Chapter 8
I was still standing on the stairs when I read Adrian's message for what felt like the hundredth time. And this isn't about my cheating.
That sentence kept spinning through my head. If it wasn't about cheating, then what was it about? I gripped my phone tighter. My thumb moved slowly across the screen.
If it isn't about that, then what is it about? I sent the message and waited.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Five minutes.
There was no reply. I was just about to put my phone down when the screen lit up again. I can't explain it over text. We need to meet.
I sighed. Of course. It was always like this. Every time I needed an answer, Adrian only made everything more complicated.
I typed my reply. I don't want to meet you. His response came quickly. Please, El. Just this once. After that, if you still want to leave, I won't stop you.
I fell silent. Something about those words made me hesitate. Maybe because I really did want to know. Not because I was still hoping we could get back together.
I just wanted to know if there was something I had never known about all this time. Where? Adrian sent me the address of a restaurant fairly far from home. Eight tonight. I'll wait for you. I stared at the screen, then slipped my phone into my pocket.
“El?”
I jumped.
Mommy was still standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Why are you spacing out?”
I gave her a small smile.
“It's nothing, Mom.”
“You look tired.”
“Yeah. I want to rest for a while.”
Mommy nodded. I headed toward my room, but before going in, I glanced back. Mommy was still watching me.
For some reason, for the first time, I felt like there was something different in her gaze. Or maybe it was just my imagination.
By seven that evening, I was ready. I hadn't put on anything too eye-catching—just black pants, a white blouse, and a blazer.
Before leaving my room, I picked up the folder Daniel had given me. For a moment, I considered taking it with me. But in the end, I put it back in the drawer. I didn't know why, but it felt better if Adrian didn't know I'd already met Daniel.
I went downstairs. Daddy was sitting in the family room. The moment he saw me, his expression changed.
“Are you going somewhere?”
I nodded.
“I have a few things to take care of.”
“With who?”
I fell silent.
“Adrian?”
I looked at Daddy.
How did he know?
“Dad...”
Daddy sighed.
“You don't have to explain if you're not ready. But remember what Daddy told you.”
I nodded.
“I just want to hear his explanation.”
“And after that?”
“I'll come home.”
Daddy looked at me for a long moment before finally nodding.
“All right.”
I picked up my purse.
“Dad.”
“Hmm?”
“If I'm late, don't worry.”
“Daddy's going to worry anyway.”
I gave him a small smile.
“Sorry.”
“Go. But don't stay too long.”
I nodded and left.
The restaurant was fairly quiet when I arrived. I saw Adrian already seated at a table in the corner of the room. As soon as he saw me, he stood.
“Thank you for coming.”
I didn't answer. I sat down across from him. Adrian sat down too. For a few seconds, we simply stared at each other in silence.
I looked at his face—the face that had once always made me feel safe. Now, it only made me want to leave.
“Talk,” I said.
Adrian drew a deep breath.
“I'm sorry.”
I let out a small laugh.
“If that's all you wanted to say, I'm leaving.”
“Elena.”
“I've already heard your apology.”
“I know I was wrong.”
“You weren't just wrong, Adrian. You betrayed me.”
He lowered his head.
“I know.”
“With my own best friend.”
“I know.”
Tears began to well up in his eyes.
But this time, I didn't feel sorry for him.
“I deserve to be hated,” he said.
“You do.”
Adrian fell silent. I didn't know if my answer had been too cruel. But I was too tired to keep pretending I was fine.
“I did cheat on you,” he said at last.
I stared at him.
“But there's something you don't know.”
“What?”
“My company is in trouble.”
I fell silent.
“Financial trouble?”
Adrian looked straight at me.
“How did you know?”
I almost answered, but then I remembered Daniel. I held back.
“I was just asking.”
Adrian rubbed his face.
“My company is deeply in debt.”
I stared at him without saying a word.
“If I can't resolve it, the company could collapse.”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
Adrian looked at me.
“Your family.”
I froze.
“What about my family?”
“Your family's company has business connections that could help me.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“So now you're going to say you were with me because of my family?”
“No!”
Adrian immediately shook his head.
“I love you.”
“Then why didn't you ever tell me?”
“I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Afraid of losing you.”
I shook my head.
“And you chose to cheat on me?”
Adrian fell silent.
“I’m not making excuses for what I did.”
“Then?”
He drew a breath.
“She knew about my problems.”
I frowned.
“Who?”
“Your best friend.”
My heart began pounding.
“She knew?”
Adrian nodded.
“She knew my company was in trouble long before you did.”
I stared at him.
“And?”
“She said she could help me.”
“How?”
Adrian remained silent for a long time.
I began to lose patience.
“Answer me!”
He looked at me.
“She said that if I wanted to get that help, I had to distance myself from you.”
I froze.
“What?”
“I refused at first.”
“But?”
Adrian lowered his head.
“Then everything became complicated.”
I gave a bitter laugh.
“So now you're blaming her?”
“I'm not blaming anyone.”
“Didn't you just say she told you to stay away from me?”
“I made my own decision.”
I fell silent. At least in that one respect, Adrian still admitted his fault.
“But there's something else,” he continued.
I looked at him.
“What?”
Adrian clasped his hands on the table.
“She isn't the only person who knows.”
I frowned.
“Who else?”
Adrian looked at me.
“The person closest to you.”
My chest immediately began to feel tight.
“Who are you talking about?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“Adrian!”
He opened his mouth, but suddenly his phone rang. Adrian glanced at the screen. His expression changed instantly. He silenced the call. I watched him.
“Who was that?”
“It's not important.”
“Who was it?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I'll explain later.”
I stood.
“No.”
“Elena.”
“I've heard enough.”
I picked up my purse.
“I don't know what's true and what's a lie. But I know one thing.”
I looked at him.
“Our relationship is over.”
Adrian stood.
“Don't go.”
I shook my head.
“I've stayed in a relationship filled with lies for far too long.”
I turned away.
But before I could leave, Adrian said,
“Don't trust Daniel!”
My steps came to an immediate halt.
I slowly turned around.
“What?”
Panic showed on Adrian's face.
“Don't trust him.”
I stared sharply at him.
“Why not?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“Why can't I trust Daniel?”
He only shook his head.
“You don't know who he really is.”
I stared at Adrian for a few seconds.
Then I left without saying a word.
I got into my car, my breathing still heavy. My hands tightened around the steering wheel. Don't trust Daniel. Why had Adrian said that?
What did he know about Daniel? I reached for my phone. There was one new message from Daniel. I opened it.
Are you done?
I froze. How did he know I'd met Adrian? My fingers began to turn cold. Before I could reply, a second message came in.
If you are, don't go home yet.
I stared at the screen. Then a third message appeared. Someone is following you. I immediately looked in the rearview mirror.
A black car was stopped not far behind mine. My heart began beating faster. I looked back at my phone screen.
Daniel's final message came in. Don't get out of the car. My hands tightened around the steering wheel. For the first time that night, I realized that the trouble I was facing might be far bigger than Adrian's cheating.
And someone...
was watching me.