y noise, metal doors slamming, guards shouting, women arguing over the smallest things. Now all she could hear was the soft ticking of a clock somewhere in the r

ored sweater and checked the size, it fit her perfectly. Elena immediately put it back, her pulse had started racing. How long had he known about her? Days? Weeks? Months? She turned away from the wardrobe and crossed her arms tightly. No, there had to be an explanation. Maybe the staff had guessed just maybe-Her eyes land

at the door, Ele

"Com

The smell hit Elena immediately, food, real food, warm food. Her

t be hungry," embarrassmen

cken, rice vegetables, fresh bread, a glass of juice, Elena c

nk you," she

, then she starte

t." The wo

w much she should ask or how much M

ng have you w

ed surprised by

lmost fift

s, that was

las?" Elena as

"What ab

fly, "I mean... what k

Hayes's face, not fear, not admira

difficult perso

asn't

ly, "Everyone see

nsidered that

le fear powe

"Do

smiled faintly,

Before Elena could ask anoth

uld eat while

everal seconds, something told her Mrs. Hayes knew much more than she was

longer, Elena left the room. The hallway was quiet, most of the staff had disappeared, only a few lights remained on. She walked slowly, taking in her surroundings, the mansion seemed even larger at night. Every hallway stretched endlessly, every room looked expensive. At one point she became c

arrives tomorrow," a

t my concern,"

cold, the same tone

problem is

oze, Car

g nervous," The

e followed, then A

mistakes when t

hey talking about Ryan? What exactly was A

ould remove

laughed s

t a chill dow

other pause, lo

y answered, his v

Dying i

the hallway suddenly f

en what do

out hesitation, "I want

ffered while he built a new life, a life he clearly wasn't ashamed of. The door suddenly opened, Elena's eyes widened. Too late, a tall man stepped out. Not Atlas, someone else. He looked a

Who ar

hing came out. The stranger

," the stran

er looked between them, confused, interested, dangerously curious. Atlas's expression didn't change, but

you doing her

arms, trying not

alking." The s

utside my

his attention remai

ldn't sleep

died her for several seconds. Then

"Com

linked,

"Come

oked even more

h, this

, the man immediately

ne. I'm

es lined one wall, a fireplace burned quietly in the corner, large windows overlooked the city below, and on the desk sat several photographs. Elena's eyes immediately landed on one-Ryan

is this?" s

the office door, At

"My pr

r. Nothing made sense, Ryan was an assistant finance director, Atlas came from unimagin

worked for

yes widen

as's voice hardened slig

ograph, every answer seemed to create three ne

aren't you t

iting, interested. Atlas met Elena's gaze...for the first time since she'd met him, some

ou want t

na nodde

le she'd seen hundreds of times during her trial. Her stomach tightened, Atlas placed it on the desk. Without a word, Elena

"What

lmost emotionle

her face, because staring back at her was a document she had never seen before. A document dated two years ago, a document containing one sentence that changed everything-Primary Suspect: Ryan Carter. Elena's breath ca

sharply, "Wh

her more, because for the first time since meeting him...he