All Chapters of The billionaire’s contract bride : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Lena’s POVI returned to the estate before Adrian. On the way driving home, his unanswered words followed me. I think you know the answer, it continuously echoing in my head for a long moment, and I did know.At least, I thought I did. Although Adrian had feelings for me before now. He was afraid of them, and somehow, that made everything more complicated.When I entered the house, silence felt heavier than usual. I removed my coat and handed it to one of the staff members."Is Adrian back?" I asked quickly. "Not yet, Miss Brooks,” one of the staff members responded softly. I nodded.I should have gone upstairs. Instead, my eyes moved toward the hallway leading to Evelyn's study, and the door was closed. I remembered the photograph, my father standing beside a younger Evelyn, the message on the back.Ask Evelyn what your father saved.I had asked questions before now, and no one had given me a real answer.Tonight, I wanted one, so I walked toward the study, and the door opened easi

Lena’s POVI didn't make it far down the hallway before Adrian caught up with me."Lena,” he said. I kept walking. "Lena, wait,” he said again.I stopped, he came around me and stood in front of me. His face was tense."I need to explain,” he said politely. I looked at him. “Then explain,” I said.He opened his mouth, nothing came out, and I gave a bitter smile. "That's what I thought,” I whispered.“It's not that simple,” Adrian said. "It has never been simple with your family,” I said.His expression tightened. "I didn't know Evelyn chose you because of your father,” Adrian said."But you knew about him,” I muttered. "I knew he had worked for the company,” Adrian said."You knew he was important,” I said. “Not like the way you think,” Adrian said.I stared at him for a long moment. "Does that make it better?" I asked carefully."No,” he responded quickly. His answer came immediately, and I looked away. He stepped closer."I should have told you what I knew,” he said quietly. "Yes,

Lena's POVI did not sleep that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Evelyn's voice.I knew before you hired her. The words kept circling through my mind.Before Adrian hired me, before I stepped into the Vale mansion, before I knew Adrian's name well enough to hate him, before I knew his family, and before I knew how much I would come to care about him.Someone had already decided that I belonged in his life. I lay beneath the covers and stared at the ceiling. The room was dark except for the small lamp beside my bed.I could still remember the first day I signed the contract, I had been desperate, and my mother's hospital bills were piling up. I was working until my body ached, and every time I thought I had caught up, another bill arrived.Then Adrian appeared. Cold, Controlled, and Impossible to read. He had offered me enough money to change everything.At the time, I thought I had been lucky. Now I wondered if luck had ever been involved.A soft knock came at my door, and

Lena's POVI carried the wooden box to my room as if it contained something alive. Maybe it did, not a person, not a secret that could breathe.But it carried pieces of my father's life, and after everything I had learned, I was beginning to understand that even paper could hurt.Adrian followed me upstairs, he did not speak until we reached my room.I placed the box on the desk, the photograph remained in my hand, and my father stood in front of the old Vale Enterprises building, smiling at the camera.I had seen hundreds of pictures of him, none had ever looked like this.There was confidence in his face, he looked younger, lighter, and like a man who believed his work mattered.I touched his face with my fingertip."I don't remember him looking this happy,” I whispered.Adrian stood behind me. "Maybe he was,” he murmured. "Maybe,” I said.I turned the photograph over again. If the promise is broken, find the man who signed the first transfer."Who wrote this?" I asked consciously.

Lena’s POVVictor's voice stayed on the other side of the door. "Adrian,” he whispered.I could hear the calmness in his voice, and that frightened me more than anger would have.Adrian looked at me. "Stay behind me,” he said.I nodded.He unlocked the door, and Victor stood in the hallway wearing a dark suit, one hand resting casually in his pocket.He smiled when he saw us, not a nervous smile, not an apologetic one, but a calm, and polished smile.The kind of smile I had seen him at charity events when cameras were pointed at him."Adrian,” I said.Victor's eyes moved to me. "Lena,” he whispered. I didn't answer.His gaze shifted toward the folder in Adrian's hand, only for a second, but I saw it, his smile remained, and his eyes did not."You are working late?" he asked. I did not answer. Immediately Adrian stepped out of the archive."What are you doing here, Victor?" Adrian asked. Victor said nothing.Victor gave a small laugh. "I could ask you the same thing,” he said."You alr