Chapter 9 – The Man Behind the Mask
Evelyn sat in the passenger seat of Adrian's car, gripping the letter tightly in her hands. The cold night air seeped through the cracked window, but she barely noticed. Her mind was racing, stuck on the words she had read over and over. "Someone close to you is the reason we were separated. Someone you trust." Those words had haunted her ever since she found Adrian again. At first, she thought it was her mother, and in a way, it had been. But now, she knew the truth ran deeper. Because just an hour ago, Detective Carter had told them something that changed everything. Michael had been involved. The man she was supposed to marry. The man she had trusted. The man who had been lying to her for years.
Adrian's grip on the steering wheel tightened as they drove toward Michael's apartment. The tension in the car was suffocating, but neither of them spoke. Evelyn was too focused on what she was about to do. She had to hear it from Michael himself. She needed him to look her in the eye and tell her why. "You don't have to do this," Adrian said, his voice steady but tense. She shook her head. "Yes, I do." She wasn't going to run from this.
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up in front of Michael's building. Evelyn stepped out of the car, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. Adrian followed closely behind her, his silent presence a comfort, even if it didn't ease the storm inside her. She raised her hand and knocked. For a moment, there was nothing. Then, the door opened, and there he was. Michael stood in the doorway, wearing a black shirt and sweatpants, his hair slightly messy like he had just woken up. But his eyes weren't surprised. He had been expecting her. A cold feeling settled in Evelyn's stomach.
Michael leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "I figured you'd come." His voice was calm, too calm. Evelyn forced herself to breathe. "I know what you did." Michael didn't react. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said smoothly, but Evelyn saw the flicker in his eyes. The hesitation. Adrian took a step forward, his presence sharp like a blade. "Cut the act, Michael," he said, his voice cold. "We know."
Evelyn clenched her fists. "You knew," she said, her voice trembling. "You knew that Adrian didn't leave by choice. That someone took him. That someone kept us apart. And you let me believe he abandoned me." Michael exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "It wasn't that simple, Evelyn." She let out a bitter laugh. "Then explain it to me."
Michael finally met her gaze, and for the first time in seven years, Evelyn saw it. The guilt. The truth. "I did what I had to do," he said, his voice quieter now. Evelyn's stomach twisted. "What does that mean?" Michael rubbed a hand over his face. "You don't get it, Ev. If Adrian had stayed in your life, you would have been dragged into something dangerous."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "So you thought keeping us apart was the solution?" he asked, his voice low and sharp. Michael's eyes flickered toward him, his expression unreadable. "I was trying to protect her," he muttered. Evelyn felt something inside her snap. "You don't get to decide that," she whispered. Michael looked away. He didn't deny it. He didn't even try to defend himself.
"Tell me everything," Evelyn said, her voice cracking. Michael hesitated, but then he sighed, the tension in his shoulders loosening. "I got a call," he said. "A few nights before Adrian disappeared." Adrian stiffened beside her. Michael continued, his voice heavy. "They told me that Adrian was involved in something dangerous. That if I wanted to keep you safe, I had to make sure you stayed away from him."
Evelyn's heart pounded as Michael went on. "At first, I didn't believe them. But then… Adrian vanished. Just like that." He exhaled. "I didn't know what happened to him. I didn't know if he was dead or alive. But I knew one thing—whoever took him didn't want him anywhere near you." His eyes darkened. "A week later, I got another call. They told me to make sure you moved on."
Evelyn felt sick. "So you let them win," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Michael didn't deny it. He just stared at her. "I kept you safe," he said. But all Evelyn could hear was the lie. He hadn't saved her. He had stolen seven years of her life.
Her hands trembled as she took a step back. "I loved you," Michael said, his voice softer now. "I still do." Evelyn felt her breath hitch. "I gave you a future, Ev," he whispered. "One without fear. Without the danger Adrian would have brought into your life."
But before she could say anything, Adrian stepped forward. His storm-gray eyes were cold as steel. "You're a coward," he said. Michael's expression darkened. "Excuse me?" Adrian didn't back down. "You didn't keep her safe," he said quietly. "You just made sure she was yours."
Michael stiffened. "That's not—" But Adrian cut him off. "If you really believed you were doing the right thing, you would have told her the truth," he said, his voice like ice. Michael clenched his jaw. "You were never protecting her," Adrian continued. "You were just afraid that if she knew the truth… she'd come back to me."
Silence filled the room. Michael didn't say a word. Because deep down—he knew Adrian was right.
Evelyn felt like she was drowning. She had trusted Michael. She had planned a life with him. But now, she realized she had never really known him at all. She took a shaky breath, her vision blurring. Then, she made her choice.
She looked at Michael one last time. "This is over," she whispered.
Michael didn't argue. Because there was nothing left to say.
Evelyn turned around, her heart heavy but certain. She stepped outside into the cold night air, and Adrian was there, waiting for her. He didn't speak. He just reached out.
And without hesitation—Evelyn took his hand.