Adrian's POV
"What do you mean by that?"
My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn't care. I stayed seated, staring at my father across the table.
He didn't even look surprised.
"It's time to move on," he said calmly, cutting into his food like we were discussing something normal. "It's been three years, Adrian. You should be over it by now."
A humorless laugh left my lips. "Over it?"
"You're getting married to Ava," he continued, ignoring my tone. "And that's final."
I stared at him, disbelief turning into anger. "You made that decision without even asking me?"
He finally looked up at me. "If I had asked you, would you have agreed?"
I said nothing.
"Exactly," he said. "This is not just about you. This is about the company."
Of course it was.
He wiped his mouth calmly and continued, "The Smiths are about to launch a global tech expansion. New AI systems, international partnerships, and government backing. Do you understand what that means?"
I did.
"And if we align with them now," he went on, "it strengthens our position. A merger through marriage secures everything. It's simple. You get married, and the company benefits. Two problems solved at once."
I clenched my jaw.
"Mom," I said, turning to her. "Say something. Dad is not making any sense."
She sighed softly, as she had already made up her mind.
"I support your father on this," she said gently. "Adrian, Sophie is still young. She needs a mother. You can't keep holding on to the past forever."
Something in my chest tightened.
"You're only thirty-two," she added. "You still have your whole life ahead of you. You need to move on please, for your sake."
Move on.
Like it was that easy.
I pushed my chair back abruptly, the sound scraping against the floor.
"I'm not doing this," I said, my voice low but firm.
No one stopped me as I walked out.
Behind me, I heard Sophie's small voice.
"Is Daddy okay?"
I didn't turn back.
I walked straight into my room and shut the door behind me. Without thinking, I moved toward the inner room.
I sank to the floor, my back resting against the bed frame, my eyes already fixed on the frame in front of me.
Alice.
Her smile stared back at me as if nothing had changed. Like she was still here.
A tight breath left my chest.
"Why…" my voice came out rough, barely steady. "Why are they all telling me to forget you?"
Silence answered me.
My throat burned.
"I can't," I muttered, shaking my head slowly. "I can't do that. I've tried… God knows I've tried."
"It still hurts," I whispered. "It still feels like yesterday."
My fingers curled slightly as I stared at her picture.
"How do they expect me to just replace you?" My voice broke. "Like you didn't matter… like we didn't matter…"
A tear slipped down before I could stop it.
"You left me," I said quietly, the words heavier than I wanted them to be. "You left Sophie… you left us alone."
My chest tightened painfully.
"I don't even know how to do this without you," I admitted, my voice almost gone now. "I don't know how to be everything she needs."
More tears followed, silent and steady.
"I'm trying," I whispered. "I swear I am. Every day, I try."
My head dropped slightly.
"I'm sorry…" I breathed. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
****
Elena's POV
Drake wouldn't stop smiling.
I knew that look.
"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes as I placed the plates on the table.
He leaned against the chair, grinning like he knew something I didn't.
"Nothing," he said slowly.
I ignored him and continued setting the table. Then he suddenly reached out, pretending to pick something from my hair. Now I get it.
I slapped his hand away immediately. "Don't even try it."
He laughed.
"I'm telling you, it's nothing."
"If I wasn't peeping," he cut in, still grinning, "you two would have kissed. The setting was right."
I froze for half a second before hitting him again. "Stop saying nonsense!"
We both sat down, but he wasn't done.
"Your boss is young and good-looking," he continued, scooping food into his mouth. "And that car? That's a Rolls-Royce Phantom. Do you know how much that costs?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not arguing that. He has a face you can stare at all day."
Drake paused mid-bite.
"But," I added, "he's cold, rude, proud, annoying, arrogant, and completely unreasonable."
Drake blinked. "What?"
"I'm serious."
"How can someone that fine be like that?"
I scoffed. "You didn't see what I went through today."
And I told him.
Everything.
How Adrian kept sending me back. How I did the same work over and over again. How he didn't even bother checking it properly.
By the time I finished, Drake was already shaking his head.
"What?!" he said. "You should have told me when he was here. I would have disfigured his face."
I burst out laughing and shoved food into his mouth. "Please eat and rest. You're not fighting anybody."
The next morning, I got to the office early and settled at my desk.
A few minutes later, he walked in.
I stood up immediately. "Good morning, sir."
He didn't reply. He just walked past me and went straight into his office.
I rolled my eyes the moment the door closed. "Of course," I muttered under my breath.
After a minute, I picked up my notepad and knocked.
"Come in."
I stepped in and found him leaning back in his chair, his eyes closed.
"Go on," he said.
I began briefing him on the schedule for the day, going through each item carefully. As I spoke, I kept stealing glances at him. Something felt off. His face looked tired, and there was a slight tension in the way he held himself.
When I finished, I hesitated for a second before speaking again. "Sir… are you okay?"
His eyes opened slowly, and he looked straight at me. He didn't say a word. That silence hit harder than any response.
I quickly straightened. "I'm sorry. That's all on today's list."
He looked away, already reaching for the file on his desk. "You can leave."
Later, I prepared his coffee and dropped it on his table before leaving.
At exactly noon, the desk phone rang.
I picked it up immediately. "Yes, sir?"
"Come in," he said.
I dropped the receiver back in place, grabbed my notepad, and walked into his office.
"You called for me?"
He didn't look up from the file in front of him. "Go to the legal department and get the Harding files. Bring them to me."
"Yes, sir."
I turned and headed out.
After getting what he asked for from the legal team, I entered the elevator and pressed V for the CEO floor.
As I stepped out and walked toward his office, a voice burst out from inside.
"You killed her!"