Lina jumped up fast when she heard the sound of glass breaking and scattering all over the floor. The sound of the glass was really loud. It startled Lina. She got up from where she was sitting to see what had happened to the glass.

She was sitting up in bed. Her heart was beating fast when something hit the wall on the other side of the room. A picture that was hanging on the wall fell down. Broke into pieces on the floor. The painting was in a frame. It was a really loud noise when it shattered.

"What the..."

The bedroom door swung open fast.

Adrian was standing there with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbow. His jaw was tight and his eyes were really angry; they were like fire. He was holding her phone in his hand. Adrian was still holding her phone and his eyes were raging with fire; it was like he was furious about something.

Her phone.

Oh no.

The man wanted to know where this thing came from. He asked the question in a way.

Lina's heart was beating fast and she could hear it loud, in her ears. She quickly got out of bed. Reached out for something. "Give my stuff back, " Lina said.

He picked it up. Hold it really high. "You do not tell me what to do in my house, " he said.

"It belongs to me, " Lina said, her voice shaking. "You did not have any right to go through my phone."

He interrupted me. "I have every right". He looked at me. "You are my wife". Then he shook the phone. "And this phone was hidden in a secret part of your bag".

Her mouth felt really dry.

She had totally forgotten that the compartment was there. The compartment was something she had not thought about in a time. She did not recall the compartment all until now. The compartment was a thing of the past, for her.

Adrian said to answer him. He wanted to know why she had an email app that was locked with a code. Adrian asked this in a furious voice. "Why do you have an encrypted email app?"

Lina swallowed. "I want to keep things to myself " she said, "I have my privacy."

Adrian's laugh was sharp. He said "Poor girls who are struggling with debt do not usually pay for military grade encryption."

He tossed the phone onto the bed between them. The phone screen turned on. It showed a message that she had not seen before. The message was on the phone screen. It was something Lina did not recognize.

UNKNOWN CONTACT:

"They are watching."

Adrian looked at the screen. He was focused on the screen to see what was on it. The screen was in front of Adrian. He kept looking at the screen.

Then at her.

He smiled slowly.

He said. "So will you tell me what is going on with this thing, this situation, this problem. Can you explain this to me?"

Lina's mind was over the place. The walls felt like they were closing in on her. Every single lie she had told was about to fall. Lina said "It is spam", in a weak voice.

Adrian stepped closer to the phone. He wanted to see it clearly.

He said to Lina "Tell one lie, Lina and I promise you I will make sure you are sorry you ever married me Lina."

Her chest felt really tight. She said "I did not want to marry you. "

That really stopped him. He didn't know what to do.

For a short moment something sparked in his eyes. It was not anger.

Pain.

Then it disappeared. It was there for a moment. Then it vanished.

He said," You came to me .You walked into my office.You said you wanted my name."

"I asked you for help". She was really loud. "There is a difference."

There was a lot of silence between them. It felt really heavy. The silence between them was very uncomfortable. It felt like it was weighing them down.

Adrian breathed out slowly. " Get dressed"

She looked at them with surprise and asked "Why?"

You are coming with me.

"Where?"

"My office."

She looked at him and said "No".

He leaned his head down looking at her like she was a problem he really wanted to figure out. "This is not a request."

"I am not your worker. I do not work for you." Lina yelled.

"You are my problem, until I figure out what kind of game you are playing, you do not ever leave my sight."

Her heart felt really bad. She said "That is not right."

"Marrying the woman who destroyed my family is not right either."

The words really got to her; they went into her soul. This was not the first time she had heard the words but that did not matter. The words still had an effect on her.

Adrian turned to leave. "You have ten minutes"

The door closed loudly behind him as he walked out.

The Blackwood Group headquarters is really something. It is a building with a lot of steel and glass.

The Blackwood Group headquarters looked perfect. Lina did not feel like she belonged there. Adrian was walking with her through the security area. He had his hand on her lower back, holding her tightly. She was not feeling very comfortable.

Possessive.

Deliberate.

Every single eye was on them watching their every move. It was really something to see. Every eye in the room followed them.

Whispers started to spread fast and they were very bad. They were like poison hurting her slowly. The whispers just kept on coming one, after another. They were all very mean,not nice.

"That is the woman we are talking about." said by one of the whisperers.

"The wife?"

"She looks like an ordinary person. She appears to be someone you would see every day and not really notice."

"Is that the person who destroyed them?"

Lina held her head up even when she felt bad about what happened and it made her feel really bad inside. She felt shame crawling under her skin.

In the elevator, Adrain finally said. "You are not allowed to talk unless someone talks to you, " He was very clear about this rule. He wanted to make sure she understood.

She clenched her jaw tightly and said. "I am not mute "

He said "You will be if you dare say a thing you are not supposed to."

The doors opened onto the executive floor. This was the part of the building where all the important people worked.

The boardroom was already full.

Men and women who were wearing suits all turned to look at Adrian when he walked in. All the conversations stopped. The room fell silent as everyone watched them.

Then she saw the woman.

Vivian Blackwood.

Adrian's sister got up from her seat and her face looked happy but it did not seem real. She said "Brother". Took a step forward. "You did not tell me you were bringing your wife today."

Her eyes moved to Lina. They were sharp even though she was smiling at her.

A chill ran down Lina's back. It was a cold feeling.

Vivian took Lina's hands in her own. She said to her softly "Welcome, to the family."

Her grip got really tight, her nails dug in enough to cause some pain.

"You look pale," "Are you feeling nervous?" Vivian asked.

Before Lina could say anything the doors swung wide open.

Two men who were wearing suits came into the room and they showed their badges to everyone.

One of them said "Adrian Blackwood,we are here from the Financial Crimes Commission."

The room suddenly became very loud.

Adrian looked confused."What is this?" He was very curious about what was happening.

The investigators looked away from him to Lina.

" We are looking into the Blackwood collapse case again,and your wife is someone we want to talk to about the case."

The words landed like a blow.

Lina felt the room shake. She thought to herself what was going on. She was getting scared.

Adrian turned around slowly to the investigators. He said "Explain to me what is going on,I want to know what is happening."

The investigator went on to say, " Some years back someone got into the company's private files and that caused a lot of trouble. It led to people getting arrested and the company going bankrupt. The person who told us about it just disappeared. Now it seems like that same person's doing things online again.This same source is now active. And your wife is a person of interest in this case."

The man passed a folder across the table to Adrian.

"All the evidence points to your wife."

Everyone looked at Lina. Everyone turned to face Lina.

Adrian did not move.

The morning sun was shining brightly through the big windows and lit up his face. He was standing beside the table, reading something on his tablet. He has not seen her yet.

For a change, he was wearing just a white shirt with the sleeves up and the first two buttons open. His hair was looking rough, like he'd ran his hands through it. He looked tired.

And handsome.

As Lina walked into the room quietly,he looked up at her.

There it was again,that sudden clenching of his jaw when he saw her. But this time, something else lit underneath it.

Awareness.

"You came late," he said.

"I did not know we had a schedule."

"We do now."

She crossed her arms. "Are you always controlling?"

"Yes."

"At least you're honest."

He pointed to the seat across from him. "Sit. We leave in thirty minutes."

"For the board meeting?"

"For damage control," he corrected. "You will be going with me to the charity lunch after that."

She lifted her eyebrows. "Why would I..."

"Because," he cut in smoothly, "the board believes a happy marriage makes me look stable."

"And are we happy?"

"Do not test me early this morning."

She sat anyway.

The housekeeper entered and placed food on the table.

Adrian did not eat.

Instead, he watched Lina.

"You are not eating well enough," he said.

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You barely touched dinner."

"You were interrogating me."

"That doesn't stop hunger."

She looked at him, thrown off.

Why did that sound like concern?

"I am okay," she said.

That didn't convince him.

Without saying a word, he carried her plate,put more fruits on it and dropped it back.

The gesture was simple.

Domestic.

Intimate.

"Eat," he said.

She obeyed.

And none of them spoke about why.

The charity lunch was full of camera flashes and people with fake smiles.

Adrian held her waist the entire time.

Firm.

Protective.

Anytime someone came closer, his grip tightened around her, as if he was reminding the world that she belonged to him.

Or perhaps reminding himself.

"Mr. Blackwood," a reporter called, putting a microphone forward. "Is it true that your wife is involved in the reopened investigation?"

The air froze up.

Lina felt Adrian's hand tense.

He took a step forward, pulling her with him.

"My wife," he said, "knows nothing about it."

"She has nothing to do with what happened to my family."

The reporter kept on. "But there are digital trails..."

"Then follow them," Adrian cut in sharply. "And when you find out the truth, I expect an apology printed boldly."

He turned away before anybody could respond.

Inside the car, Lina looked at him.

"That wasn't necessary," she whispered.

"Yes, it was."

"Why did you?"

He looked outside the window.

"Because I will not let people arm what belongs to me."

The words surprised her.

What's mine?

She shouldn't have liked the way that sounded.

But she did.

That evening, the mansion was full of anxiety.

The investigation became worse. Calls flooded Adrian's phone. The board demanded explanations.

By the time he entered the bedroom,he was angry.

Lina was leaning by the window again, her hands around herself.

"Don't stand up for me like that," she said softly.

He removed his tie. "Why not?"

"Because you will look stupid if I did something wrong."

He stepped closer.

"Do you think I feel concerned about that?"

She stared at him.

"You care about control."

"Yes," he said simply.

"And I am currently choosing how this goes."

Her heart was beating fast as he moved closer.

"Why?" she asked again.

This time, his answer was gentle.

"Because something doesn't add up."

Her breath caught.

"You do not act like someone who's guilty," he continued softly. "You look like you are waiting for something bad to happen."

She swallowed.

"What are you waiting for, Lina?"

She gave no answer.

He lifted his hand.

For a moment, she thought he would touch her face but instead he just moved a strand of hair away from her face.

The touch was light.

Barely there.

But it sent heat racing down her spine.

His thumb stayed near her jaw.

"You are shaking," he said softly.

"So are you," she replied.

His eyes were gloomy.

And then...

He kissed her.

It wasn't gentle.

It wasn't soft.

It was restrained hunger breaking free.

She put her hands on his chest to stop herself from falling.

His mouth tasted like a mix of anger and desire.

For a moment, the investigation faded.

The past didn't exist.

There was only the way his grip was firm around her waist.

Only the way her body responded without asking.

He deepened the kiss.

She made a soft moan in her throat.

And that was his doing.

He suddenly pulled back, breathing heavily.

"This is a mistake," he said roughly.

"Then stop," she challenged.

He got angry.

"You think I won't?"

"Prove it."

The air between them stopped.

He walked forward again, pushing her gently to the wall.

His forehead pressed on hers.

"You don't know how much effect you have on me," he said softly.

"Then explain it."

His hand went from her waist down to her hip.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Her pulse rumbled.

He said softly. "I hate that you're inside my house. Inside my life."

His fingers tightened.

"And I hate that when I look at you..."

He didn't complete his words.

Instead, he kissed her again,very slow this time.

Not punishment.

Not anger.

Something far more dangerous.

Something that felt like surrender.

She held on to his shirt tightly.

And for one reckless moment..

She almost told him everything.

Almost confessed who she used to be.

She almost trusted him.

A phone rang.

The noise broke the silence.

Adrian took a step back, angry and breathing very hard.

He brought out his phone and his face changed when he read it.

"What is it?" Lina asked softly.

He didn't answer immediately.

When he did, his voice had turned cold again.

"The digital team just traced the anonymous activity."

Her blood ran cold.

"Where?" she forced herself to ask.

His eyes lifted slowly to hers.

"To this house."

Silence.

"That's impossible," she whispered.

"Is it?"

He turned and walked back to the door.

"Adrian."

He paused.

"If you're telling me lies," he said without looking back, "I won't protect you again."

Then he walked out.

Lina stood frozen.

Her phone beeped in her hand.

She never knew she was holding it.

A new message.

Unknown number.

You should have left when you could.

Her fingers shaked.

Another message appeared.

He's about to find the file.

Her heart stopped.

What file?

Footsteps exploded down the hallway.

Not Adrian's.

Heavier.

Faster.

Then...

A crash echoed from downstairs.

Voices.

Raised.

Angry.

Lina rushed to the bedroom door.

Before she could open it, it swung inward.

Adrian stood there, face pale with fury.

In his hand...

A printed document.

He held it up slowly.

"Do you want to explain," he asked, calmly,"why your fingerprints are on a secret Blackwood file from five years ago?"

The room started to spin.

Her vision blurred.

"That's not possible," she breathed.

His eyes hardened.

"It's dated the night my father was arrested."

Her knees nearly gave out.

He entered the room.

"Tell me," he ordered, "what your name is doing on this report under a different identity."

The words hit like a gunshot.

Different identities.

Her lungs refused to work.

He knew.

Or he was about to.

And somewhere in the house...

The door creaked.

Soft.

Intentional.

Unseen.

Adrian's phone beeped again.

He glanced at it.

And whatever he read made his face drain of color.

"What?" Lina whispered.

He looked up at her slowly.

"Something has happened," he said.

"Where?"

His voice became empty.

"At the hospital."

Her heart stopped beating.

"Your mother," he finished.

And the lights in the mansion went out.

Total darkness swallowed the room.

Somewhere below them...

A woman laughed.

The lights went out and there was total darkness in the room.

"Adrian?" Lina whispered and then he grabbed her wrist instantly. Tight and protective.

"Stay behind me," he commanded.

Somewhere down the stairs, glass shattered loudly.

They could hear footsteps.

Not running.

Walking.

Slow.

The backup generator turned on seconds later. The emergency lights that came on was dim, it casted long shadows across the walls.

Adrian brought his phone from his pocket and turned on the flashlight so they could see clearly.

"Somebody is in the house," he said quietly.

Lina's heart was beating so hard that it hurt.

"My mother," she said. "You said there was an accident."

"We're leaving. Now." Adrian replied.

They quickly rushed out. Security guards were shouting downstairs. One of them screamed into the radio. Another was groaning in pain.

The front door was wide open.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her outside toward the car.

As he opened the passenger door for her, she hesitated.

"Do you think it's true?" she asked. "The accident?"

His eyes looked into hers.

"I don't know," he anwered.

And that made her very scared.

At the hospital, everywhere was full of chaos.

Flashing lights.

Nurses running.

Voices shouting.

The smell of antiseptic and fear was in the air.

Adrian pushed through the crowd, Lina was right behind him.

"Emergency room," he said to the front desk nurse. "Mrs. Lillian Stallone."

The nurse typed quickly.

Then paused.

" She was transferred," she said slowly.

Lina felt her knees weaken. "Transferred?"

"Yes. About thirty minutes ago."

"Transferred to where?" Adrian snapped.

The nurse looked at the screen in confusion.

"What?" Lina whispered.

"There's no destination listed."

Silence.

Adrian leaned over the desk. "Are you telling me a critical patient was moved without documentation?"

The nurse swallowed. "I...I'll call administration."

Lina's hands began to tremble.

"This can't be," she said. "My mother would not allow a transfer without telling me."

Adrian's phone buzzed.

He stepped aside to answer.

His face changed as he listened.

He ended the call slowly.

"That wasn't a hospital vehicle," he said.

"She was taken," he finished.

"No," Lina shouted. "No, no, no..."

She pulled his shirt. "This is because of me."

Adrian didn't deny it.

That hurt more than anything.

They searched every floor.

ICU.

Surgery.

Records.

Nothing.

It was like her mother had vanished into thin air.

Lina stood in the empty hospital room where her mother had been earlier that day. The bed was bare. Machines were unplugged.

Gone.

She covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself from screaming.

Adrian stood by the window, tense and silent.

"This is targeted," he said finally.

She turned to him slowly.

"You think someone staged the accident."

"Yes."

"For what?"

His eyes were sharp now.

"To move her. To send a message."

A message to him.

Or to her.

Her phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

She looked into the screen.

"Answer it," Adrian said.

Her fingers trembled as she picked up.

Silence on the other end.

Then a distorted voice.

"You should have stayed quiet."

Her blood ran cold.

"Where is my mother?" she demanded.

A soft laugh.

"She's safe. For now."

Lina's vision blurred with tears. "Please..."

"Tell your husband to stop digging into old files."

Adrian stepped closer, listening.

"If he doesn't," the voice continued, "next time it won't be a transfer."

The call ended.

Lina lowered the phone slowly.

Her hands kept shaking.

Adrian's face had gone still.

"They know," she whispered.

"Yes."

"They know about the file."

"Yes."

"They know about me."

His silence confirmed it.

The journey back to the mansion was quiet.

Lina looked out the window, sad.

"My mother is sick," she said finally. "She won't be able to survive stress like this."

Adrian's hand on the steering wheel became tighter.

"I will find her."

"You were unable to protect your own house," she shot back before she could stop herself.

The words brought silent between them.

Regret flooded her immediately.

"I'm sorry," she apologized softly.

He didn't answer.

When they arrived home, police cars were parked outside. Security teams moved in and out.

Adrian gave orders calmly.

But Lina could see it.

He was losing control.

And Adrian Blackwood do not lose control.

Inside the bedroom, she finally broke.

"This is my fault," she said. "If I had just stayed away from you"

"Stop," he snapped.

She looked up at him with tears flowing down her eyes.

"You said I ruined your family," she whispered. "What if I'm doing it again?"

His expression changed.

For the first time, she didn't see hatred.

She saw conflict.

"You didn't stage an ambulance," he said.

"But someone is doing this because of me."

He stepped closer.

"No," he said. "Someone is doing this because of us."

The word hit her.

Us.

He raked his hair with his fingers.

"They're scared."

"Of what?"

"Of the truth."

Her breath caught.

Some hours later, Lina couldn't sleep.

The mansion felt unsafe now.

Every sound made her jump.

She stood in the hallway outside her room and froze.

Adrian was in his office, the door was slightly open.

She could hear him.

"I don't care how much it costs," he was saying into the phone. "Track every vehicle that left that hospital tonight."

Pause.

"No leaks. Not even Vivian."

Lina stiffened.

Not even Vivian.

Why would he say that?

She backed away, moving quietly.

Her phone buzzed again.

Another message.

Check the file.

She opened the secure folder she had kept hidden for years.

The old file.

The screen flickered.

A new document appeared inside it.

She opened it, slowly.

It was a photo.

Taken tonight.

Her mother.

Sitting on a chair.

Alive.

Behind her was a figure she couldn't see.

The face blurred.

But the hand was resting on her mother's shoulder...

Lina knew that ring.

She had seen it somewhere before.

Recently.

Her heart slammed hard against her ribs.

No.

It can't be.

She heard footsteps behind her.

She quickly locked the phone and turned.

Adrian stood there.

Watching her.

"How long have you been up?" he asked quietly.

"Not long."

He looked at her suspiciously.

"You're hiding something from me again."

She opened her mouth.

Closed it.

If she told him what she saw...

Everything would explode.

"Lina," he said, voice lower now. "If you know something..."

"I don't know anything," she lied.

"I'm trying to keep you safe," he said.

"And I'm trying to keep you safe too," she whispered.

"From what?"

She couldn't answer.

Because if she said the name forming in her mind...

It would destroy him.

Adrian's phone beeped again.

He looked down.

Then up at her.

"There's been another break in," he said slowly.

"Where?"

His eyes were looking into hers.

"Inside our security system."

She felt scared.

He took a step closer to her.

"Only three people have clearance," he continued.

"Who?" she asked.

"Me."

"My head of security."

"And you."

The room felt smaller.

Darker.

"I didn't..."

He lifted his hand.

"I want to believe that."

The words hurt more than being accused.

"I need you to tell me nothing but the truth," he said.

Her phone beeped again in her hand.

She looked down.

Another message.

He's next.

Her blood ran cold.

Adrian looked into her screen.

"What is the meaning of that?" he asked.

Before she could respond...

A gunshot echoed from downstairs.

Both of them froze.

Another shot.

A scream.

Adrian moved instantly, pushing her behind him.

"Lock the door," he ordered. "Don't come out."

But as he turned to leave...

Her phone buzzed one last time.

Wrong choice.

And the power went out again.

Only this time...

The backup generator didn't come on.

Darkness swallowed everything.

And somewhere below them...

Someone was climbing the stairs.