Chapter 2 — The Secret Behind the Marriage

Elena confronted Adrian that night.

She placed the photograph on his desk.

“Why do you have this?”

Adrian stared at it for several seconds.

Then he closed his eyes.

“I was hoping you would never find it.”

“So you knew my father?”

“Yes.”

The answer struck harder than she expected.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because your father asked me not to.”

Elena’s anger disappeared for a moment.

“Why?”

Adrian walked toward the window.

“Your father discovered that someone inside Blackwood Holdings was stealing money from the company. He found evidence. Before he could expose them, he died in what everyone called an accident.”

Elena’s face went pale.

“You think he was murdered?”

“I know he was.”

Silence filled the room.

“Who did it?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Elena stared at him.

“Then why marry me?”

Adrian turned around.

“Because the person responsible is still inside my company.”

She understood immediately.

Her father’s old documents had disappeared after his death.

Someone had been looking for them for years.

And Elena, as his daughter, might unknowingly possess the missing piece.

“You used me.”

“I protected you.”

“You lied to me.”

“Yes.”

His honesty somehow hurt more than an excuse.

Elena turned toward the door.

“I want to leave.”

Adrian didn’t stop her.

But before she reached the hallway, he spoke.

“Your one hundred days aren’t over.”

She stopped.

“You can walk away from the contract. But if you do, I can’t guarantee your safety.”

Elena slowly turned back.

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying that someone knows you’re investigating.”

That night, Elena stayed.

Not because of the contract.

Because she wanted the truth about her father.

Over the next few weeks, she and Adrian secretly investigated the company’s financial records.

And somewhere between late-night conversations and quiet breakfasts, Elena discovered a different man beneath Adrian’s cold exterior.

He had loved her father like a mentor.

He had carried guilt over failing to protect him.

And he had never intended to involve Elena in his investigation.

The closer they became, the harder it was to remember that their marriage had an expiration date.

Then came the ninety-ninth day.

Elena packed her suitcase.

Adrian stood in the doorway.

“You’re leaving tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

He looked at her suitcase.

“Are you sure?”

Elena forced herself to smile.

“That’s what the contract says.”

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian walked away.

Elena watched him disappear down the hallway.

She had expected him to stop her.

He didn’t.

The next morning, Elena arrived at Blackwood Holdings to return her wedding ring.

But before she could enter the building, hundreds of reporters surrounded her.

Cameras flashed.

People shouted questions.

Then Adrian appeared on the steps.

He walked directly toward her.

Elena held out the ring.

“It’s over.”

Adrian didn’t take it.

Instead, he turned toward the reporters.

His voice was calm.

Clear.

And completely unexpected.

“The marriage is not ending.”

Elena stared at him.

Adrian took her hand.

“This marriage is real.”

The crowd erupted.

Elena whispered,

“What are you doing?”

Adrian looked directly into her eyes.

“Breaking the contract.”