Chapter 3 YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Adriel's voice brought Mariana back to reality.

"Wiffy, aren't you going to give me a kiss?" Adriel was certain that he hadn't gotten married before the accident but he needed to see Mariana's reaction to prove his point.

Mariana's eyes flickered nervously, and she shifted uneasily in her seat. Despite her attempt to maintain a composed façade, her subtle body language betrayed her.

Adriel confirmed his suspicion immediately.

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Adriel had miraculously survived the car accident a few months back. The accident had claimed his driver's life, he was rescued by a passer-by who found him near the sight Weak and injured, Adriel managed to crawl out of the car just moments before it burst into flames. He collapsed after walking only a few steps, his body battered and broken.

The Good Samaritan rushed Adriel to the local Red Cross, where he received urgent medical attention.

Adriel contacted Dave; his butler and confidant, hours after he gained consciousness and asked that he tells no one, until this morning when they broke the news to Victoria and she suggested to spill the news over dinner.

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Adriel was confused and surprised when his butler asked him why he got married without telling anyone.

"Married?! What are talking about?" Adriel asked in confusion

Dave gave him a concerned gaze, "the doctor said, you had a blow on your brain which could lead to temporary loss of memory, but forgetting your own marriage? I think it's more serious than what the doctor described sir".

Adriel sat up on his sick bed, he knew his butler was not one to joke around, "What are you talking about Dave, I know I didn't get married, what's her name?"

"Mariana! She is from Vermont, she is not from the same social class as you though, I thought you and Maureen had a thing together" Dave bowed his head, not daring to look at his young masters face after saying what he just said.

"First, whatever I have with Maureen is not your business. Secondly, I am not married!" he rubbed his forehead as though trying to ease the pain. "Why would I get married without telling anyone?"

Dave was perplexed. "A few days after the news of your death, Wilson found a marriage certificate in your office, along with plane tickets to Vermont. I never knew you frequented Vermont."

"I don't," Adriel replied sharply. "And why would I be declared dead? You didn't see my body, did you?"

"Yes young master" Dave replied still bowing his head. "We saw a body totally burnt in the vehicle we couldn't recognize who it belonged to, and you hardly ever travelled without me, so we thought you travelled alone, we never knew you travelled with Michael – his driver."

Adriel rubbed his forehead in frustration and thought to himself not saying a word to his butler again.

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Few days later, Dave had gone beyond himself, investigating the accident, he found out from an eye witness that the car hadn't simple suffered brake failure and fallen off the bridge like everyone thought, but rather it was pushed off intentionally by a truck"

Dave sat across from Adriel, his expression grave. "Young master I've found out what really happened," he began, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "The accident wasn't an accident at all. It was deliberate. A truck pushed your car off the bridge."

Adriel froze, his mind racing as everything fell into place. The pieces of the puzzle clicked together with chilling clarity. He remembered the moments leading up to the crash-the sudden impact, the chaos, and the fiery aftermath. He remembered Michael, his driver trying to avoid the truck but the truck kept coming directly for them till it pushed them off the bridge.

As Dave continued to recount the eyewitness account and his findings, Adriel's heart pounded with a mix of disbelief and anger.

Someone had wanted me dead, and they had gone to great lengths to make it happen.

"I need you to find out who did this," Adriel said quietly, his jaw clenched in determination.

"How are my going to do that young master" Dave asked, confusion written all over his gaze. "Do you have anyone in mind?"

"Mariana!" Adriel said with a stern voice

"Why Mariana?" Dave turned to him in surprise

"Because I am certain I never got married to her" he got up from his hospital bed, fixing his gaze at the window. "Can't you see? She forged her marriage with me and planned my death so she could claim ownership of my properties, as my late wife"

"Slow down, Tiger," Dave burst out in a loud laugh. "Where do you get your ideas from?" he exclaimed, before realizing he was talking to his master and not one of his colleagues. "I am sorry sir" he said sharply bowing his head.

Dave's father worked as a personal driver for Antonio Bruce-- Adriel's father. Growing up in the Bruce mansion, Dave was assigned to be Adriel's personal butler at 21, while Adriel was still quite young. Since then, Dave has been the only person Adriel has been close to, treating him like a brother.

"Do you have any other ideas" Adriel gave him a questioning look.

"Well No!" Dave replied, "But Mariana doesn't look like a murderer" he added sharply

"Well maybe she is an actress! Maybe she was hired by someone to play the role of my wife, I don't know" Adriel threw his hands on the air, he was confused on what to say again.

"And who do you think would hire her?" Dave questioned

"Well, it's your job to find!" he exclaimed.

"The only person I know capable of masterminding such a plot is Wilson," Dave said, his eyes locked with Adriel's. "It would have to be someone close to you. And Wilson has always had his eyes on your inheritance ever since your fathers will was read out. I'm sorry, sir, but there might not be much I can do.

Adriel kept his gaze on the window, he knew Dave was right.

"You might have to pretend not to remember anything. Come back home, sir. If they realize you've lost your memory, they'll definitely want to capitalize on that. We need to be cautious." Dave continued

Adriel nodded slowly, his mind racing. "And if I go back, what's the plan?"

Dave took a deep breath. "We need to gather evidence against Wilson discreetly. Act as if everything is normal and make everyone believe you don't remember a thing. Trust only those who have proven their loyalty. We'll find a way to expose Wilson, but it has to be done carefully."

Adriel leaned back, absorbing Dave's words. He gave him a reassuring nod.