After the horrific encounter, Elara laid on her bed thinking of Adrian Kane, a dark piece from her
fractured past. Her ex.
"What could he possibly want now, after the accident?" She wondered.
And then there was Damon Blackwood, the man who prioritized control above everything. He
knew too much, and that frightened her.
Just then Elara's phone beeped. Another threatening message from Adrian.
'You escaped this time. But you won't next time. I know your biggest secret and if you don't
want it revealed, meet me tomorrow'
.
Her breath skipped.
"Oh God... What does Adrian want from me now?
But no matter what it took,she had to face him. She had no choice. Her hand pressed against
her stomach. She had to protect the innocent life inside her. The worst part was that she didn't
know how. But she needed to.
Already stressed and tired, Elara closed her eyes to sleep but memories flooded her mind.
The night of the accident.
That night the rain poured heavily. Adrian's hand gripped the steering wheel tightly just like
the way he usually gripped Elara's hand whenever she tried to argue. His eyes were dark with
rage.
"You think you can get away from me, Elara?"
, he yelled, turning the steering wheel carelessly.
"You belong to me. Do you hear me? Get that in your dumb head"
, he roared.
"Slow down, Adrian!. If not you'll get us killed!"
, Elara shouted, her voice filled with fear. She
tightened her grip on the seatbelt, her heart throbbing as if it would pop out of her chest as the
car moved dangerously close to the edge of the slick road.
But Adrian didn't listen. He pressed harder on the accelerator.
"Maybe that's the only way you'll
listen. You can't escape from me"
, he said and laughed bitterly.
The headlamps from an oncoming truck, blinded her eyes.
"Adrian!!!!"
, she screamed, grabbing
his arms. The car veered vigorously. The tires screeched and shards of glass exploded
everywhere.
"I'm always going to be in your life. You can't be free from me"
. Adrian whispered before
collapsing.
Then darkness.
"Noooo!!!" Elara shouted and jerked from the bed.
It was another nightmare. Her past flashed back. Elara clutched her stomach again trembling,
her hand damp with sweat. Adrian survived and now he was back for her.
The following day, Elara was seated in her office, going through some files when the elevator
chimed. And there he was. Damon Blackwood. His presence sparked tension and sent shivers
down her spine.
"Why is he here?" Elara wondered.
Damon moved round her office, scanning every nook and cranny of it.
"What brings you here?" Elara questioned.
"Well I don't require your permission to be here. Or does my presence scare you?" Damon
asked mockingly.
"I never said that "
, she snapped back.
"Well some things are not needed to be said in order to be known. Your attitude tells a different
story"
, Damon said flatly then sat.
He was at it again. Reading her mind like an open book. Observing her slightest behavior.
Trying to control her existence. But she wasn't going to let him get through her. She wasn't
going to give him the chance to assert control.
"It's better for you to state your purpose of being here. I've got so much work to attend to. I don't
have time for this"
.
"I can come here whenever I please. I just came to see my bride. It's been a while"
. Damon
started staring keenly at Elara.
"Don't you think so?"
"No. In fact, let's drop this conversation"
she said, rolling her eyes.
Damon stood up and closed the distance between them, so close that her breath could be felt
on his skin.
"You can't lie to me. I see right through you"
. He whispered those words in her ears.
She hated when he said that.
"You act like you're fine but you're not. You're hiding something"
,
Damon uttered distancing himself from her.
Her heart sank. Her jaw tightened and her temperature rose. Before she could retort, her phone
beeped and Adrian's message popped on her screen. She reached for it immediately and read
the message.
'Meet me outside your office or I'll come inside. I give you five minutes'
.
Her heart skipped, but she tried to stay composed in front of Damon.
"Excuse me"
, she uttered and stood up to leave.
But Damon grabbed her hand before she could exit.
"Where are you going?" He asked
inquisitively.
"I have something to attend to, so let me go"
.
Damon took his hands off her and she left hurriedly.
"Something is off here. I think I should follow her"
, Damon muttered to himself.
Elara knew that Damon would follow her so she tricked him.
She took off her black suit and handed it to a staff member walking in another direction. Damon
thought it was Elara, so he kept following the staff member. Meanwhile, Elara took a different
route to meet Adrian.
Adrian stood at a distance wearing a black hoodie. Immediately Elara saw him, her past
flashed in her mind. She wanted to shout, to hide, to run. But she couldn't, she had to see him.
She moved slowly and tapped his shoulder. He turned to face her.
"Adrian"
, she called,
trembling. Cold chills ran down her spine.
"Ahh... You're finally here, darling. You still haven't changed"
.
"Adrian, I don't have time for this. So get to the point"
.
Immediately he grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Heyy! Don't speak to me in that manner"
.
"Let go of me. You're hurting me" Adrian persisted.
He dragged her to a corner and pulled her hair.
"Ahhh!!" Elara shouted but he quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
"Next time, don't speak to me that way"
. He left her.
"I've missed you a lot, my love. Did you tell
Ryan about my arrival?" he asked, smiling slyly.
Elara ignored the question.
"Please, what do you want?" Elara asked, arranging her hair.
"You've asked me this before. I'm bored now. Let's get to something interesting"
. He winked.
" I
know all your secrets. And no one knows"
. He smirked.
"I'm aware of your pregnancy secrets"
,
he laughed.
"You're talking trash. I have no secrets"
, Elara denied.
"We both know you're lying,
":he said and pulled her closer to himself.
"Let me go, Adrian. This is inappropriate"
, Elara stated, struggling to lose herself from his grip.
"Why is it inappropriate? Is it because you're marrying that billionaire?" He roared. Then pulled
her hair again.
"Ahhh!!!" Elara shouted again. She bit him and broke free, sprinting away. Adrian kept chasing
after her. Accidentally, Elara bumped into Damon. Her eyes widened in shock. Adrian saw
Damon then hid immediately.
"Why are you running?" Damon questioned.
Elara's temperature rose immediately. What was she going to tell him?
It seemed her secret was going to come to light.
"This is the end"
, she thought.