Chapter 3 — Mara - by Damiwrites

I didn't sleep that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard the stranger's voice. Ask him about Mara. By morning, I had convinced myself it meant nothing. People had warned me about Adrian before. Maybe this was just another attempt to scare me. Maybe Mara was an ex. Maybe she had simply left him. Maybe— My phone buzzed. Adrian: Good morning. Eat something. I stared at the message. I hated how normal it looked. How easily he could make me forget everything. Me: Who is Mara? The typing indicator appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again. Then: Adrian: I'll tell you when I see you. That answer somehow made everything worse. He arrived that afternoon carrying flowers. White roses. My favorite. “You're bribing me.” He smiled. “Is it working?” “No.” “Good.” He handed them to me anyway. I stepped aside to let him in. He kissed my forehead. For a few minutes, neither of us mentioned Mara. Then I finally said, “You said you'd tell me.” “I will.” “When?” “When you're ready to hear it.” I laughed bitterly. “That's not your decision.” His eyes met mine. “No.” He paused. “But it is my responsibility.” I frowned. “What does that even mean?” “It means some truths don't make people safer.” “And lies do?” “No.” He looked away. “But sometimes lies keep people alive.” The room suddenly felt colder. I stared at him. “Did Mara die?” He didn't answer. That was answer enough. My chest tightened. “Adrian…” He walked toward me. I stepped back. “Don't.” He stopped immediately. For the first time, I saw something like pain cross his face. “I'm not going to hurt you.” “You keep saying that.” “Because it's true.” “Then tell me what happened to her.” He looked at me for a long moment. “She loved me.” I swallowed. “And?” “She loved me enough to ignore the warnings.” My heart sank. “What warnings?” “The same ones you're ignoring.” Silence. I didn't know what to say. Adrian reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small photograph. He handed it to me. A young woman stood beside him. She was smiling. He wasn't. I turned the photograph over. There was writing on the back. Mara — 2019. “Who took this?” “I did.” “You loved her?” “Yes.” “What happened?” He took the photograph from my hand. “She found out who I was.” “And she left?” His expression changed. “No.” I waited. He looked down at the photograph. “She tried to expose me.” My stomach dropped. “What did you do?” Adrian didn't answer. “Adrian.” He finally looked at me. “I gave her a choice.” “What choice?” “She could tell the truth…” He paused. “…or she could disappear.” I stared at him. “And what did she choose?” His voice became almost a whisper. “She chose the truth.” My heart pounded. “And?” He put the photograph back into his pocket. “I told you.” “What?” “Some truths don't make people safer.” I felt tears gathering in my eyes. “You're not answering me.” “I know.” “Did you hurt her?” His jaw tightened. “No.” Relief hit me for half a second. Then he added, “Not directly.” I froze. “What does that mean?” He walked past me toward the door. “Don't ask me about Mara again.” “Why?” He stopped. His hand rested on the doorknob. Then he looked back at me. “Because the more you know about me…” His voice was quiet. “…the harder it becomes for me to protect you from myself.” The door closed. I stood there alone. And for the first time, I wondered whether loving Adrian was actually the dangerous part. Not because he might hurt me. But because I was beginning to realize something much worse. He might be telling the truth when he says he loves me.

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