Chapter 5 - THE EX WHO NEVER LET GO
Adrian called that evening.
Evelyn stared at the screen.
Then answered.
“What do you want?”
He sounded exhausted.
“Evelyn, please listen.”
“I'm listening.”
“You need to stop asking questions.”
Her stomach tightened.
“About Mercury?”
Silence.
Then:
“Who told you that name?”
She closed her eyes.
“So it's real.”
“Evelyn—”
“You used my laptop.”
He didn't answer.
“You used my company.”
“It's not what you think.”
She laughed bitterly.
“That's what people say when it is exactly what you think.”
Adrian's voice sharpened.
“Lucien Moretti is not someone you should trust.”
“Neither are you.”
He exhaled.
“I'm trying to protect you.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
Silence.
Then he whispered:
“I didn't end our engagement because I stopped loving you.”
Evelyn froze.
“What?”
“I ended it because someone told me you would be hurt if I stayed.”
She stared.
“Who?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Victor Sloane.”
The name meant nothing to her.
“Who is that?”
“A partner at Crosswell Capital.”
Evelyn looked toward the window.
“Why would he threaten me?”
Adrian swallowed.
“Because I found something I wasn't supposed to find.”
For the first time, Evelyn heard genuine fear in his voice.
She sat down.
“What did you find?”
“Evidence that Crosswell has been moving money through shell companies connected to Moretti properties.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Then why put the files on my laptop?”
“Because I needed somewhere outside the company network.”
“You could have told me.”
“I know.”
“You could have gone to the police.”
“I know.”
“You could have trusted me.”
His voice broke.
“I know.”
Evelyn stared at the wall.
For seven months, she'd believed Adrian had simply stopped loving her.
Now she realized the truth was uglier.
He had decided what she was allowed to know.
He had made choices for her.
He had broken her heart and called it protection.
“Adrian,” she said quietly, “you don't get to decide what I can survive.”
He began crying.
“I'm sorry.”
She closed her eyes.
“So am I.”
Then she ended the call.
Ten minutes later, Lucien arrived.
Evelyn told him everything.
He listened.
Then said:
“Victor Sloane.”
His expression darkened.
“You know him?” she asked.
Lucien nodded.
“Unfortunately.”
“Who is he?”
Lucien looked toward the city.
“A man who believes every person has a price.”
Evelyn swallowed.
“And what happens when someone doesn't?”
May you like
Lucien's voice became cold.
“He tries to remove them.”
