Chapter 28: The Fiancée
Lina froze at the doorway.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the door handle.
Daniel stood there, smiling gently as always.
But the woman beside him caught her attention.
She was beautiful.
Elegant.
Confident.
Her long dark hair fell neatly over her shoulders, and her sharp eyes quietly observed everything.
Daniel spoke softly again.
"Lina… this is my fiancée, Emily."
Emily smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you."
Lina blinked slowly.
Her mind took a moment to process everything.
"Fiancée…?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes. We got engaged recently."
Lina forced a small smile.
"Nice to meet you."
Behind her—
Adrian stood silently.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He studied the woman carefully.
Something about her presence felt calculated.
Not simple.
Not innocent.
"Come in," Lina said softly.
They entered the house.
The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
They sat in the living room.
Emily glanced around quietly.
"This is a beautiful house."
"Thank you," Lina replied.
Daniel looked at Lina.
"I told Emily about you."
Lina blinked.
"You did?"
He nodded.
"You're someone important to me."
Adrian's expression darkened slightly.
Emily noticed.
Her lips curved faintly.
"I wanted to meet you."
She said calmly.
Lina nodded politely.
"I see."
Emily leaned slightly forward.
"You two seem close."
The question hung in the air.
Lina hesitated.
"We're just friends."
Adrian remained silent.
Daniel nodded.
"Yes, Lina is someone I care about."
Emily smiled slightly.
"I can tell."
Her eyes shifted briefly toward Adrian.
"And you must be her husband."
Adrian nodded.
"Adrian."
Emily extended her hand.
"I'm Emily."
They shook hands briefly.
Her gaze sharp.
Testing.
Adrian felt it.
He didn't like her.
Not at all.
—
They talked for a while.
The conversation remained polite.
But tension lingered.
Emily suddenly asked—
"Lina, do you remember Daniel?"
Lina shook her head softly.
"Not clearly."
Emily nodded.
"That must be hard."
Lina smiled faintly.
"A little."
Emily leaned back.
"But sometimes… forgetting the past is better."
Her words sounded meaningful.
Adrian frowned slightly.
Lina looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Emily smiled calmly.
"Nothing. Just saying."
Daniel changed the topic quickly.
"We actually came to invite you."
Lina blinked.
"Invite?"
Emily smiled.
"Our engagement party."
Lina froze slightly.
"You're inviting me?"
Daniel nodded.
"I want you there."
Lina hesitated.
She didn't know why—
But something felt uncomfortable.
Before she could answer—
Adrian spoke.
"She might be busy."
Lina looked at him.
Emily noticed.
Her lips curved slightly.
"Of course… but we would love it if she came."
Lina thought quietly.
Then nodded.
"I'll come."
Adrian's jaw tightened slightly.
But he said nothing.
Emily smiled.
"Good."
—
After some time—
They left.
The door closed.
Silence filled the room again.
Adrian turned to Lina.
"You don't have to go."
She looked surprised.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"I don't trust them."
She frowned slightly.
"They seem nice."
Adrian shook his head.
"Something feels off."
Lina looked thoughtful.
But she still said—
"I already agreed."
His expression darkened.
"You don't have to go alone."
She blinked.
"You'll come with me?"
He nodded.
"If you go, I go."
Her heart skipped slightly.
"Okay."
—
Upstairs…
Sophia stood near the window again.
She had seen everything.
Her expression darkened slowly.
"Engagement party…"
She whispered softly.
Her lips curved slowly.
"That could be interesting."
Because she had an idea.
A dangerous one.
—
That evening…
Lina prepared dinner quietly.
Her mind filled with thoughts.
Emily's words.
Daniel's invitation.
Everything felt strange.
Adrian watched her.
"You're thinking again."
She nodded softly.
"Emily seems… strange."
He nodded.
"I told you."
She looked at him.
"You'll really come with me?"
"Yes."
Her chest warmed slightly.
"Thank you."
Their eyes met briefly.
The atmosphere softened.
But suddenly—
Lina felt dizzy.
She grabbed the table slightly.
Adrian moved quickly.
"Lina."
She winced.
"My head…"
Her vision blurred slightly.
Adrian held her shoulders.
"Sit down."
She nodded slowly.
She sat down.
Her head hurt.
Then suddenly—
A faint memory flashed.
Daniel.
Someone shouting.
Rain.
An argument.
Her breathing quickened.
"Lina?"
Adrian's voice sounded distant.
She pressed her temple.
"I… saw something…"
"What?"
She looked confused.
"I… don't know…"
Her head still hurt.
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Your memory…"
She nodded slowly.
"It might be coming back."
His chest tightened slightly.
Because he wasn't sure—
If he wanted that.
Not when her memories involved another man.
—
That night…
Lina lay in bed.
Her mind restless.
Daniel.
Emily.
The engagement party.
And the memory.
Everything tangled together.
Meanwhile—
Adrian stood outside her door again.
He hesitated.
Then knocked softly.
"Lina."
She opened the door.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
She nodded.
"Better."
He looked at her quietly.
"Don't worry."
She smiled faintly.
"I'm not."
But he could tell—
She was.
He stepped closer.
"I'll be there."
Her heart warmed.
"Okay."
He turned to leave.
But suddenly—
She called softly.
"Adrian."
He turned.
"Yes?"
She hesitated.
Then said quietly—
"About the kiss…"
His heart skipped.
She looked shy.
"I didn't hate it."
His eyes softened.
He stepped closer again.
"Me neither."
Silence filled the air.
Their hearts raced.
But this time—
Neither moved closer.
Because both of them knew—
Something bigger was coming.
And neither of them was ready for what awaited them…
At the engagement party.