Chapter 2 - The Man Who Never Married
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Adrian stood near the doorway.
I could see the shock on his face.
Not the polished surprise of a CEO seeing an unexpected guest.
This was different.
Personal.
Raw.
I took a sip of water.
“Are you going to say something?”
His jaw tightened.
“You came back.”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“I'm not sure.”
“Where are you staying?”
I almost smiled.
“Still giving orders?”
His eyes dropped.
“Old habit.”
“Some habits should die.”
A few men around the table exchanged uncomfortable looks.
One of them finally cleared his throat.
“I think we should give you two some privacy.”
I shook my head.
“No need.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Can we talk?”
“No.”
That answer visibly hurt him.
“You owe me at least one conversation.”
“I don't owe you anything.”
He nodded.
“You're right.”
That surprised me.
Seven years ago, Adrian would never have accepted that sentence.
Now he simply stood there.
“I'll leave.”
He turned.
Something inside me moved.
“Adrian.”
He stopped.
“Why didn't you marry Lily?”
His back stiffened.
“She was never my fiancée.”
“She wore my ring.”
“It wasn't yours.”
“It was.”
He turned.
“I had it duplicated.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“The ring in the photograph was not your ring.”
“You proposed to her.”
“No.”
“Then explain everything.”
“I will.”
“Now.”
He looked around.
“Not here.”
I laughed.
“Of course.”
I grabbed my coat.
“Tomorrow. Ten o'clock.”
He nodded.
“Where?”
“Somewhere public.”
“Fine.”
The next morning, we met at a quiet café.
Adrian arrived early.
Of course.
He stood when I entered.
He looked at me for several seconds.
“You look different.”
“So do you.”
“I have gray hair now.”
“I noticed.”
He almost smiled.
“Evelyn…”
“Start with Lily.”
He took a breath.
“I never slept with your sister.”
I stared at him.
“I saw the photographs.”
“They were staged.”
“Why?”
“Lily was helping me.”
“With what?”
He looked at the table.
“Protecting you.”
I felt my chest tighten.
“That's what you said seven years ago.”
“I know.”
“And it didn't sound convincing then.”
“It won't sound convincing now.”
“Then try.”
He told me the truth.
Lily had contacted him six weeks before the wedding.
She had discovered that someone in my family had been meeting with a rival crime syndicate.
The person was not my father.
It was someone else.
Someone close.
Someone who knew my schedule.
Someone who knew about my wedding.
Lily had volunteered to help Adrian identify the person.
The mysterious man she had been meeting was not Adrian.
It was an undercover investigator working for him.
The photographs had been created to convince the surveillance team that Adrian and Lily were romantically involved.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because the person watching you was listening to you.”
I stared at him.
“You could have told me privately.”
“I tried.”
“Those messages?”
“I was trying to warn you.”
“You told me not to confront her.”
“Because confrontation would have exposed Lily.”
“Then the proposal?”
“Fake.”
“Why let her wear a ring?”
“To make the story believable.”
I shook my head.
“You destroyed our wedding.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because if you stayed in Chicago, you would have been kidnapped.”
The word landed like a stone.
“By whom?”
“Someone who wanted access to my company.”
“And Lily?”
“She never betrayed you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“She let me believe she was sleeping with my fiancé.”
“She was trying to save your life.”
“Then why did she disappear after I left?”
His eyes softened.
“Because she blamed herself.”
“Where is she now?”
“Chicago.”
“Does she know I'm back?”
“No.”
I stared at him.
He really hadn't told her.
“Why?”
“Because I told her I would not interfere with your life again.”
A strange silence settled between us.
“Seven years, Adrian.”
“Yes.”
“You could have found me.”
“I knew where you were.”
I looked up sharply.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you come after me?”
His answer was quiet.
“Because you left.”
“You didn't stop me.”
“Because the last thing you wrote was that you were making your own choice.”
My eyes burned.
“You respected my choice?”
“I loved you enough to.”
I looked away.
That sentence was more painful than any excuse.
He continued.
“I watched from a distance. I made sure no one approached you.”
“You stalked me.”
“I protected you.”
“You see how those words can look identical?”
“Yes.”
He reached into his jacket.
He placed an envelope on the table.
Inside was the original engagement ring.
My breath caught.
“You kept it.”
“Every day.”
“You could have sold it.”
“I couldn't.”
“Why?”
“Because selling it would have meant admitting I had lost you.”
I pushed the ring away.
“I don't want it.”
He didn't move.
“Okay.”
I blinked.
“No argument?”
“You said no.”
“I thought you'd insist.”
“I've learned.”
That made me angry.
“You learned seven years too late.”
“I know.”
He stood.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“The person who wanted you is still alive.”
My blood went cold.
“What?”
“He disappeared after you left.”
“And now?”
“Now he's back.”
“Who is he?”
Adrian looked at me.
“Your mother's brother.”
I stopped breathing.
“My uncle?”
“Daniel Carter.”
“My mother always said he died.”
“She lied.”
“Why?”
“Because he was the man who betrayed your family.”
May you like
Adrian's voice dropped.
“And he's coming for you.”
