again. There was one thing bothering him more than all the pressure of work combined.Elena.More specifically, the way she had begun filling his thou
That evening, Elena returned home carrying the new book.She set her bag aside and sat on the sofa. She opened the book, but didn't read more than a single page.She thought of Alexander, then remembered Ryan and Sophia.She sighed and closed the book.She didn't know why the past few days had become more crowded with emotions than she wanted them to be.Elsewhere, that night, Victoria stood in front of the mirror in her room.She placed her phone on the table, then stared at her reflection for a long time.Alexander was trying to return to Elena.As for her... she had decided not to wait and see how things would end.She took her coat and left.She knew exactly where she was going: to the man she wasn't prepared to lose.A short while later, the car stopped in front of Alexander's mansion.Victoria stepped out confidently and walked inside without asking permission, accustomed to this place opening its doors to her whenever she wished.She found him in the living room, standing in fr







