CHASING THE WIFE HE FORCED TO DIVORCE のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

Marcus had gone completely pale. My stomach dropped. No! No!! No!!! The thought hit before logic could. I stared at him. Marcus had been there my whole life, he was family, the closest thing I had left to family. He couldn't be involved, he just couldn't. "Marcus?"My voice barely worked. He looked at me then looked away. Fear exploded inside my chest. "Look at me."Silence. My pulse hammered painfully."Marcus."This time I almost shouted it. His jaw tightened still no answer. Something inside me cracked. "Tell me he's lying."The woman frowned."I never said it was him."Nobody cared. Not after that look, not after Adrian's reaction, not after the silence. Marcus dragged a hand across his face. Exhaustion covered every feature. "Elena."I stepped back. The sound of my name felt wrong coming from him like I didn't know him anymore, like I had never known him. "Answer me."My eyes burned."You knew something."Marcus remained quiet. That was enough. Tears gathered instantly not b

"Because she knows what your mother discovered before she was killed."The words hit me like a slap. I stared at the stranger, my pulse thundered. For once, I wasn't scared. I was angry and furious. Twenty years of lies, twenty years of secrets, twenty years of people deciding what I deserved to know. I stepped forward. "Where is she?"The stranger looked surprised."What?""The woman."My voice sharpened."The one in the picture."Silence followed. Nobody moved nor interrupted. Good. I was done being treated like a child."Where is she?"The stranger studied me carefully then he smiled."You're more like your mother than I expected.""I asked a question."The smile disappeared. Victor suddenly stepped forward."Elena."I ignored him.My eyes never left the stranger."Answer me."The man folded his arms."She's alive."My stomach tightened. Alive? After all these years? "Where?"He laughed softly."If I knew that, Arthur would already have her."The answer irritated me immediately.

Arthur Blackwood had finally found me.Silence spread across the harbor. Nobody moved nor breathed. I stared at him. This man, this monster, the person connected to my parent's deaths. The reason my life had become a nightmare. He smiled like we were old friends, like he hadn't destroyed countless lives. My stomach turned. "You."The word escaped before I could stop it. Arthur's smile widened."Yes."His voice sounded calm. Too calm."I've wanted to meet you for a very long time."Rage exploded inside me. I stepped forward immediately without thinking. Adrian grabbed my wrist. "Don't."I jerked free."Stop touching me."The words hit him hard. Good. I wasn't interested in his concern. Not anymore. Arthur watched everything carefully. Amusement flashed across his face. "You hate him."I laughed bitterly."What gave it away?"Nobody smiled. Arthur looked at Adrian then back at me. "That's unfortunate."Confusion hit instantly."What is?"His eyes darkened."Because he's the only rea

Like I was the secret they had been hunting for twenty years."What the hell does that mean?"My voice exploded across the harbor. Nobody answered. Rage surged through me. I pointed at Arthur."You."Then Victor."Talk."Then Adrian."And don't tell me you're protecting me."Adrian took a step forward."Elena""No."I backed away immediately. His expression hardened. I didn't care. Not anymore. Claire was bleeding on the ground. People were pointing guns at each other. And somehow I was supposed to stay calm? Not happening. "What is inside me?"Silence. My laugh came out sharp. "Of course."Victor cursed under his breath, Marcus looked away. That was all I needed. They knew. Every one of them knew something. My anger exploded."You knew."Victor's jaw tightened."Not everything.""Enough."My voice cracked like a whip."You knew enough."Claire suddenly grabbed my hand. Weak and shaking but determined. "Listen."I crouched beside her.For the first time all night, somebody looked g

"My parents trusted my family with something far bigger than your safety."The words hung in the air. I stared at Adrian. My patience snapped. "What does that even mean?"He looked at me. For once, there was no confidence in his eyes. Only regret. "I wanted to tell you."I laughed. A cold laugh. "You wanted to?"I shook my head."You had years."He didn't argue. That annoyed me even more"Answer me."His voice stayed low."Your father asked mine to protect more than your life."My stomach tightened."What else?"Silence again. I turned away. "Forget it."He reached for me. I stepped back before his fingers could touch mine"I said don't touch me."Arthur watched quietly then smiled."He's still hiding the important part."I faced him immediately."Then you say it."Victor reacted first."No."Arthur ignored him."Richard Vale made a promise."My heartbeat quickened."What promise?"Arthur looked directly into my eyes."If anything happened to your parents..."He paused."...the Va