Chapter 5 - THE HUSBAND WHO HAD BEEN LIED TO
I confronted Adrian in his study.
He was standing beside the fireplace when I entered.
I threw the photograph onto his desk.
“Explain.”
He looked down.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get this?”
“Milena.”
He closed his eyes.
“Lena—”
“Are we related?”
His head snapped up.
“No.”
I stared.
“Milena said our mothers were sisters.”
Adrian shook his head.
“She believes that.”
“What does that mean?”
He stepped closer.
“It's not true.”
I folded my arms.
“Then explain.”
He took a breath.
“Katarina Vuković was my father's second wife. She raised me after my biological mother died.”
I stared.
“She wasn't your mother?”
“Not by blood.”
I looked at the photograph.
“Then why did Milena—”
“Because my father spent years telling everyone Katarina was my biological mother.”
I swallowed.
Adrian continued.
“My biological mother was named Elena Volkov. She died when I was three.”
I stared at him.
“Why would your father lie?”
Adrian's expression darkened.
“Because Katarina's family controlled something he wanted.”
I looked down.
“What?”
He hesitated.
Then said, “A shipping network.”
My stomach tightened.
“The agreement between our families.”
Adrian nodded.
“And your mother was supposed to inherit it.”
I stared.
“What happened to her?”
His jaw tightened.
“That's the question I've been trying to answer for six years.”
I looked at him.
“You knew all this before we married?”
“Some of it.”
“And you didn't tell me?”
He looked away.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“That's what my father always says.”
Adrian went still.
I continued.
“You married me without telling me why.”
His expression tightened.
“I didn't know how much danger you were in.”
“Then you should have told me.”
He lowered his eyes.
May you like
For the first time, Adrian Volkov looked ashamed.
“You're right.”
