Chapter 6 - THE LIE THAT ALMOST DESTROYED THEM
The next morning, police arrived.
Lena was questioned for three hours.
Julian stayed outside.
When she emerged, she found him waiting.
“You didn't leave.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you're my wife.”
She looked at him.
“Only because of the contract?”
“No.”
That single word changed everything.
Then Martin approached.
“Julian, we found the breach.”
“Who?”
Martin handed him a tablet.
The access originated from an internal terminal.
Not Lena's.
Adrian's.
Julian's face became cold.
“Where is he?”
“Gone.”
Of course he was.
Adrian had disappeared.
Eleanor had disappeared too.
Then Julian received a video.
Adrian appeared on screen.
“You should have listened to me.”
Julian stared.
“You're finished.”
Adrian laughed.
“No. You're finished.”
He showed another screen.
Lena's mother's medical records.
“Leave the company.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“Or?”
“Your wife's mother dies.”
Lena went pale.
Julian stepped toward her.
“Don't.”
“I won't let him hurt her.”
The video ended.
Lena whispered:
“This is my fault.”
“No.”
“He's using me to hurt you.”
Julian grabbed her shoulders.
“Listen to me.”
She looked up.
“None of this is your fault.”
His voice softened.
“I should have protected you before you ever entered my world.”
Lena's eyes filled.
“You're not the only one who has to protect people.”
“What do you mean?”
She wiped her tears.
“You have an empire.”
“I have you.”
She froze.
Julian realized what he'd said.
Neither moved.
Then Lena whispered:
“Say that again.”
“I have you.”
She kissed him.
It was not planned.
It was not part of the contract.
It was simply two exhausted people choosing each other for the first time.
When they separated, Julian rested his forehead against hers.
“I don't want this to end after twelve months.”
“Neither do I.”
His phone rang.
Martin.
“Julian, we found Adrian.”
“Where?”
“Inside the company headquarters.”
Julian frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
Martin's voice dropped.
“He isn't alone.”
“Who is with him?”
“Your mother.”
Julian went still.
Lena stared at him.
His mother had betrayed him.
And suddenly every piece fell into place.
The forged photograph.
The stolen money.
The anonymous messages.
Eleanor.
Adrian.
The trust.
May you like
None of it had started with Adrian.
It had started much closer to home.
