Xander was still in her doorway, his shirt open, eyes sharp with suspicion. "Who's that?" he asked, nodding at her phone. His voice was low, like he could sense the panic rolling off her.
Elena's heart raced. She wanted to tell him, to see if he'd help, but Julian's warning stopped her. Don't trust Xander. The envelope under her pillow, with its photo and paper tying her dad to a shady land deal, screamed that nobody in this penthouse was safe. She'd learned the hard way, watching her dad lie to her mom, to trust no one. "It's nothing," she said, shoving the phone in her pocket. "Just Sofia checking in."
His eyes narrowed, like he knew she was lying. For a moment, she thought he'd push, demand to see the screen. But he just stepped back, his face hard again. "Get some sleep," he said, turning away. "We have a breakfast meeting tomorrow. Don't be late."
The door clicked shut, and Elena let out a shaky breath. She sank onto the bed, her mind spinning. Sofia was twenty, full of dreams about art school, the only light left after their mom died and their dad fell apart. Elena had married Xander to give Sofia a future, to fix Marcus's mistakes. Now someone was using her sister to keep her quiet. But quiet about what? The land deal? Her dad's secrets? Or something bigger?
She pulled out her phone and called Sofia, her fingers trembling. The line rang once, twice, then went to voicemail. "Hey, it's me," Elena said, trying to sound calm. "Call me back, okay? I need to know you're safe." She hung up, her chest tight. Sofia was probably asleep at their dad's place, but the text had her imagining worst-case scenarios, Sofia alone, scared, hurt.
Next, she dialed Marcus. He picked up on the third ring, his voice groggy. "Elena? It's late. What's wrong?"
"Where's Sofia?" she snapped, no time for niceties. "Is she with you?"
"She's in her room, sleeping. Why?" He sounded nervous, the way he always did when he was hiding something. She'd heard that tone too many times, back when he'd promised her mom the debts would clear, when he'd sold their house without warning.
"Someone sent me a text," Elena said, her voice low. "They said if I don't stay out of it, Sofia's in trouble. What's going on, Dad? What did you drag me into?"
A long pause. Too long. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said finally, but his voice cracked. "You're tired, Elena. Weddings are stressful. Go to bed."
"Don't lie to me!" she hissed, standing now, pacing the room. "I saw you with Victoria at the wedding, whispering like you were planning something. And now I've got papers with your name on them, tied to some land deal. Tell me the truth, or I swear I'll..... "
"Enough!" Marcus cut her off, sharper than she'd ever heard him. "You don't know what you're messing with. Just… do your part. Be Xander's wife. Don't ask questions."
Her blood boiled. He sounded like he had years ago, brushing off her mom's worries while their world crumbled. "You don't get to tell me that," she said. "Not after everything you've done. If Sofia gets hurt because of you, I'll never forgive you."
She hung up before he could answer, her hands shaking. The room felt smaller, the city lights outside mocking her. She'd been in places like this as a kid, big houses, fancy parties, but back then, she'd had her mom to lean on. Now, she was alone, married to a stranger, chasing secrets that could hurt the one person she loved most.
The envelope was still under the pillow. She pulled it out, spreading the papers on the bed. The photo showed a contract, Whitmore Enterprises stamped at the top, with words about buying land. The paper listed payments, huge ones, to a company her dad had run before it tanked. Her eyes stung. Marcus had always been chasing money, but this felt different—calculated, dangerous. And Julian had said Xander was part of it. Was he? Or was he just another piece in his mom's game?
Julian's face flashed in her mind, his dark eyes, the way he'd grabbed her wrist by the fountain, his voice soft but urgent. I see you, Elena. Her heart skipped, and she hated how it felt, like a pull she couldn't fight. He was Xander's brother, forbidden in every way, but he'd given her something nobody else had: a glimpse of the truth. She wanted to call him, ask what to do next, but her phone was a risk now. Whoever sent that text was watching.
She needed to see Sofia, make sure she was safe. But it was past midnight, and showing up at her dad's would raise questions. Tomorrow, she'd go. For now, she had to play smart, act like nothing was wrong. She changed into pajamas, her movements slow, like she was moving through water. The bed was soft, but sleep felt impossible. Every creak in the penthouse made her jump, imagining someone sneaking in, someone who knew what she'd found.
A soft tap at the window made her heart stop. She froze, staring at the glass. The penthouse was thirty floors up—nobody could be out there. She crept closer, pulling back the curtain. Nothing, just the city sparkling below. But as she turned away, her phone buzzed again, a new text from the same unknown number: Nice view. Keep quiet, or it's over.
Elena's breath caught. She yanked the curtains shut, her hands trembling. Someone was watching her, right now, in this tower of glass and money. She looked around the room, half-expecting to see eyes in the shadows. Her old life, with its big houses and bright parties, had never felt like this, like a game where she didn't know the rules.
She sank to the floor, back against the bed, clutching her phone. Sofia's face filled her mind, all smiles and dreams. Elena had married Xander to protect her, to give her the chances their dad had stolen. But now, every choice felt like a step toward danger. Xander's voice echoed from their talk I'm not your enemy but could she believe him? Julian's warning pulled harder, his touch still warm in her memory. And her dad's lies, piling up like they always did, made her want to scream.
The city hummed outside, but all Elena heard was her own heartbeat, fast and scared. Someone knew she'd met Julian. Someone wanted her to stop. But she'd lost too much to her dad's mistakes to back down now. She'd find the truth, for Sofia, for herself. Even if it meant facing Xander, Julian, or whoever was out there, watching from the dark.
As she sat there, another sound broke the silence a faint click, like a door opening down the hall. Her eyes snapped to her locked door, and her heart stopped.