Elena didn't remember how she got back to her office.
She only remembered Marcus's voice ,calm, certain echoing in her head.
You're useful.
She sat down slowly, staring at her phone without seeing it. Adrian had never raised his voice at her. Never threatened her. If anything, he had been… controlled. Distant. Protective, even.
So why did Marcus sound so sure?
A soft knock came at the door.
"Elena."
Adrian's voice.
Her chest tightened.
"Yes?" she answered.
He stepped inside, his presence filling the room the way it always did. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes lingered on her face a second longer than usual.
"You're quiet," he said. "That's not like you."
"I'm fine," she replied quickly. Too quickly.
He didn't argue. Instead, he reached into his jacket and placed a slim file on her desk.
"Read this," he said. "It's background material for tomorrow's meeting."
She nodded, waiting for him to leave.
But he didn't.
After a moment, he added, "And Elena… Marcus Hale is not your concern. If he approaches you again, you tell me immediately."
Something in his tone made her look up.
Not anger.
Not jealousy.
Fear.
Just for a split second then it vanished.
Adrian turned and walked out
Later that evening, alone, Elena opened the file.
She skimmed the first page… then froze.
The document wasn't about a meeting.
It was a sealed legal report, dated years ago.
Her eyes caught one line.
Subject: Adrian Volkov cleared of all charges due to lack of evidence.
Cleared of what charges?
Her fingers trembled as she turned the page.
But the rest of the file had been redacted.
Names blacked out. Events erased. Only one thing remained visible at the bottom:
Case closed. Not forgotten.
Elena leaned back slowly, heart pounding.
Marcus's words returned to her, sharper now.
This world isn't safe for her.
And for the first time since she married Adrian Volkov, she wondered..
What exactly had her husband survived?