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.

The security lights did not come back on.

That was the first thing Lina noticed.

The Blackwood estate had backup generators, motion sensors, armed guards at every gate. Power outages were impossible here.

Yet the darkness outside their bedroom window felt alive.

Adrian stood perfectly still beside the bed, his phone still glowing with the message:

"The next move is ours."

Lina's fingers tightened around the black envelope she found on the floor by the door. No words written on it. Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears.

"This isn't random," she whispered.

Adrian's jaw clenched. "No. It's a message."

The hallway outside their room creaked.

Not loudly.

Just enough for them to hear.

Adrian moved instantly, guiding Lina behind him. His body became a shield without thought. He grabbed the handgun from the drawer and stepped toward the door.

"Stay here," he ordered quietly.

"I'm not staying alone," she shot back, fear sharpening her voice.

For one second, they locked eyes. The air between them was thick-not with romance this time, but survival.

Then another sound.

Closer.

A soft click.

Like a door closing somewhere deep in the mansion.

Adrian opened the bedroom door slowly.

The hallway was dark. Emergency lights flickered red along the walls, casting everything in a bloody glow. The portraits of past Blackwoods seemed to watch them as they stepped out.

"Security should be here by now," Lina whispered.

Adrian tapped his earpiece. "Report."

Static answered him.

Just static.

His expression changed.

That scared her more than the darkness.

They moved carefully down the hallway. At the staircase, Adrian froze.

The front doors were open.

Cold air spilled into the mansion.

Two guards lay on the marble floor.

Unconscious.

Lina's breath caught. "How did someone get past the gates?"

Adrian didn't answer.

Because he didn't know.

And Adrian Blackwood always knew.

A sudden crash echoed from his private office.

Lina flinched.

"That's where the old files are," she said.

The ones from before Vivian.

The ones that never made it to court.

Adrian's grip on his weapon tightened. "Stay behind me."

They descended the staircase slowly.

Every step felt like stepping into a trap.

The office door was slightly open. Smoke drifted out-not fire smoke, but something chemical.

Adrian pushed the door wide.

His safe was open.

Empty.

The backup drives were gone.

On his desk sat a single object.

A silver frame.

Inside it was a photograph of Adrian and Lina on their wedding day.

Except someone had drawn a black X across Adrian's face.

And written beneath it:

Wrong target.

Lina's knees nearly gave out.

"What does that mean?" she whispered.

Adrian's face had gone cold. Calculating.

"It means," he said slowly, "this was never about revenge against me."

A faint buzzing sound filled the room.

Lina frowned. "Do you hear that?"

Adrian's eyes scanned the walls.

There-near the bookshelf.

A small blinking red light.

His blood ran cold.

"Bomb," he said.

The word didn't feel real.

Lina stared at him, frozen. "You're joking."

"I never joke about bombs."

The timer was small. Digital. Already counting down.

02:17.

Her pulse roared in her ears.

"Can you stop it?" she asked.

Adrian stepped closer, studying the device. "It's not meant to destroy the house."

He swallowed.

"It's meant to destroy the office."

The evidence.

The past.

01:54.

Lina's mind raced. "Then let it destroy the room!"

"And lose every piece of proof that someone else is behind this?" His voice was sharp. "No."

He grabbed the safe's empty casing and pulled something from beneath it-a hidden secondary drive.

"You knew," she breathed.

"I suspected," he corrected.

01:28.

The buzzing grew louder.

Adrian grabbed her hand. "We have to move."

They ran.

Down the hallway.

Past the unconscious guards.

Through the front doors.

The cold night air slapped Lina's face as they cleared the entrance.

And the explosion ripped through the mansion.

Glass shattered.

Flames burst from the office windows.

The force knocked Lina off her feet.

Adrian shielded her with his body as debris rained down across the lawn.

For a moment, all she could hear was ringing.

Smoke curled into the sky.

The Blackwood estate...her prison, her battlefield...burned.

Adrian rolled off her, breathing hard. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, tears mixing with ash on her cheeks.

Sirens wailed in the distance.

But something felt wrong.

Adrian was staring at the flames-not shocked.

Angry.

"They wanted us outside," he said.

Lina's stomach dropped.

A slow clap echoed behind them.

They turned.

A figure stood near the gate.

Not hiding.

Not running.

Watching.

He stepped forward into the dim security light.

Familiar eyes.

Too familiar.

Lina's breath left her body.

"I know you," she whispered.

The man pulled back his hood.

Not a stranger.

Not a hired assassin.

Someone from inside.

Someone who had worked in the company years ago.

Someone presumed dead in a corporate accident tied to Blackwood expansion.

Adrian went still.

"That's impossible."

The man smiled faintly. "You should have looked deeper into your father's files."

Lina felt the world tilt.

This wasn't just corporate sabotage.

This was generational.

"You destroyed my family," the man said calmly. "Now I'll dismantle yours."

Police sirens grew louder.

The man stepped backward toward the shadows beyond the gate.

"You won't find me," he added. "But you'll feel me."

And then...

He was gone.

Adrian tried to follow, but Lina grabbed his arm.

"No," she whispered. "He wants you to chase him."

Flames reflected in Adrian's eyes.

For the first time, she didn't see fear in him.

She saw something darker.

War.

Fire trucks screeched into the driveway. Officers rushed past them. Chaos swallowed the moment.

But Lina couldn't stop staring at the open gate.

The estate had always felt like a fortress.

Now it felt like a trap.

As paramedics checked the guards and firefighters battled the blaze, Adrian's phone vibrated again.

Another unknown number.

He showed it to Lina.

A live video feed.

Her mother, gun pointed to her head.

Lina's scream tore through the night.

Adrian's blood turned to ice.

A final message appeared across the screen:

"Round two begins now."

The flames behind them roared higher.

And Lina realized something terrifying...

The bomb wasn't the real attack.

It was the distraction.

Her mother's life on the line.

Again.

What do they he want from her.