Chapter 3: The Woman Who Should Have Been Dead
Adrian stared at the photograph.
Elena noticed the change in his expression.
“What happened?”
He didn’t answer.
“Adrian?”
He turned the phone toward her.
Elena looked at the photograph.
Her face immediately went pale.
Her knees almost gave way.
“No…”
Adrian caught her arm.
“Who is she?”
Elena couldn’t speak.
Tears filled her eyes.
“That’s my mother.”
“You said she was dead.”
“She is.”
Adrian looked at the photograph again.
“Apparently not.”
Elena shook her head.
“That’s impossible.”
“Nothing is impossible tonight.”
He released her arm.
“Where did you last see her?”
“When I was twelve.”
“What happened?”
“They told me she died in a car accident.”
“Who told you?”
“My father.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“And where is your father?”
Elena’s lips trembled.
“Dead.”
Another silence.
Adrian looked toward the window.
Two dead parents.
A secret daughter.
A mysterious enemy.
And someone who had apparently been hiding Elena’s mother for more than a decade.
This was no longer a simple revenge story.
Someone had been manipulating Elena’s family for years.
“Pack your things.”
Elena looked at him.
“What?”
“You’re staying here.”
“No.”
Adrian’s eyes turned cold.
“You’re not walking out of this manor.”
“You don’t control me.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“But I control this territory.”
Elena glared at him.
“You haven’t changed.”
“Neither have you.”
Her heart hurt.
“You don’t know me anymore.”
Adrian’s expression softened for the briefest moment.
“Maybe I never did.”
Elena looked away.
He wanted answers.
She wanted to tell him everything.
But she couldn’t.
Because there was one truth even more dangerous than their daughter.
A truth that could destroy Adrian’s entire family.
And Elena had promised herself she would never reveal it.
Not unless she had no other choice.
—
Later that night…
Elena stood alone in the guest bedroom.
She pulled a small photograph from her bag.
It showed a little girl with dark hair and bright green eyes.
Lily.
Elena smiled sadly.
“Mommy will come back soon.”
She placed the photograph beside her bed.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
A distorted voice whispered,
“You should never have gone back to Blackwood.”
Elena froze.
“Who are you?”
“You know exactly who I am.”
“I don’t.”
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
“Then perhaps I should remind you.”
A photograph was sent.
Elena opened it.
Her blood ran cold.
It was Lily.
Standing outside the house where Elena had left her.
The message beneath the photograph contained only five words.
We know where she is.
Elena’s hand began shaking.
She immediately ran toward the door.
But before she could open it—
Adrian appeared on the other side.
“Where are you going?”
Elena looked at him.
Her face was pale.
“They found her.”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“Who?”
“My daughter.”
For the first time since Elena returned…
Adrian didn’t ask questions.
He simply grabbed his coat.
“Where is she?”
Elena stared at him.
“You’ll help me?”
His eyes became cold.
“She’s my daughter.”
He walked past her.
“And whoever touched her…”
His voice dropped dangerously.
“…just declared war on the Blackwood Alpha.”
—
