Chapter Four:

Lino's POV

"Open the door, Elara. We need to talk," I know Lucien is inside with her. I can feel it. There's a certain silence that happens when two people are hiding something. The air thickens. The hallway outside her apartment feels tight, almost amused.

The door opens.

Elara stands there. Lucien is right behind her.

For a second, I study them together; he's tense, protective. She's alert. Not fragile like before. Interesting, I didn't expect both of you, I say lightly, Lucien steps forward. "This isn't a good time." It never is with you, I reply. Elara crosses her arms. "What do you want, Lino?" Straight to the point. No nervous smile. No hesitation. She's changing. "I came to warn you," I say. Lucien scoffs. "Spare us." I ignore him.

"Elara, you've been asking questions. Visiting places, you shouldn't."

Her chin lifts slightly. Pride. I have the right. Of course you do. I'm just concerned about where that curiosity leads. Lucien's voice sharpens. Stop pretending, I glance at him. "You think I'm the villain because it's convenient."

"You were there the night she crashed." Elara's eyes flick to me immediately; I hold her gaze. Calm. Controlled.

"Yes," I say.

Lucien stiffens.

"You told everyone you were abroad," he snaps, I changed my plans, Elara steps forward. "Why were you there?" Good. She asks the real question. "Because you asked to see me," I say. Her brows pull together. "Why would I?" "Because you suspected me." Lucien moves as if to interrupt, but I continue. "You believed I was leaking information from the company. You wanted proof." Elara's breathing shifts. Faster. "That's not what you told me," She says to Lucien. He doesn't respond immediately.

I smile slightly. Ah. So he edited the story.

"I didn't." Lucien starts.

You left out that she met me first, I say. "Before the journalist." Elara's head turns sharply toward Lucien. "You knew that?" she asks him. His silence is answer enough. There it is. The crack. Jealousy flickers across her face. Not romantic jealousy. Strategic. She hates being left out of her own narrative. "I asked to meet you," she says slowly. "What happened?" I step inside without waiting for permission. Lucien looks ready to throw me out, but Elara doesn't stop me.

"You were direct," I say. "You accused me of building a side network inside Hale Industries."

"Were you?" she presses. Lucien watches me carefully.

"Yes," I answer. Both of them freeze.

The truth is powerful when used correctly.

"I was building leverage," I continue. "Father trusted Lucien blindly. The board worshiped him. I needed insurance." "That's betrayal," Lucien says coldly. "That's survival," I reply. Elara's eyes stay on me. "And me?"

"You were unpredictable," I admit. "Too smart. Too ambitious. You weren't just his wife. You were starting to move independently." She absorbs that quietly. "You thought I was a threat."

"Yes."

"And the accident?" she asks. There it is. The real tension.

Lucien steps closer to her instinctively, I notice. I always notice, I didn't order anyone to harm you, I say carefully. That's not what I asked. Her voice is steady, but there's steel in it now.

"Did you know something would happen?" she pushes, and I pause just long enough to matter. "I knew you were making enemies," I say. Lucien's jaw tightens. "Answer her properly." You don't control this conversation, I reply calmly. Elara raises her hand slightly. Stop. They both fall silent; she's commanding the room now. Interesting. "I met you that night," she says slowly. "After that, I called Lucien. Then I drove to meet a journalist."

"Yes." "And I crashed."

"Yes." She studies me. "Was I followed?"

I tilt my head. "You tell me." Her frustration flares. I don't remember. "That's the tragedy," I say softly. Lucien steps forward. "You're enjoying this." "No," I reply honestly. I'm evaluating. Evaluating what? Elara asks.

"Whether you're the same woman."

The words hang between us. She straightens slightly. "And?" "You're close," I say. Lucien's eyes darken. "Stay away from her." I laugh quietly. "Why? Afraid she'll realize you're not the hero?" Elara looks between us. "Stop speaking about me like I'm property," she says sharply. For a second, I feel something unexpected. Respect.

The old Elara would have handled this more ruthlessly. The current one is rebuilding differently. "You think I tried to kill you," I say to her directly. "I think someone did." "Not me." "Can you prove that?" "No."

She nods slowly. "Then I can't trust you."

That stings more than I expected. Not because I need her trust. But because once, I almost had her alliance. Lucien moves closer to her again, subtle but possessive. "You shouldn't be here," he tells me. "I came because the board is preparing a vote," I reply. Elara looks at him sharply. "What vote?" Lucien curses under his breath, "to remove me as CEO," he says.

Shock crosses her face.

"When?" "Tomorrow." "And you didn't tell me?" she asks, It's not your burden. "That's not your choice," she snaps. Pride flashes in her eyes again. She hates being sidelined. I watch the shift carefully. "You're still legally tied to several assets," I say to her. "If Lucien falls, your name gets dragged through the audit."

She turns to him. "Is that true?" He hesitates.

"Yes."

Her anger turns cold, so all of this affects me directly. "Yes." "And you thought I should just sit quietly?" I wanted you safe, there's that word again, she whispers.

I see it clearly now. She doesn't want safety, she wants control. "Come to the board tomorrow," I say. Lucien looks at me sharply. "No." Elara looks at both of us.

"Why?" she asks me.

Because if you speak, you shift the narrative, Lucien's voice lowers dangerously. "She's not ready." "She doesn't need to remember everything," I reply. "She only needs to show she's not a victim."

Elara's breathing changes. She likes that idea.

Lucien sees it too. "You'd be walking into a battlefield," he says to her. She meets his gaze. "Maybe I was born in one." There it is again, that unpredictable turn.

Not fear, defiance.

I smile faintly. "That sounds familiar." Lucien steps in front of her slightly. "You're manipulating her."

"No," I reply. "I'm giving her a choice," Elara studies both of us, "If I attend," she says slowly, "what happens?" Lucien answers first. "You'll be exposed to scrutiny. Questions. Media."

I will answer next. "Or you'll remind them that you're not erased." Silence stretches, then she surprises both of us, "I'll attend." Lucien turns sharply. "Elara." "I'm tired of being the ghost in this story," she says firmly. I feel a flicker of admiration. Lucien looks torn between anger and pride. "You don't know what they're capable of," he says quietly.

"Neither do you," she replies. The tension shifts again.

I decide to push further. There's one more thing, I say, and both of them look at me. "The journalist you were going to meet that night?" I continue. "Yes?" she asks.

"He died two weeks later." The room goes completely silent, and Lucien's expression hardens. "Why are you bringing that up now?" "Because she deserves the full picture."

Elara's face loses color. "How did he die?" "Officially? A car accident." Her eyes widen slightly. Unofficially, we all know what that means. You're saying this wasn't just about me, she whispers. "No," I say softly. "It was bigger."

Lucien steps forward again, protective and furious. "You're escalating this deliberately."

"I'm clarifying reality."

Elara looks between us, fear finally surfacing under her strength.

"If someone silenced him," she says slowly, "and someone tried to silence me." She doesn't finish; she doesn't need to. Lucien's hand gently grips her arm. "We'll handle it."

"We?" she repeats.

For a second, insecurity flashes in his eyes. He's afraid she won't include him, so she pulls her arm free. "No," she says quietly. "I'll handle it." I see it then.

The shift is complete; she's not choosing either of us.

She's choosing herself. Lucien looks shaken by that. I feel something else entirely. Anticipation. Because a self-aware Elara is more dangerous than either of us predicted.

She turns toward me. "If I come to that board meeting tomorrow," she says carefully, "and I find out either of you is still hiding something from me."

Her voice doesn't rise; it drops. "I won't just expose the company."

She looks at Lucien. Then at me.

"I'll destroy both of you."