Chapter 5: The Man Everyone Trusted
Nobody spoke after Lucas's words.
Not even Elena.
Because there was something between Robert and Lucas that none of us understood.
A history.
A secret.
Something hidden behind polite smiles and wedding preparations.
Elena looked between them.
"What is going on?""
Lucas immediately softened his expression.
"Nothing.""
Robert laughed quietly.
"That's what you always say.""
Lucas's jaw tightened.
"Don't.""
"Don't what?""
Robert stepped forward.
"Tell the truth?""
I watched Elena carefully.
She was confused.
Lost.
And I hated seeing her that way.
Because regardless of what she had done to me, she was still the little girl who once asked me to check under her bed for monsters.
Only now the monsters were real.
"Someone explain," she said.
Lucas reached for her hand.
"Elena, this is unnecessary drama.""
She pulled away.
The movement shocked him.
Because he wasn't used to her questioning him.
"Answer me.""
His face hardened.
Only for a moment.
Then he smiled again.
"I love you.""
Nobody asked that.
It was a strange answer.
A distraction.
Robert noticed too.
"She didn't ask if you love her.""
Lucas looked at him.
"Stay out of this.""
"No.""
Robert's voice became serious.
"Not this time.""
I looked at Robert.
The man who had abandoned his daughter was suddenly fighting for her.
It was difficult to know what to believe.
Maybe because everyone in that room had failed Elena in some way.
Some by leaving.
Some by lying.
Some by waiting too long to speak.
Robert reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a folder.
Another one.
Everyone stared.
"What's that?"" Elena asked.
Robert handed it to her.
"Something you should have seen before you signed anything.""
She opened it.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
"What is this?""
Lucas stepped forward.
"Give me that.""
Elena looked up.
"No.""
Her voice surprised everyone.
She turned the page.
Then another.
Slowly, her expression changed.
"Lucas.""
He didn't answer.
"What is this?""
I stepped closer.
"What did you find?""
Her hands trembled.
"He took out a loan.""
"Who did?""
She looked at Lucas.
"For the wedding.""
Lucas shook his head.
"It's complicated.""
"No.""
Her voice became stronger.
"It's not.""
She held up the paper.
"You borrowed money using my assets.""
Lucas sighed.
"Because we were getting married.""
"You used my savings as collateral.""
"I was protecting our future.""
The excuse was so smooth.
So practiced.
I almost admired the confidence.
Almost.
"Then why hide it?"" Elena asked.
Lucas looked at her.
"Because you panic.""
The room went silent.
There it was.
The real Lucas.
Not the charming fiancé.
Not the patient man everyone praised.
The man underneath.
"You always overreact," he continued.
"I handled it.""
Elena stared at him.
"I trusted you.""
"And I made decisions for us.""
"No.""
Her voice broke.
"You made decisions for yourself.""
Lucas's expression darkened.
"This wedding happens tomorrow.""
Nobody moved.
"What?"" Miriam asked.
Lucas looked at all of us.
"The venue is paid.""
"The vendors are paid.""
"Everything is ready.""
Then he looked at Elena.
"Do you really want to destroy your own wedding because of paperwork?""
I felt something cold.
Because that wasn't love.
That was pressure.
He wasn't asking her to forgive him.
He was reminding her how much she had to lose.
The perfect dress.
The perfect venue.
The guests already arriving.
The dream she had spent months building.
He was counting on her being afraid to walk away.
I looked at Elena.
And I saw the same thing I saw twenty years ago.
A little girl afraid someone would leave.
Only this time, someone was using that fear against her.
Robert spoke quietly.
"Lucas, tell her the rest.""
Lucas looked at him.
"Shut up.""
The entire room froze.
Because the anger was real.
No performance.
No smile.
Just rage.
"What rest?"" Elena asked.
Lucas didn't answer.
She looked at Robert.
"What else?""
Robert took a breath.
"The money wasn't just borrowed.""
He looked at Lucas.
"It was moved.""
Elena's face went pale.
"Moved where?""
Nobody answered.
Then Robert said:
"To pay off someone else's debt.""
Lucas's expression changed.
And that was the moment Elena realized.
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The man she was supposed to marry wasn't protecting their future.
He was hiding his past.
