All Chapters of The Bride he never wanted : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The rain had stopped by the time Eva and Adrian returned to the hospital waiting area.Neither of them mentioned the balcony.Neither mentioned the kiss.But the silence between them felt different.Eva walked beside Adrian, her thoughts moving faster than her feet.She could still remember the warmth of his hand against her cheek.The brief touch of his lips.The way he had leaned toward her slowly, as though giving her every chance to change her mind.And she hadn't.That was the part she couldn't stop thinking about.She had chosen not to step away.She glanced at him.Adrian was speaking quietly to Daniel, his expression composed again.Almost too composed.As if nothing had happened.Eva looked away.Maybe that was what they were supposed to do.Pretend it hadn't.After all, their marriage had rules.And kissing wasn't one of them.A nurse eventually approached them."Mrs. Blackwood?"Eva immediately stood."Yes?""Your brother is in recovery. The procedure went well. Dr. Collins

By the next morning, Eva had learned one thing about being married to Adrian Blackwood.Privacy no longer existed.She woke to dozens of notifications.Her name was everywhere.WHO IS EVA BLACKWOOD?BLACKWOOD HEIR SECRETLY MARRIES YOUNG WOMAN.MYSTERY BEHIND ADRIAN BLACKWOOD'S SUDDEN MARRIAGE.Eva stared at the headlines from beneath her blankets.She immediately locked her phone."Nope."She dropped it onto the bedside table.A knock sounded."Mrs. Blackwood?""Come in."The same housekeeper from yesterday entered."Mr. Blackwood asked me to let you know that breakfast is ready."Eva sighed."Thank you."The woman smiled politely before leaving.Eva got dressed slowly.She wasn't ready to face Adrian.Not because she was angry with him.That was the problem.She wasn't.If anything, she was becoming too comfortable around him.And she didn't know when that had happened.When she entered the dining room, Adrian was already seated.He looked up from his tablet."Good morning.""Morning

Eva couldn't stop staring at Adrian.He still held her phone in his hand.His expression had changed completely.The softness she'd seen earlier was gone.In its place was the cold, controlled man she'd first met."Adrian."He looked at her."Did she say anything else?""No.""Did she mention a name?""No.""Did she say where she was calling from?"Eva shook her head."She only said you weren't telling me everything."Adrian was silent.Eva watched him carefully."You know who it was."His jaw tightened."I have an idea.""Who?""I don't know for certain.""Then tell me what you think."He looked away."Not here."Eva frowned."Why?""Because I don't know who might be listening."Her eyes widened."Listening?"Adrian placed her phone on the table."Someone has been digging into my past.""Because of the marriage?""Possibly.""Or because of Elena?"His eyes immediately returned to hers.Eva knew she'd touched something important."What does Elena have to do with this?""Nothing.""The

For several seconds, nobody spoke.The café suddenly felt too quiet.Adrian was still holding Eva's hand beneath the table.His grip had tightened.Not enough to hurt.Just enough for her to know that he was trying to keep himself composed."What exactly are you saying?" he asked.Elena looked at him."Your mother's death wasn't an accident."Adrian's jaw tightened."Then what was it?""I don't know everything.""Then tell me what you know."Elena took a slow breath."Your mother had been investigating something.""What?""Your father's business dealings."Adrian's expression hardened."My father?""Yes."Eva watched him carefully."What did she discover?"Elena looked down at the table."Money was disappearing from several company accounts."Adrian frowned."That doesn't make sense.""It didn't to her either.""How much?""Millions."Eva's eyes widened."And she found out?"Elena nodded."She was getting close to the person responsible.""Who?""I never found out."Adrian stared at h

Eva couldn't move.Her eyes remained fixed on the photograph in Adrian's hand.Elena.Standing outside Blackwood Tower.Tonight.Someone had been watching them.Someone who knew exactly where they were."Adrian," she whispered.He immediately looked toward the hallway."Stay behind me."Eva nodded.He reached for his phone."Daniel."A voice answered almost immediately."Yes, sir?""Lock down the tower."There was a brief silence."Sir?""Nobody enters or leaves.""Understood."Adrian ended the call.Eva looked at him."What if they're still here?""Then we'll find them.""Shouldn't we leave?""No."She frowned."Why?""Because if someone is inside, I don't want them getting past security."Eva swallowed.Adrian moved toward the hallway.She followed.He glanced back."I told you to stay behind me.""I am.""Eva.""I'm not going back upstairs alone."He stared at her for a moment.Then nodded."Fine."They moved carefully through the corridor.Every room was checked.The library.The