Chapter 3 The Hidden Past

Evelyn couldn't shake the text that had appeared on her phone that night:

"He plans to destroy you. Be careful. Someone who knows"

Her hand trembled as she read it again, the glow of the screen cutting through the darkness of her bedroom. Who could it be? A friend? A stranger? Or... someone connected to Lucas?

Before she could dwell on it further, a knock on the door startled her.

Lucas.

He entered without waiting for permission, his expression unreadable. "You're awake," he stated, more than asked.

"Yes," she replied, clutching the blanket around her shoulders like a shield. "I... couldn't sleep."

He tilted his head, studying her as though measuring her fear. "Understandable," he said finally. "I wouldn't sleep either if I were in your position."

Evelyn's pulse quickened. "And what position is that exactly?"

"The one where you are trapped in a marriage contract with me," he said smoothly, "the man you allegedly ruined five years ago."

Her stomach dropped. He hadn't let go of the past, had he?

"I... I never ruined anything," she whispered, the words almost catching in her throat.

He raised an eyebrow. "Really?" His gaze hardened. "Then explain why I found the evidence that shattered my life. Why I believed you betrayed me when I loved you more than anyone in the world."

Evelyn felt a pang of guiltnot for betrayal she hadn't committed, but for how easily he had believed the lies that separated them. "I-I can explain... if you'll let me," she said.

Lucas leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "I've heard explanations before. They never mattered. Prove me wrong."

Her mind raced. Five years ago, they had been inseparable. Lucas had trusted her, confided in her, loved her. And then... suddenly... the letters, the photos, the messages. Someone had orchestrated everything to make it look like she sold him out, made him lose everything he had fought for. And she had had no way to prove her innocence.

"I didn't betray you," she said again, her voice firmer this time. "It was a setup. Someone manipulated the messages, the documents... everything. I never wanted to hurt you."

Lucas's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "And yet here we are. You married me, knowing full well I believe you destroyed me. How do I trust that you're not lying to save yourself?"

Her lips pressed together. "I... I have to try. For my family. For myself. For you... if you ever remember what I really meant to you."

He said nothing, only stared at her like she was a puzzle he might never solve.

Then, unexpectedly, he spoke: "Let's take a walk."

Evelyn hesitated. "A walk... now?"

"Outside. It's late, but the city is quiet. I want to talk. Or... not talk. We'll see."

She followed him silently, her mind buzzing with fear and anticipation. The night air was cold as they stepped onto the balcony, the city lights sparkling below like a million watchful eyes.

Lucas lit a cigarette, inhaled, and exhaled slowly. The smoke curled in the air between them. "Do you know what it felt like?" he asked quietly. "To believe the woman I loved had destroyed my life? To watch everything I worked for crumble because of her?"

Evelyn's throat tightened. "I... I'm so sorry, Lucas. I would never... I would never hurt you like that."

His jaw flexed. "Sorry doesn't undo the damage. Five years, Evelyn. I've spent five years rebuilding myself, carrying the weight of betrayal that never existed. And now, you're here. In my house. Under my control."

She swallowed hard. "I know... and I don't expect forgiveness. I only want a chance to prove that I never betrayed you."

He flicked the cigarette into the night, the glowing tip disappearing into the darkness. "You're going to have to do more than words. Every action counts from this moment forward. And remember... I'll be watching."

Evelyn's chest tightened. The man who once loved her had become a watchful predator, every glance, every gesture a test she didn't know she could pass.

A chill ran down her spine as she realised the truth: surviving this marriage would require more than patience it would require strategy, courage, and every ounce of her wits.

And then, as they returned to the mansion, Lucas's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then looked at her with an expression she couldn't read.

"It seems someone else knows," he said quietly. "And they're watching you as closely as I am."

Cliffhanger: Evelyn felt her stomach drop as he handed her a small envelope, sealed and unsigned. Inside was a photograph of her father-taken without his knowledge and a note:

"Protect your family... or they'll pay for your lies."