Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 51 - Chapitre 59

Elena’s POVThe photograph was everywhere by eight in the morning.Elena stared at her phone, unable to breathe.There she was.Standing beside Adrian outside the Laurent Holdings building.His hand was lightly resting against her back.Her face was turned toward him.To anyone looking at the picture, they didn't look like enemies.They looked like a couple who had found their way back to each other.The headline beneath the photograph made her head spin.“ELENA AND ADRIAN LAURENT RECONCILING?“Another headline appeared seconds later.“DIVORCED POWER COUPLE SECRETLY BACK TOGETHER?“Then another.“LOVE OR BUSINESS? ELENA SPOTTED WITH EX-HUSBAND AFTER RECENT ATTACK.“Elena locked her phone."Unbelievable."She had agreed to work with Adrian because the blackmailer had threatened everything she had built.She had agreed because someone had tried to kill her.She had agreed because Adrian was the only person she trusted enough to stand beside her when the danger became impossible to ignor

Elena’s POVElena had learned a long time ago that scandals rarely arrived with a warning.They arrived quietly.A photograph.A whisper.A headline.Then, before you could explain yourself, the world had already decided what you had done.She stood in Adrian's office, staring at the message on her phone.“DNA TESTS CAN BE MANIPULATED.“Her head spinning.She locked the screen."I can't do this."Adrian looked at her."Do what?""This."She gestured between them."The rumors. Sophia. The pregnancy. The photographs. The blackmailer. Every time I get close to you, my life becomes another headline.""Elena—""No."She shook her head."I've spent too many years rebuilding myself."Adrian stepped closer."And I'm asking you not to throw that away because of something we haven't even confirmed.""You don't understand.""I understand more than you think.""No, Adrian."Her voice cracked."You understand how to survive a scandal because you've lived inside one your entire life. I don't want t

Elena’s POVThe envelope landed on Elena’s desk at 8:17 in the morning.No sender.No return address.Just her name printed across the front in black ink.ELENA LAURENT.She stared at it for several seconds before touching it.After everything that had happened, the blackmailer, the threats, the photograph of Adrian, the secret alliance, they had finally reached a fragile understanding.She had agreed to work with him.Not forgive him.Not forget their divorce.Not pretend the years of betrayal and pain had never happened.But she had trusted him enough to stand beside him.And now there was an envelope sitting on her desk that made her instincts scream.Her fingers tightened around the edge.“Don't open it.”Elena looked up.Adrian stood in the doorway.His tie was loosened, his dark hair slightly disordered, and there was a tension in his face that made her heart skip.“What are you doing here?”“I called you three times.”“I was busy.”“I know.”His eyes moved to the envelope.Some

Adrian's POVAdrian stared at the anonymous message on his phone.The DNA report was only the beginning.His first instinct was to call Elena.His thumb hovered over her name.Then he stopped.She had told him not to come after her.For once, he would respect that.But respecting her decision didn't mean he would sit quietly while someone destroyed their lives.He looked around his office.Something about the room suddenly felt different.The expensive desk.The leather chairs.The shelves lined with business awards.The dark windows overlooking the city.Everything looked normal.Too normal.Adrian's eyes narrowed.If someone had manipulated the DNA report, they needed information about him and Elena. They needed to know what would hurt him.They needed access.And his office was where he had discussed almost everything.The alliance with Elena.The investigation.The threats.Their private conversations.His face tightened.He picked up his phone.“Daniel, I need a favor.”“I'm list

Elena's POVElena stared at the handwritten message on the table.“WE KNOW EVERYTHING YOU PLAN.“The words had been written by someone who had been listening to them.Watching them.Anticipating them.For the first time, Elena understood that hiding wasn't enough.They needed to know exactly how the enemy was getting their information.And there was only one way to find out.They needed to give the enemy something false.Something convincing.Something that only one person would know.Elena looked across the room at Adrian.“We need a trap.”Adrian's eyes narrowed.“What kind?”“One that doesn't require technology.”He understood immediately.“A false plan.”She nodded.“We create information that isn't real, give it to selected people, and wait.”Adrian leaned against the table.“If it leaks, we know who heard it.”“Exactly.”“And if they're monitoring us?”“Then we tell them something different.”A faint smile touched Adrian's mouth.“You're dangerous when you're angry.”Elena didn'