Chapter 7: The Truth Buried Beneath the Warren Name
Adrian Cole did not sleep that night.
He stayed in the guest room of his apartment, sitting in the darkness with his phone on the table and the warning message still glowing on the screen.
*You should have walked away when you had the chance.*
The words repeated in his mind.
Not because they scared him.
Because they confirmed everything.
Someone was watching.
Someone knew what he was doing.
And someone inside the Warren family was desperate enough to threaten him.
Three weeks ago, Adrian had been preparing for a wedding.
Now he was collecting evidence against the woman he was supposed to marry.
Life could change in a single moment.
A single discovery.
A single sentence spoken by the wrong person at the wrong time.
He looked at the wedding ring box sitting on the shelf.
He had bought it six months earlier.
He remembered the day clearly.
He had spent hours choosing the perfect ring because he wanted it to represent everything he believed about Natalie.
Trust.
Commitment.
A future.
Now it represented something else.
A question.
How could he have been so certain about someone he never truly knew?
His phone rang.
Marcus.
Adrian answered immediately.
“Tell me you found something.””
There was a pause.
“I found more than I expected.””
Adrian sat up.
“What happened?””
“I followed up on Clara’s information.””
“And?””
“There were transactions connected to several shell companies.””
“Richard Warren?””
“Yes.””
Adrian tightened his grip on the phone.
“What about Natalie?””
“That’s where things get complicated.””
“Explain.””
Marcus took a breath.
“I found evidence that Natalie was involved in Warren Holdings earlier than anyone knew.””
“How early?””
“Before she officially joined the company.””
Adrian frowned.
“Why would that matter?””
“Because according to company records, Natalie had no role in financial decisions.””
“But?””
“But someone used her private accounts to move money.””
The room became silent.
Adrian stared ahead.
“Are you saying Natalie was framed?””
“I’m saying we need more information.””
That possibility had crossed his mind.
For all his anger, Adrian still wanted to believe there was another explanation.
A hidden truth.
A missing piece.
Something that would prove Natalie wasn’t the person everyone was describing.
“Find out who had access to her accounts.””
“I’m already working on it.””
“And Marcus?””
“Yes?””
“Be careful.””
The investigator was silent.
Then he said:
“You too.””
After ending the call, Adrian drove to the Warren estate.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he needed to.
He needed to see Natalie.
Not the version everyone else saw.
Not the version from his memories.
The real Natalie.
When he arrived, he found her sitting in the living room.
She looked exhausted.
For the first time in years, she didn’t look perfect.
Her hair was slightly messy.
Her makeup was minimal.
Her expression was unreadable.
When she saw him, she immediately stood.
“Adrian.””
He noticed something.
Relief.
She was relieved he came.
“Can we talk?””
She nodded.
“I was hoping we could.””
That surprised him.
They sat across from each other.
Two people who once knew everything about each other.
Now surrounded by silence.
Natalie looked at him.
“I know something is wrong.””
Adrian said nothing.
“I don’t know what it is.””
That was interesting.
Because Adrian wasn’t sure whether she was telling the truth.
“You don’t?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
A pause.
“But I feel like you’re pulling away from me.””
He studied her face.
Was this guilt?
Fear?
Or genuine sadness?
“I’ve been thinking.””
“About what?””
“About whether we really know each other.””
Natalie looked hurt.
“Adrian…”
“Do we?””
The question hung between them.
Her expression changed.
“What does that mean?””
“It means people are not always who they appear to be.””
Natalie became still.
Then slowly smiled.
“Is this about Elena?””
Adrian felt a small shock.
She knew.
Not everything.
But enough.
“Why would you ask that?””
“Because lately, every time something is wrong, Elena’s name comes up.””
She leaned forward.
“Did she tell you something?””
Adrian watched her carefully.
There it was.
The interest.
The concern.
The fear.
“You’re very interested in what Elena says.””
Natalie’s face hardened slightly.
“She’s an employee.””
“She’s a person.””
“I never said she wasn’t.””
“No.””
Adrian looked at her.
“But you treat her like she isn’t.””
The silence was immediate.
Natalie’s eyes changed.
A flash of anger.
Gone almost instantly.
“You saw that.””
It wasn’t a question.
Adrian remained silent.
“You saw me.””
“Yes.””
Another silence.
Then Natalie looked away.
“I knew it.””
Those words surprised him.
“You knew what?””
“That eventually someone would misunderstand.””
“Misunderstand?””
“Yes.””
She looked back at him.
“You think you saw the whole story.””
“Didn’t I?””
“No.””
Her voice became emotional.
“You saw one moment.””
Adrian leaned forward.
“Then explain the moment.””
Natalie opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That silence hurt.
Because Adrian wanted an explanation.
He wanted a reason.
Anything.
Finally, she whispered:
“Things are more complicated than you think.””
“That’s what everyone says when they don’t want to answer.””
Her expression changed.
“You think I’m like my family.””
Adrian didn’t respond.
Because maybe he did.
Natalie stood.
“My entire life, people have judged me because of my last name.””
“And have you ever tried to prove them wrong?””
Her eyes filled slightly.
The question hit her.
“I loved you.””
The words were quiet.
Past tense?
Or present?
Adrian didn’t know.
“I still do.””
He looked away.
And that was the first moment Natalie seemed truly afraid.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Afraid.
“Adrian.””
He looked at her.
“Please.””
That single word almost broke his determination.
Because he remembered every good moment.
Every laugh.
Every conversation.
Every dream.
But then he remembered Elena holding a mop.
He remembered his mother’s hands.
He remembered the warning messages.
Love could not erase reality.
“I need time.””
Natalie stared at him.
“How much?””
“I don’t know.””
Her expression became colder.
The emotional mask returned.
“I see.””
Adrian noticed.
The switch.
The exact moment she stopped showing vulnerability.
And he understood something.
Natalie had learned how to control every situation.
Even her emotions.
“I should go.””
As Adrian turned away, Natalie spoke.
“Did Clara contact you?””
He stopped.
The question froze him.
Slowly, he turned back.
“How do you know Clara’s name?””
For the first time, Natalie looked genuinely caught off guard.
Only for a second.
Then she recovered.
“She’s part of the past.””
“That wasn’t my question.””
Natalie’s face became serious.
“Who told you about her?””
Adrian didn’t answer.
And that was enough.
Because her reaction told him everything.
She knew.
She knew exactly why Clara mattered.
Adrian left without another word.
But he didn’t go home.
He went to see Elena.
He found her outside near the staff entrance.
She looked surprised.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
“Why?””
“Because Natalie knows.””
Adrian looked at her.
“What did she say?””
Elena hesitated.
“She asked me if I talked to you.””
“And?””
“I denied it.””
“Why?””
“Because I was afraid.””
The honesty hurt.
Not because he blamed her.
Because he understood.
Fear had controlled everyone around Natalie.
“What did Natalie do?””
Elena looked away.
“She didn’t have to do anything.””
“What does that mean?””
“She reminded me of my place.””
Adrian felt anger rise.
“Your place?””
Elena nodded.
“She said people like me should understand when kindness is given.””
Adrian stared at her.
“That’s what she said?””
“Yes.””
The cruelty of those words reminded him of the wine glass.
The same belief.
The same superiority.
“Why did you stay?””
Elena smiled sadly.
“Because I needed the job.””
“That’s not enough.””
“For some people, it is.””
The answer silenced him.
Because he knew she was right.
Not everyone had the freedom to walk away from powerful people.
Not everyone had choices.
A car suddenly pulled into the driveway.
Both of them looked.
It was Marcus.
Adrian immediately knew something was wrong.
Marcus stepped out.
His face was serious.
“We need to talk.””
“What happened?””
Marcus looked at Elena.
Then at Adrian.
“I found the person who moved the money.””
Adrian waited.
“Who?””
Marcus handed him a folder.
Adrian opened it.
The first page contained a name.
His eyes widened.
Because it wasn’t Richard Warren.
It wasn’t Natalie.
It was someone else.
Someone nobody had suspected.
Someone inside the Warren family.
Someone who had been quietly controlling everything from the beginning.
Adrian looked up.
“Are you sure?””
Marcus nodded.
“Completely.””
“Why?””
“Because they made one mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Marcus looked toward the mansion.
“They underestimated how long someone would keep digging.””
Adrian looked down at the file again.
The truth was finally coming together.
But the final piece was more dangerous than anything he imagined.
Because the person behind the Warren family’s secrets…
May you like
was not Natalie.
It was the person who taught her how to hide them.
