In His World

Elena POV The car pulled up to a mansion that looked like something out of a period drama and I sat in the passenger seat trying to calm my racing heart while Adrian checked his watch for the third time. "Remember what we discussed," he said. "We met at a charity event six months ago, fell in love, got married quickly because we couldn't wait." "Right." I looked down at the dress he'd sent to the hotel, black and expensive and not something I would ever pick for myself. "And if they ask questions I can't answer?" "Smile and look at me like you're in love, I'll handle the rest." Adrian opened his door. "Ready?" "No." But I got out anyway because I didn't have a choice. The mansion was even bigger up close with columns and perfectly manicured gardens and windows that probably cost more than my entire neighborhood, and I followed Adrian up the steps feeling like I was walking toward my execution. A butler opened the door before we could knock and led us through hallways lined with paintings and sculptures into a dining room where three people were already seated at a table that could have fit twenty. "Adrian." The man at the head of the table stood up and I knew immediately this was Richard Blackwell because he had the same sharp features and cold eyes as his son. "You're late." "Traffic." Adrian's hand found the small of my back. "Father, this is my wife Elena." Richard's eyes moved to me and I saw surprise in his eyes which he immediately masked and I felt like I was being examined under a microscope. "Mrs. Blackwell, what a surprise to finally meet you." "Nice to meet you too." My voice came out smaller than I wanted. "This is my brother James," Adrian continued gesturing to a man who looked like a younger version of their father. "And his fiancée Maya." James stood and shook my hand with a smile that didn't reach his eyes and also the surprise i saw in Richard eyes. "Welcome to the family, Elena." Maya just nodded at me from her seat and she was beautiful in a way that made me feel inadequate, all perfect hair and flawless makeup and designer clothes. We sat down and servants appeared with food I was too nervous to eat, and Richard started asking questions immediately like this was an interrogation instead of a dinner. "So Elena, where did you and Adrian meet?" he asked. "A charity event six months ago." I repeated the story we'd practiced. "At the—" "The art museum benefit," Adrian finished. "Elena was there with friends and we started talking." "How romantic." Richard's tone suggested he didn't believe a word. "And you decided to marry after only six months?" "When you know you know." Adrian reached over and took my hand and I tried not to flinch at his touch. "Why wait?" "Indeed." Richard cut his steak. "And what do you do, Elena? For work?" "I—" I hesitated because we hadn't discussed this. "I was studying literature at university before my parents died." "Died?" Richard looked up. "Recently?" "Two weeks ago." My throat tightened. "Car accident." "My condolences." But his voice was flat. "And now you're married to my son, how convenient." "Father," Adrian said sharply. "I'm simply making an observation." Richard went back to his food. "Young woman loses her parents, suddenly marries into money, these things happen." I wanted to leave, wanted to walk out of this room and this mansion and never come back, but Adrian's grip on my hand tightened in warning. "Elena and I are in love," Adrian said. "That's all that matters." "Love." Richard smiled but it wasn't kind. "James here is also in love, aren't you James?" "Madly." James put his arm around Maya. "Can't wait to make it official." "Two sons, both suddenly getting married within days of each other." Richard looked between them. "Almost like there's some competition involved." The room went silent and I could feel tension rolling off Adrian in waves. "There's no competition," Adrian said. "I married Elena because I wanted to spend my life with her." "How touching." Richard stood up. "Come with me, Elena, I want to show you something." "Father—" Adrian started. "Your wife can walk with me for five minutes." Richard was already moving toward the door. "Unless you don't trust her alone with me?" Adrian's jaw tightened but he nodded at me and I stood up and followed Richard out of the dining room and down another hallway lined with family portraits. "Do you know why I called this dinner?" Richard asked without looking at me. "Adrian said you wanted to meet me." I was struggling to keep up with his pace. "I wanted to see if you were real or if this was another one of my son's schemes." Richard stopped in front of a massive portrait. "And now I'm not sure which would be worse." I looked at the portrait and my heart stopped. The woman in the painting looked exactly like me, same dark hair and dark eyes and facial structure, like I was looking at a photograph of myself in someone else's clothes. "That's Sophia," Richard said watching my face. "Adrian's first wife." "First wife?" The words barely came out. "He was married before?" "For two years, ended tragically." Richard's voice was casual like he was discussing the weather. "Tragic accident about a year ago." I stared at the portrait and the woman who looked like she could be my twin. "What kind of accident?" "The kind where a young woman dies and leaves a lot of questions unanswered." Richard started walking again. "But Adrian never talks about it." We walked back to the dining room and I couldn't stop thinking about Sophia's face, about how much we looked alike, about how Adrian had never mentioned being married before. Dinner continued and I barely tasted anything, just moved food around my plate while Richard asked more questions and James made comments that seemed innocent but felt like attacks. Maya was quiet through most of it until we were leaving and she stopped me in the hallway. "Elena, can I show you where the bathroom is? This house is confusing." "Sure." I looked at Adrian who was talking to his father. Maya led me down a hallway and into a bathroom that was bigger than my childhood bedroom, and as soon as the door closed she turned to me. "I need to tell you something," she said. "What?" "Sophia didn't die in an accident." Maya's voice was low. "She jumped off their balcony, I was there that night visiting James and I heard her scream." My legs felt weak. "She killed herself?" "That's what they said but I don't know, something about it felt wrong." Maya looked at the door like she was worried someone would walk in. "And you look just like her, exactly like her, down to your hair and eyes." "I saw the portrait." My voice was shaking. "Whatever Adrian told you about why he married you, he's lying." Maya grabbed my arm. "Run while you can, before you end up like Sophia."