Lena couldn’t breathe.

Her mother’s bakery.

The words repeated inside her mind like a warning.

“Take me there.”

Adrian stared at her.

“No.”

“Take me there, Adrian.”

“Lena, you don’t know what you’re asking.”

“My mother is there.”

“Your mother isn’t involved in this.”

“Then why was your father’s car found outside her bakery?”

Adrian said nothing.

That silence frightened Lena more than any answer could have.

She grabbed her coat from the chair.

Adrian stepped in front of the door.

“You’re not going.”

“Move.”

“Lena.”

“Move, Adrian.”

His expression hardened.

For a moment, the powerful Ashford heir returned. The man who could make employees tremble with one look.

But Lena wasn’t one of his employees anymore.

Not in that moment.

She looked directly into his eyes.

“I don’t care how rich your family is. I don’t care how powerful your father was. That’s my mother. If something happened to her, I’m going.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“Your mother is safe.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I checked.”

Lena froze.

“When?”

“Five minutes ago.”

“You called her?”

“No.”

“Then how?”

Adrian reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He showed her a message.

SHE IS SAFE. FOR NOW.

Lena’s blood turned cold.

“Who sent that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then how can you trust it?”

“I don’t.”

Adrian put the phone away.

“That’s why you’re staying here.”

Lena stepped closer.

“Someone knows about us.”

“I know.”

“They threatened me.”

“I know.”

“Your father disappeared outside my mother’s bakery.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you acting like I should sit quietly in this house?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Because this is exactly what they want.”

“What?”

“They want you frightened.”

Lena’s anger slowly disappeared.

Adrian continued.

“They want you to panic. They want me to react. They want me to make a mistake.”

“Who are they?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then find out.”

“I will.”

“When?”

“Tonight.”

Lena shook her head.

“You don’t understand.”

Adrian moved closer.

“What?”

“I’m already involved.”

He stopped.

Lena’s voice became quieter.

“The moment you told me you loved me, I became involved.”

Adrian stared at her.

Neither spoke.

The words had changed everything.

He reached for her hand.

This time, Lena didn’t pull away.

“I shouldn’t have said it,” he whispered.

“Why?”

“Because now you know.”

“Know what?”

“That you’re the one person I can’t lose.”

Lena’s eyes filled with tears.

“Adrian…”

He pulled her into his arms.

For a few seconds, the world disappeared.

There was no Ashford family.

No money.

No social classes.

No threats.

Only them.

Then Adrian’s phone rang again.

He released her.

The caller’s name appeared on the screen.

UNKNOWN.

Adrian answered.

“Who is this?”

Silence.

Then a man’s voice spoke.

“Do you remember the night your brother died?”

Adrian froze.

Lena watched his face change.

The voice continued.

“You were told it was an accident.”

Adrian’s hand tightened around the phone.

“Who are you?”

“Someone who knows what really happened.”

“Tell me.”

A quiet laugh came through the phone.

“You already have the evidence.”

“Where?”

“Ask the girl.”

The call ended.

Adrian slowly lowered the phone.

Lena stared at him.

“What did he mean?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

“Adrian.”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

His eyes met hers.

The cold expression was back.

“My brother died eight years ago.”

“I know.”

“He was twenty-two.”

Lena remembered the newspaper articles.

Julian Ashford Dead in Tragic Car Accident.

The Ashford family had always described it as a terrible accident.

But Adrian had never spoken about it.

“Did you believe it was an accident?”

Adrian looked away.

“I had to.”

“Why?”

“Because my father told me to.”

Lena’s heart sank.

“What are you saying?”

Adrian walked toward the library desk.

He opened a drawer and removed a small black box.

Lena had never seen it before.

“What is that?”

“My brother’s.”

He placed it on the desk.

“I found it three months after his death.”

“What’s inside?”

“Nothing.”

Lena frowned.

“Then why keep it?”

“Because it was locked.”

He turned the box over.

There was a tiny keyhole.

“I never found the key.”

Lena looked closer.

There was something carved into the wood.

A single letter.

L.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

“Maybe it’s a name.”

“Maybe.”

Lena suddenly remembered something.

“The message.”

Adrian looked at her.

“What?”

“The caller said I already have the evidence.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

Lena’s heart began racing.

“Could he mean me?”

Adrian stared at her.

“Why would he?”

“I don’t know.”

“Have you ever met my brother?”

“No.”

“Did he ever contact you?”

“No.”

“Then—”

Lena stopped.

A memory appeared.

Three years ago.

She had been working part-time at a small secondhand bookstore.

An older man had come inside.

He had bought an old book.

Before leaving, he had dropped something.

A photograph.

Lena had picked it up.

The photograph showed a young man standing beside a black car.

She had remembered the face because he looked strangely sad.

The man had returned for the photograph.

He had told her one thing.

“If anyone asks, you never saw this.”

Lena looked at Adrian.

“I may have seen your brother.”

Adrian went completely still.

“When?”

“Three years ago.”

“Where?”

“A bookstore.”

“What bookstore?”

“An old one near the river.”

Adrian grabbed his coat.

“We’re going.”

“Where?”

“The bookstore.”

“Adrian, it’s closed at this hour.”

“I don’t care.”

They left the mansion through the back entrance.

Rain covered the city.

Adrian’s driver was waiting.

But Adrian dismissed him.

“I’ll drive.”

Lena got into the passenger seat.

The car moved through the dark streets.

Neither spoke for several minutes.

Finally, Lena asked:

“Why did your father hate our relationship?”

Adrian’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“I told you.”

“Because of the social difference?”

“That’s part of it.”

“What is the other part?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Your family.”

Lena stared at him.

“What about my family?”

“Your father.”

Her heart stopped.

“My father?”

Adrian nodded.

“You said your father left when you were young.”

“He did.”

“Do you know why?”

Lena shook her head.

“My mother never talks about him.”

“His name was Daniel Hart.”

Lena’s entire body went cold.

“How do you know my father’s name?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

“Adrian.”

“I found his name in my father’s private files.”

“Why?”

“Because Daniel Hart worked for the Ashfords.”

Lena stared at him.

“What?”

“He wasn’t just an employee.”

“What was he?”

Adrian’s voice became quieter.

“He was my father’s financial adviser.”

Lena felt sick.

“My father worked for your family?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did he leave?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“You know something.”

Adrian stopped the car.

They were outside the old bookstore.

The building was abandoned.

Broken windows reflected the streetlights.

Lena stared at it.

“Why are we here?”

Adrian looked toward the entrance.

“Because if my brother left something behind, this may be where he hid it.”

They entered through a broken side door.

The bookstore smelled of dust and rain.

Adrian turned on his flashlight.

Rows of old books surrounded them.

Lena walked toward the back.

“Wait.”

Adrian stopped.

She pointed to a wooden shelf.

“That.”

There was a small black mark carved into the side.

The same letter.

L.

Adrian moved toward it.

He pulled several books away.

Behind them was a narrow metal box.

His breathing stopped.

“That’s it.”

“What?”

“The key.”

He removed the box.

It wasn’t locked.

Inside was a single envelope.

Adrian opened it.

A photograph fell out.

Lena picked it up.

Her heart stopped.

It was the same photograph she remembered.

But this time, she saw the person standing beside Julian.

Her father.

Daniel Hart.

Lena’s fingers began to shake.

“My father knew your brother.”

Adrian looked at the photograph.

“Yes.”

There was something written on the back.

Adrian turned it over.

His face went pale.

Lena read the words.

THEY WILL KILL US BOTH IF WE TELL THE TRUTH.

Adrian looked at her.

“Your father knew.”

“Knew what?”

Before Adrian could answer, a sound came from the front of the bookstore.

Footsteps.

Someone was inside.

Adrian immediately turned off the flashlight.

He grabbed Lena’s hand.

They hid behind the shelves.

The footsteps became louder.

Slow.

Careful.

Someone was searching for them.

Lena held her breath.

A shadow moved across the floor.

Then a voice spoke.

“Adrian.”

Lena’s eyes widened.

The stranger knew his name.

Adrian silently raised one finger.

Stay quiet.

The footsteps came closer.

Then the stranger spoke again.

“Your father is alive.”

Adrian’s eyes widened.

Lena covered her mouth.

The voice continued.

“He wasn’t kidnapped.”

Adrian moved forward.

But Lena grabbed his arm.

The stranger laughed.

“You want to know where he is?”

Silence.

“Ask your lover.”

Lena’s blood froze.

The stranger knew.

They knew about her.

They knew about Adrian.

They knew everything.

Suddenly, the bookstore lights turned on.

Lena screamed.

A man stood at the entrance.

He wore a dark coat.

His face was hidden beneath a hood.

Adrian stepped in front of Lena.

“Who are you?”

The man smiled.

“You should ask your girlfriend.”

Adrian’s expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

The man threw something onto the floor.

A small envelope.

It landed at Adrian’s feet.

“Open it.”

Adrian didn’t move.

The man turned toward the exit.

“Wait!”

Adrian ran after him.

But the stranger disappeared into the rain.

Adrian returned and picked up the envelope.

Inside was a single photograph.

Lena looked at it.

She stopped breathing.

The photograph showed her mother.

Standing beside Victor Ashford.

Lena stared at the picture in disbelief.

“No.”

Adrian looked at her.

“Lena…”

“No.”

She stepped backward.

“That’s impossible.”

The photograph was old.

At least twenty-five years old.

Her mother was young.

And beside her stood Adrian’s father.

Victor Ashford.

On the back of the photograph were six words.

SHE KNOWS WHY YOUR FATHER LEFT.

Lena’s hands began shaking.

“My mother…”

Adrian moved closer.

“We need to talk to her.”

Lena looked at him.

“For the first time in my life,” she whispered, “I think my mother has been lying to me.”

Adrian took her hand.

“We’ll find the truth.”

Lena looked down at their joined hands.

Then she looked at the photograph again.

A terrible thought entered her mind.

“What if this has nothing to do with your father’s disappearance?”

Adrian frowned.

“What do you mean?”

Lena looked directly into his eyes.

“What if someone brought us together on purpose?”

Adrian went silent.

The question remained between them.

What if their love wasn’t an accident?

What if someone had planned it?

What if Lena had been hired to work for Adrian because someone wanted them close?

Adrian’s phone suddenly rang.

He answered.

A voice spoke.

“Your father wants to see you.”

Adrian’s face went pale.

“Where?”

“Come alone.”

“Who are you?”

The caller laughed.

“Bring Lena.”

The call ended.

Adrian slowly lowered the phone.

Lena stared at him.

“Who was it?”

Adrian looked at her.

For the first time, he seemed completely helpless.

“My father.”

Lena’s heart stopped.

“He’s alive?”

Adrian nodded.

“Yes.”

“Where is he?”

Adrian looked at the photograph of Lena’s mother.

Then at Lena.

“He wants to meet us.”

Lena swallowed.

“Both of us?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

Adrian’s phone received a message.

He read it.

His face changed.

Lena stepped closer.

“What does it say?”

Adrian turned the screen toward her.

There was only one sentence.

MIDNIGHT. THE OLD CHAPEL. COME TOGETHER OR YOUR MOTHER DIES.

Lena’s world shattered.

Adrian immediately pulled her close.

“Don’t worry.”

But Lena could hear the fear in his voice.

And somewhere in the darkness outside the abandoned bookstore, someone was watching them.

Someone who knew their love.

Someone who knew their families.

And someone who had finally discovered the one thing Adrian Ashford would do anything to protect.

Lena Hart.