The sound of thunder faded into silence, leaving only the heavy breathing of three people standing in a room full of ghosts.
Lena's heart hammered as she looked from Adrian to Ethan. Both men were staring at each other with the kind of hatred that could kill.
"Tell me what he means," she demanded, her voice shaking.
Adrian didn't move. His jaw flexed once, but he said nothing.
"Adrian," she said again, stepping closer. "What did he mean about my father?"
Ethan broke the silence first. "You really don't remember, do you?"
She turned to him, confused. "Remember what?"
"The night Marcus Blackwood died," he said quietly. "You were there."
The words hit her like a blow. "That's not possible."
"You were sixteen," Ethan said. "Your father worked for Marcus back then. You used to wait outside the office while they had their late meetings."
Lena shook her head. "I don't remember that. My father—he worked at a shipping company, not Blackwood Industries."
Ethan gave a sad, knowing smile. "That's what he told you. What he didn't tell you was that the company was Blackwood's. A shell corporation. Marcus was using it to move money off the books."
She stared at him, unable to breathe. "You're lying."
He looked at Adrian. "Tell her I'm lying, Blackwood."
Adrian finally spoke, his voice low and rough. "You shouldn't have told her this."
"So it's true," Lena whispered.
He didn't answer — and that silence was louder than thunder.
---
Lena staggered back a step, her vision blurring. "You knew," she said. "You knew who I was before you hired me."
"I didn't," Adrian said quickly. "Not until I saw your picture in that file. By then, it was too late."
"Too late for what?"
"For me to walk away," he said softly.
Ethan laughed bitterly. "You think she'll believe that? You've been playing her from day one."
"Enough," Adrian snapped. "You don't get to talk about things you don't understand."
"I understand plenty," Ethan shot back. "I understand that your father used hers to hide evidence — and when the truth started to leak, Marcus Blackwood decided to clean up the mess himself."
Lena stared between them. "My father died in a car accident."
Adrian's eyes softened, but his voice was steady. "That's what you were told."
Her knees nearly buckled. "No…"
"He was in that office the night Marcus pulled the trigger," Adrian said. "There was an explosion. A fire. Your father didn't make it out."
Lena pressed a hand over her mouth. The room spun. "No. No, that's not true. I would remember that."
"You don't," Ethan said, "because someone made sure you wouldn't."
Adrian's gaze snapped toward him. "Stop talking."
Ethan ignored him. "Your memory isn't gone, Lena — it's buried. Someone wiped it clean."
She backed away from both of them. "You're both insane."
"Look at me," Adrian said, stepping closer. "Please. I didn't lie about what I feel for you. But there are things you're better off not remembering."
"Like my father dying?" she cried. "You think that's something I should forget?"
Thunder cracked outside, echoing through the penthouse. Adrian's expression broke for the first time, pain flashing across his face.
"I tried to protect you," he said softly.
"By keeping me in the dark?"
"By keeping you alive."
---
The room felt smaller now, the air thick with secrets. Ethan moved toward the door. "I told you, Lena. He's not saving you. He's saving himself."
"Get out," Adrian said, voice low.
Ethan's hand tightened on the doorknob. "You'll have to face it eventually. The truth always comes back."
He left, slamming the door behind him.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Lena turned to Adrian, tears streaking down her face. "You knew all this time."
"I was trying to find the right moment."
"There's no right moment for this!"
"I know," he said, voice breaking.
She shook her head and took a step back. "I can't stay here."
He reached for her arm, but she pulled away. "Lena—"
"Don't touch me!"
The words tore out of her like a scream. She ran for the door, ignoring his voice calling her name. The elevator doors closed between them like the end of a promise neither of them could keep.
---
Adrian stood there for a long time, staring at the empty space where she'd been. His hand dropped to his side, shaking.
On the table, the photograph they'd found earlier — the one marked THE PAST RETURNS — fluttered as the wind from the broken window stirred it.
He whispered to the empty room, "You don't understand, Lena. The night you forgot… you saved me."
And outside, the storm finally broke again.