Chapter 8: The Man I Married
I read the photograph three times.
Each time, the same impossible truth stared back at me.
Adrian knew my family before he met me.
The man I believed I discovered by chance.
The man I thought loved me without knowing my background.
Had known exactly who I was.
My fingers tightened around the picture.
“No.””
Alexander looked at me.
“Emily.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“There has to be another explanation.””
Thomas looked at me sadly.
“I hoped you would never have to see this.””
I looked at him.
“How long did you know?””
He lowered his eyes.
“Since the beginning.””
My chest tightened.
“The beginning of what?””
“Your marriage.””
The room felt smaller.
Alexander stepped forward.
“You knew Adrian was connected to Daniel?””
Thomas nodded.
“Not at first.””
“Then when?””
Thomas looked at me.
“When your father’s private files disappeared.””
I swallowed.
“What files?””
“The ones containing evidence of financial crimes.””
Alexander’s face hardened.
“Daniel stole from the company.””
“Yes.””
“And Adrian helped him?””
Thomas hesitated.
“That’s what your father believed.””
I looked at the photograph.
My wedding ring suddenly felt heavier.
Seven years.
Seven years with someone who may have entered my life for a reason I never understood.
“I loved him.””
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Nobody responded.
Because they knew.
That was the cruelest part.
Adrian wasn’t just a stranger who hurt me.
He was someone I had trusted.
Someone I had defended.
Someone I had built my entire life around.
Alexander walked beside me.
“Emily.””
I wiped my eyes.
“I feel stupid.””
His expression changed.
“You are not stupid.””
“I ignored everything.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“You believed someone you loved.””
I looked at him.
“And he used that.””
Alexander didn’t deny it.
Because there was no comfort in a lie anymore.
Thomas opened another folder.
“There’s more.””
I looked at him.
“What else?””
“Adrian wasn’t supposed to marry you.””
A chill moved through me.
“What?””
“He was supposed to get close to your family.””
Alexander became still.
“Why?””
Thomas looked at him.
“To find something your father hid.””
I whispered:
“What?””
“A private account.””
Alexander frowned.
“Our family accounts were audited.””
“This wasn’t a business account.””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your father created it for protection.””
I stared.
“Protection from who?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
Daniel Voss.
Adrian.
Everyone connected.
Alexander took the folder.
“We need to find that account before they do.””
A sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Everyone froze.
Thomas walked toward the window.
Then stepped back.
His face lost all color.
“What?””
He whispered:
“They found us.””
Alexander immediately moved toward the door.
“Who?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Adrian.””
My heart stopped.
“He followed us?””
“No.””
Thomas shook his head.
“He didn’t come alone.””
Through the window, I saw several black vehicles surrounding the building.
Then my phone rang.
Adrian.
I stared at his name.
After everything.
After the mansion.
After the lies.
He was still calling.
Alexander looked at me.
“Don’t answer.””
But I already knew.
I needed to hear his voice.
I pressed the button.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then Adrian spoke.
His voice was no longer arrogant.
No longer amused.
He sounded desperate.
“Emily.””
I said nothing.
“I know you found the photograph.””
My blood ran cold.
“How?””
A pause.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Because I was the one who put it there.””
