Chapter 35: WHEN THE TRUTH BLEEDS THROUGH
The night after Adrian’s public announcent felt heavier than anything Elena had experienced since entering the Kane mansion. She couldn’t sleep. Every ti she closed her eyes, she saw the way Marcus’s expression softened whenever he looked at her, the way Adrian’s jaw tightened, as if he were trying to cage sothing violent inside him.
She couldn’t understand either of them, and she hated how deeply this entire feud was dragging her.
By morning, storm clouds covered the estate. The entire mansion felt unusually tense, as though every wall knew sothing she didn’t.
Elena stepped into the hallway, her hands cold, her thoughts tangled. A maid approached with a nervous bow.
"Madam... Mr. Kane is in the study. He said he wants to see you. Imdiately."
Her stomach tightened.
Adrian rarely summoned her early in the morning unless sothing serious was happening.
She nodded and followed the long corridor, her heart pounding with each step. When she reached the study, the door was slightly open, as if he had been pacing all night and forgot to close it properly.
Inside, Adrian was standing with his back to her, shoulders stiff, fists clenched at his sides. He didn’t even turn when she stepped in.
"Close the door," he said quietly.
The tone sent a cold shiver up her spine.
She obeyed.
The silence stretched until she finally whispered, "Adrian... what’s wrong?"
He inhaled deeply, still not facing her. "Sothing happened last night."
Her chest tightened. "What?"
He turned slowly, and for the first ti since she t him, Elena saw genuine exhaustion around his eyes. Not anger. Not arrogance. Not coldness.
Sothing else.
Fear.
"Elena," he said, voice low. "Soone broke into my private network. Soone was digging into you."
Her heart skipped. "? Why?"
"That’s what I’m trying to figure out." He rubbed his forehead. "Whoever it was... they were looking for details about your life before the marriage. Everything. Down to your school records. Your mother’s death certificate. Even your landlord."
Elena’s blood turned to ice.
"That’s... that’s not normal," she whispered.
"No, it’s not." Adrian stepped closer. "And I don’t believe it’s a coincidence."
Her throat tightened painfully. "Do you think it’s Marcus?"
Adrian’s jaw flexed. "I haven’t ruled him out." He exhaled heavily. "But there’s more."
Elena looked up sharply. "What more?"
He hesitated.
That alone terrified her — Adrian never hesitated.
Finally, he said, "I listened to the security audio near your room yesterday. I heard what Marcus said to you."
Her breath caught. Her hand instinctively grabbed the arm of a nearby chair.
"Adrian—"
"He told you he would ruin ," Adrian cut in. "That you’re the only way he can get to . And that he won’t let you go."
Her heart hamred painfully.
She had known Marcus’s warning was dangerous... but she hadn’t known it had witnesses.
"Elena," Adrian said, stepping closer, "I need you to trust . Soone is targeting you, and Marcus isn’t the only possibility."
She swallowed. "Then who else?"
He looked away.
And she knew imdiately: he already had an idea.
"Adrian."
He didn’t answer.
The silence told her more than words.
"Is it Lydia?" she whispered.
Adrian’s jaw hardened—but he still didn’t speak.
Which was answer enough.
Elena’s breath trembled. "Why? I barely know her."
"She has her own reasons," Adrian said quietly. "And she hates anything that threatens the family’s legacy. Including you."
Elena stared at him, trying to digest his bitter tone, the cold truth hidden behind his silence.
But before she could speak again, another voice ca from the doorway.
"You’re wrong, brother."
Elena’s head snapped around.
Lydia stood at the door, her eyes sharp, her expression unreadable.
Elena felt Adrian go completely still beside her.
Lydia stepped in, heels clicking softly on the marble floor. She held her phone in her hand — and she looked far calr than soone who had just been accused of cyber intrusion.
"I don’t need to dig into Elena’s past," Lydia said coolly. "Because she’s not the threat."
Adrian’s voice dropped. "Then who is?"
Lydia lifted her chin. "The threat is already inside this house, Adrian. And it’s soone you refuse to see."
Elena’s pulse quickened.
Soone inside the mansion?
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. "Enough gas. Explain."
Lydia slowly placed her phone on the desk. "Check the date of the intrusion."
Adrian’s gaze flickered. Elena watched sothing shift in his face — a realization he didn’t want to have.
"It wasn’t last night?" he asked.
"No," Lydia said. "It was five days ago. And you know who else was in the mansion that day."
Elena’s heart pounded loudly in her chest.
Five days ago...
Five days ago...
Her breath caught.
"That was the day your father ca," she whispered.
Adrian closed his eyes.
Lydia nodded. "Exactly."
Elena’s stomach dropped.
Adrian’s father?
Why would he be investigating her?
"What... what does he want with ?" Elena asked, her voice barely steady.
Lydia looked at her with a strange mix of pity and tension. "Because, Elena... your marriage to Adrian interferes with the future he wants for the Kane family."
Elena felt the floor tilt under her.
Adrian turned to her sharply. "Don’t listen to her."
Lydia raised a brow. "You think she doesn’t deserve the truth?"
Elena felt like she was standing between two storms — one cold and controlled, the other sharp and ruthless.
"Tell what he wants," Elena whispered.
Lydia didn’t hesitate.
"He wants Adrian to marry soone else. Soone of political value. Soone powerful. Soone chosen by him."
Elena’s breath shook. "So... he wants out of the way?"
Lydia nodded once. "And he’s not patient."
Elena felt the room grow colder.
"But," Lydia added, turning to Adrian, "the real danger isn’t his intention. It’s the lengths he’s willing to go."
Adrian’s fists tightened. "Lydia—"
"You know it’s true," she snapped.
Silence.
Heavy. Sharp. Terrifying.
Then, Lydia looked directly at Elena, her voice softening for the first ti since they t.
"Elena... be careful. Adrian’s father doesn’t play gas. And he doesn’t accept disobedience."
Elena’s breath trembled, and Adrian stepped in front of her instinctively, his expression darkening.
"No one touches her," he growled. "Not even him."
Lydia stared at him for a long mont, then nodded.
"I hope you can keep that promise," she said quietly. "Because soon... you won’t be fighting Marcus. You’ll be fighting our own blood."
A cold chill swept through Elena’s entire body.
And for the first ti...
She realized she wasn’t caught between Adrian and Marcus.
She was caught inside a war she didn’t even know existed.
End of Chapter 35
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