Chapter 3 Too close to hate

The morning sun was shining brightly through the big windows and lit up his face. He was standing beside the table, reading something on his tablet. He has not seen her yet.

For a change, he was wearing just a white shirt with the sleeves up and the first two buttons open. His hair was looking rough, like he'd ran his hands through it. He looked tired.

And handsome.

As Lina walked into the room quietly,he looked up at her.

There it was again,that sudden clenching of his jaw when he saw her. But this time, something else lit underneath it.

Awareness.

"You came late," he said.

"I did not know we had a schedule."

"We do now."

She crossed her arms. "Are you always controlling?"

"Yes."

"At least you're honest."

He pointed to the seat across from him. "Sit. We leave in thirty minutes."

"For the board meeting?"

"For damage control," he corrected. "You will be going with me to the charity lunch after that."

She lifted her eyebrows. "Why would I..."

"Because," he cut in smoothly, "the board believes a happy marriage makes me look stable."

"And are we happy?"

"Do not test me early this morning."

She sat anyway.

The housekeeper entered and placed food on the table.

Adrian did not eat.

Instead, he watched Lina.

"You are not eating well enough," he said.

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You barely touched dinner."

"You were interrogating me."

"That doesn't stop hunger."

She looked at him, thrown off.

Why did that sound like concern?

"I am okay," she said.

That didn't convince him.

Without saying a word, he carried her plate,put more fruits on it and dropped it back.

The gesture was simple.

Domestic.

Intimate.

"Eat," he said.

She obeyed.

And none of them spoke about why.

The charity lunch was full of camera flashes and people with fake smiles.

Adrian held her waist the entire time.

Firm.

Protective.

Anytime someone came closer, his grip tightened around her, as if he was reminding the world that she belonged to him.

Or perhaps reminding himself.

"Mr. Blackwood," a reporter called, putting a microphone forward. "Is it true that your wife is involved in the reopened investigation?"

The air froze up.

Lina felt Adrian's hand tense.

He took a step forward, pulling her with him.

"My wife," he said, "knows nothing about it."

"She has nothing to do with what happened to my family."

The reporter kept on. "But there are digital trails..."

"Then follow them," Adrian cut in sharply. "And when you find out the truth, I expect an apology printed boldly."

He turned away before anybody could respond.

Inside the car, Lina looked at him.

"That wasn't necessary," she whispered.

"Yes, it was."

"Why did you?"

He looked outside the window.

"Because I will not let people arm what belongs to me."

The words surprised her.

What's mine?

She shouldn't have liked the way that sounded.

But she did.

That evening, the mansion was full of anxiety.

The investigation became worse. Calls flooded Adrian's phone. The board demanded explanations.

By the time he entered the bedroom,he was angry.

Lina was leaning by the window again, her hands around herself.

"Don't stand up for me like that," she said softly.

He removed his tie. "Why not?"

"Because you will look stupid if I did something wrong."

He stepped closer.

"Do you think I feel concerned about that?"

She stared at him.

"You care about control."

"Yes," he said simply.

"And I am currently choosing how this goes."

Her heart was beating fast as he moved closer.

"Why?" she asked again.

This time, his answer was gentle.

"Because something doesn't add up."

Her breath caught.

"You do not act like someone who's guilty," he continued softly. "You look like you are waiting for something bad to happen."

She swallowed.

"What are you waiting for, Lina?"

She gave no answer.

He lifted his hand.

For a moment, she thought he would touch her face but instead he just moved a strand of hair away from her face.

The touch was light.

Barely there.

But it sent heat racing down her spine.

His thumb stayed near her jaw.

"You are shaking," he said softly.

"So are you," she replied.

His eyes were gloomy.

And then...

He kissed her.

It wasn't gentle.

It wasn't soft.

It was restrained hunger breaking free.

She put her hands on his chest to stop herself from falling.

His mouth tasted like a mix of anger and desire.

For a moment, the investigation faded.

The past didn't exist.

There was only the way his grip was firm around her waist.

Only the way her body responded without asking.

He deepened the kiss.

She made a soft moan in her throat.

And that was his doing.

He suddenly pulled back, breathing heavily.

"This is a mistake," he said roughly.

"Then stop," she challenged.

He got angry.

"You think I won't?"

"Prove it."

The air between them stopped.

He walked forward again, pushing her gently to the wall.

His forehead pressed on hers.

"You don't know how much effect you have on me," he said softly.

"Then explain it."

His hand went from her waist down to her hip.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Her pulse rumbled.

He said softly. "I hate that you're inside my house. Inside my life."

His fingers tightened.

"And I hate that when I look at you..."

He didn't complete his words.

Instead, he kissed her again,very slow this time.

Not punishment.

Not anger.

Something far more dangerous.

Something that felt like surrender.

She held on to his shirt tightly.

And for one reckless moment..

She almost told him everything.

Almost confessed who she used to be.

She almost trusted him.

A phone rang.

The noise broke the silence.

Adrian took a step back, angry and breathing very hard.

He brought out his phone and his face changed when he read it.

"What is it?" Lina asked softly.

He didn't answer immediately.

When he did, his voice had turned cold again.

"The digital team just traced the anonymous activity."

Her blood ran cold.

"Where?" she forced herself to ask.

His eyes lifted slowly to hers.

"To this house."

Silence.

"That's impossible," she whispered.

"Is it?"

He turned and walked back to the door.

"Adrian."

He paused.

"If you're telling me lies," he said without looking back, "I won't protect you again."

Then he walked out.

Lina stood frozen.

Her phone beeped in her hand.

She never knew she was holding it.

A new message.

Unknown number.

You should have left when you could.

Her fingers shaked.

Another message appeared.

He's about to find the file.

Her heart stopped.

What file?

Footsteps exploded down the hallway.

Not Adrian's.

Heavier.

Faster.

Then...

A crash echoed from downstairs.

Voices.

Raised.

Angry.

Lina rushed to the bedroom door.

Before she could open it, it swung inward.

Adrian stood there, face pale with fury.

In his hand...

A printed document.

He held it up slowly.

"Do you want to explain," he asked, calmly,"why your fingerprints are on a secret Blackwood file from five years ago?"

The room started to spin.

Her vision blurred.

"That's not possible," she breathed.

His eyes hardened.

"It's dated the night my father was arrested."

Her knees nearly gave out.

He entered the room.

"Tell me," he ordered, "what your name is doing on this report under a different identity."

The words hit like a gunshot.

Different identities.

Her lungs refused to work.

He knew.

Or he was about to.

And somewhere in the house...

The door creaked.

Soft.

Intentional.

Unseen.

Adrian's phone beeped again.

He glanced at it.

And whatever he read made his face drain of color.

"What?" Lina whispered.

He looked up at her slowly.

"Something has happened," he said.

"Where?"

His voice became empty.

"At the hospital."

Her heart stopped beating.

"Your mother," he finished.

And the lights in the mansion went out.

Total darkness swallowed the room.

Somewhere below them...

A woman laughed.