Chapter 49: The Truth Begins to Crack
"I met Emily."
Adrian's voice on the phone immediately turned sharp.
"Where are you?"
"At the café near the park."
"I'm coming."
The call ended instantly.
Lina stared at her phone.
Her heart still pounded from the unexpected encounter.
Emily's words echoed in her mind.
"Marcus is the one you should be worried about."
Was she telling the truth?
Or was this another manipulation?
Ten minutes later—
Adrian arrived.
He walked into the café quickly, his eyes scanning the room.
When he saw Lina, his tense expression softened slightly.
He walked over and sat across from her.
"Are you okay?"
Lina nodded.
"Yes."
"Did she do anything?"
"No."
Adrian frowned.
"What did she say?"
Lina took a deep breath.
"She said… she didn't cause the accident."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"And you believed her?"
Lina shook her head.
"I don't know."
She hesitated.
"She also mentioned Marcus."
Adrian leaned forward.
"What about him?"
"She said… Marcus wanted your company."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"That's true."
Lina looked surprised.
"You knew?"
Adrian nodded slowly.
"He approached me months before the accident."
Lina felt uneasy.
"What did he want?"
"Partnership."
"And?"
"I refused."
Lina's heart skipped.
"Then…"
Adrian nodded.
"He threatened me."
Lina's fingers tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Adrian looked down briefly.
"I didn't want to worry you."
Silence fell between them.
"So… Emily might be telling the truth?"
Adrian stayed quiet.
"I don't trust her."
Lina nodded.
"Me neither."
"But…"
She hesitated.
"We should still investigate Marcus."
Adrian agreed.
"Already working on it."
Lina nodded slowly.
Then she asked quietly—
"Adrian…"
He looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Did you really meet Emily after the accident?"
Adrian paused.
"I don't remember."
Her chest tightened slightly.
"Oh…"
Adrian noticed her expression.
"Does that bother you?"
She hesitated.
"A little…"
He looked at her carefully.
"Why?"
She avoided his gaze.
"I don't know…"
But she knew.
Because hearing that he met Emily…
It hurt.
Adrian gently reached for her hand.
"Lina…"
She looked up.
"I don't care about Emily anymore."
Her heart skipped.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
She nodded.
"Okay."
—
Later that evening…
Back at the mansion…
Lucas arrived with new information.
"Boss, we found something."
Adrian looked up.
"What is it?"
Lucas handed him a file.
"Marcus recently made large financial moves."
Adrian opened the file.
His eyes darkened.
"Interesting."
Lina looked curious.
"What is it?"
Adrian explained—
"He's buying shares."
"Of what?"
"My company."
Lina froze.
"What?"
Adrian nodded.
"He's trying to gain control."
Lina felt uneasy.
"So… he's still targeting you."
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
Lucas added—
"Also… he met Emily multiple times."
Lina's heart sank.
"So they are working together…"
Adrian's expression turned cold.
"Looks like it."
Lina sighed.
"I knew it…"
Lucas continued—
"There's more."
Adrian looked at him.
"What?"
Lucas hesitated slightly.
"Marcus requested hospital records."
Lina froze.
"Hospital… records?"
Lucas nodded.
"From the day of the accident."
Adrian's eyes darkened dangerously.
"Why?"
Lucas shook his head.
"We don't know yet."
Lina felt chills run down her spine.
"This is getting scary…"
Adrian stood slowly.
"I'll handle it."
Lucas nodded.
"Yes, boss."
Lucas left.
Lina looked worried.
"Adrian…"
He turned to her.
"Yes?"
"Be careful."
He smiled faintly.
"I will."
—
That night…
Lina couldn't sleep again.
She kept thinking.
Marcus.
Emily.
The accident.
Everything felt connected.
Suddenly—
She remembered something.
A flash.
A blurred memory.
Rain.
Bright headlights.
Someone shouting.
Then—
A voice.
"Lina, watch out!"
Her eyes widened.
She sat up quickly.
Her breathing became uneven.
That voice…
It sounded familiar.
Very familiar.
She held her head.
More fragments appeared.
Someone pushing her.
A loud crash.
Then darkness.
Her heart pounded.
"Adrian…"
She whispered.
Was it him?
Did he save her?
Her chest tightened.
She got out of bed quickly.
She walked downstairs.
Adrian was still in his study.
Working late.
She knocked lightly.
"Come in."
She entered.
He looked up.
"Lina? You're still awake?"
She nodded.
"I remembered something."
His expression turned serious immediately.
"What?"
She sat down across from him.
"There was rain…"
He listened carefully.
"And… headlights…"
He leaned forward.
"Go on."
"I heard someone shout…"
Her voice trembled.
"What did they say?"
She looked at him.
"Lina… watch out."
Adrian froze.
His eyes widened slightly.
She continued—
"And… someone pushed me."
Silence filled the room.
Adrian's heart started pounding.
"Do you remember who?"
She shook her head slowly.
"No… but…"
"But?"
Her voice softened.
"I think… it was you."
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
He stood slowly.
"Lina…"
She looked at him.
"You saved me… didn't you?"
He stayed silent.
Because—
He didn't remember.
But hearing her say that…
His heart hurt.
"I wish I knew."
She nodded.
"I wish you did too."
But something had changed.
Her memory was coming back.
And soon—
The truth would finally surface.