Chapter 05
Elena woke up with a soft wince, her head banging terribly.
The pain was sharp and deep, spreading across her skull until she couldn't help but groan.
She wasn't sure how long she had been out. Minutes? Hours? Her body felt heavy and weak, as if she had run a long distance and collapsed at the end.
She opened her eyes and looked around, she was in bed.
The sheets were tucked neatly around her and for a moment, she wondered if everything had been a bad dream. The wedding. The fight with Eva and Alexander. The adoption documents and pictures.
She tried to move, but before she could sit up, a voice spoke from beside the bed.
"Do you need water?"
She turned her head, startled.
Julian sat in a large Persian leather armchair near the bed. He was already standing before she could answer, walking toward her with a glass of water in his hand.
She accepted it and drank slowly. The cool water helped a little and she coughed.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He placed the glass down and gently pressed his hand against her forehead. His palm was so warm and without meaning to, she leaned into his touch, craving the comfort.
Just as quickly, he pulled his hand away.
"Maybe I shouldn't have told you everything at once," he said quietly.
The memories rushed back and she sighed brokenly.
How had she not seen it before?
Francis and Eva had always fought constantly. They pretended to hate each other in front of her so well that she never questioned it. Francis never wanted to be in the same room as her siblings. He said they treated her so badly and he even refused to say Eva's name.
She had thought it was hatred and kept both of them apart as much as she could.
But she had been wrong.
The man who had proposed to her three days ago had been sleeping with her sister.
The truth crushed her and tears spilled from her eyes before she could stop them.
"You don't have to cry over him," Julian said calmly. "He was never faithful to you. Eva isn't the only one he cheated with."
"Stop," Elena sobbed. "Stop. I don't want to know anymore."
She looked at him through blurred vision. "What are you trying to do? Make me hate everyone around me?"
"No," he replied. "I'm your husband. I owe you the truth. Always."
She laughed bitterly. "Then start by telling me who you are. Who the hell are you, Julian?"
Her voice shook as she continued. "You met me in an elevator and handed me a marriage contract, you knew my family was drowning in debt. Now you're telling me things I didn't even know about myself. Who are you?"
"I'm a defense attorney in New York—"
"Stop," she cut in. "That's what you tell the press. I want the real you. How did you find out I was adopted?"
She swallowed hard. "How do I even know you didn't forge those documents?"
"You can ask your father," Julian said calmly. "If he can look you in the eyes and lie, then you'll have your answer."
He paused.
"As for Francis, half the city knows he's a philanderer. You stayed because you loved him."
Her lips trembled.
She couldn't deny it. There had been moments when Francis felt distant.
But he was her first love and she had told herself he stayed because he loved her, not because of her money. That he respected her independence and let her work. He never tried to cage her like other men had.
"Maybe it's my fault," she cried. "Maybe I wasn't there for him enough."
"Francis never loved you," Julian said quietly. "He wanted your money. The unwarranted withdrawals from your personal account? That was him."
She gasped.
She had suspected it but she always thought Eva had used her card. And because money was not tight before, she never questioned it.
"I want to be alone," she said suddenly.
Julian stood at once, picked up a tray beside him and placed it on the bed.
"Hot cocoa and banana bread," he said, "this should calm you."
Her heart skipped and as he turned to leave, she whispered, "Wait."
He stopped.
"How did you know?"
He turned back to her.
"Know what?"
"This," she said, pointing at the tray. "This is my favorite. I've been buying it from the café down my office for two years. Only my secretary knows this is my favourite snack and she's out of the country right now. So who told you?"
"Isn't it my job to take care of you?" he said.
"No," she replied. "This isn't normal. How do you know about the bread and hot cocoa?"
"It doesn't matter, Elena," he said softly. "Enjoy your breakfast."
Then he left and closed the door.
She sat there for a long time, staring at the tray.
How did he know so much about her?
After finishing the cocoa and bread, she took a long bath. The warm water calmed her nerves and she dressed in a simple white sleeveless dress and went downstairs.
As she reached the staircase, she heard movement outside. She rushed to the window and saw one of the luxury cars pulling out of the driveway.
Julian had left.
Elena sighed. For the first time since the wedding, she was alone.
The house was massive and she would love to look around, but she lacked the strength.
She thought about going back upstairs and curling into bed, but just as she turned, she noticed the door to Julian's study slightly open.
Her heart pounded.
"He's not home after all," she muttered and pushed it open.
The study was neat and organized. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books. Romance novels, military strategy and war history.
Was he former military?
She moved closer, scanning the room, until her foot brushed against something on the floor.
She stepped back and stared at the keypad.
Immediately the screen lit up and a machine voice spoke.
"Password Required."
Her hands shook.
Without thinking, she typed in her birthday.
Password Correct.
How did she guess that?
The bookshelf slid open and Elena stepped into a hidden room.
The walls were so white that she blinked. A long table held six large camera monitors facing different points in the house.
The Living room, kitchen, back porch and….
Her bedroom.
Her stomach dropped.
Beside her was a drawer with Files stacked neatly. On the cover were names she didn't recognize.
She was stunned, wondering what she'd just walked into.
Who exactly was Julian Thorne?
Then one folder slipped and fell at her feet and her photo stared back at her.
The title read, "PROJECT GUARDIAN."
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Right there was everything about her life.
Her name.
Her birthday.
Her medical history.
Her first surgery.
Her first kiss.
Her first boyfriend.
Every detail of her life.
"You shouldn't have seen that, Elena," a deep baritone voice said behind her.
She froze.