Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO WAITED SEVEN YEARS
Adrian stared at the address on his phone.
An old farmhouse outside the city.
A place he had never seen before.
A place that somehow held the missing years of his life.
“Don’t go alone.”
Clara’s voice was quiet.
Adrian looked at her.
“I need answers.”
“You might not like them.”
He looked down at Emma and Mia.
The little girl was still holding onto his hand.
The baby was asleep in Clara’s arms.
For seven years, he had imagined what having a family would feel like.
He never imagined finding them this way.
“I already lost seven years.”
His voice cracked.
“I’m not losing another minute.”
Clara looked at him.
“You still love her.”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Because the truth hurt.
He had never stopped.
Not even when everyone told him to move on.
Not even when Victoria convinced him that his first love had left him behind.
Not even when he tried to build a new life.
Somewhere inside, he always felt something was missing.
And now he knew why.
He was missing his family.
---
Twenty minutes later, Adrian arrived at the old farmhouse.
The building looked abandoned.
The paint was faded.
The yard was covered with wild grass.
But there was a small light glowing inside.
Someone was home.
Adrian stepped toward the door.
His hand trembled before knocking.
For the first time in years, he was afraid.
Not of what he would find.
But of what he would lose.
The door opened.
And time stopped.
A woman stood there.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakably familiar.
Adrian couldn’t breathe.
“Lena…”
The woman froze.
Her eyes widened.
Then slowly filled with tears.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Seven years of pain.
Seven years of unanswered questions.
Seven years of believing the other person had chosen to leave.
Finally, Lena whispered:
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
Adrian’s voice broke.
“I thought you were gone.”
Lena looked away.
“I was.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
She looked back at him.
“I was gone from your life.”
Silence.
Adrian stepped closer.
“Why?”
A tear rolled down her face.
“Because I was told you didn’t want me anymore.”
His heart shattered.
“What?”
“They showed me documents.”
She laughed bitterly.
“They showed me messages.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“They told me you signed everything.”
Adrian felt anger rising.
“I never signed anything.”
“I know that now.”
“Then why didn’t you call me?”
Her expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Because they threatened me.”
Adrian froze.
“Who?”
Lena looked past him.
At the road.
Like she was afraid someone was watching.
“Your father.”
The words hit harder than any punch.
“My father was dead.”
Lena shook her head.
“He wasn’t the only one.”
Adrian stepped back.
“What does that mean?”
Before Lena could answer, a black SUV slowly appeared at the end of the road.
Lena’s face turned pale.
“They found you.”
Adrian looked behind him.
“Who?”
Lena grabbed his arm.
“You need to leave.”
“No.”
His voice became firm.
“I spent seven years searching for the truth.”
The SUV stopped.
A man stepped out.
Adrian recognized him.
A man who had worked for his father.
A man who had attended his wedding.
A man who had just smiled at him hours ago.
Marcus Vale.
His father’s former attorney.
Marcus walked toward the house.
“Adrian.”
Adrian stared.
“What are you doing here?”
Marcus adjusted his coat.
“Making sure you don’t make the same mistake twice.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You helped erase my family.”
Marcus remained calm.
“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”
Adrian looked at Lena.
Then back at Marcus.
“Then explain.”
Marcus sighed.
“Your father didn’t separate you from Lena because he hated her.”
A pause.
“He did it because he was protecting the family.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Protecting from what?”
Marcus looked at Lena.
Then whispered:
May you like
“From the truth about who your children really are.”
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