Chapter 9: The Person Damien Was Afraid Of
The rain outside had stopped.
But the chapel still felt like a storm.
Nobody moved.
The words stayed in the air.
*The person who took the drive wants to meet you.*
I looked at Cole.
“Who called?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
“Who called?””
Cole lowered his eyes.
“A blocked number.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Elena—”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You don’t get to do that again.””
“Do what?””
“Stand there with half an answer and expect me to trust you.””
Cole looked like he wanted to argue.
But he didn’t.
Because he knew I was right.
Vivian walked closer.
“You shouldn’t go.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because whoever took that drive wants you angry.””
“Maybe I am angry.””
Her expression softened.
“I know.””
I looked at Damien’s coffin.
“I’m supposed to be grieving.””
My voice cracked.
“I’m supposed to be choosing flowers and thanking people for coming.””
I touched the edge of the coffin.
“Instead, I’m trying to figure out who my husband really was.””
Mara stepped beside me.
“You shouldn’t go alone.””
I looked at her.
The woman who had walked into my life and shattered everything.
But somehow…
she was the only person who understood what I was feeling.
“I don’t know if I trust you.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
“But I believe you’re hurt too.””
Her eyes filled slightly.
“I am.””
Marcus looked toward the door.
“I’ll come.””
Cole immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Marcus stared.
“Why?””
“Because if they see all of us, they won’t show.””
The room became quiet.
I looked at Cole.
“You’re coming.””
He hesitated.
“Yes.””
I picked up my coat.
No one stopped me.
Maybe because they knew I wasn’t asking permission.
Maybe because they knew the old Elena—the woman who believed every word Damien told her—was gone.
We walked into the hallway.
The funeral chapel behind us looked exactly the same.
Beautiful.
Quiet.
Almost peaceful.
But I knew better now.
Nothing was peaceful anymore.
Outside, a black car waited near the entrance.
My heart started racing.
“Where is this meeting?””
Cole looked at the message again.
“Five minutes away.””
“Who sent the location?””
He looked at the phone.
Then froze.
“What?””
He turned the screen toward me.
The address was there.
But underneath it was a name.
Not a phone number.
Not unknown.
A name.
I felt the blood leave my face.
Because I knew that name.
Everyone knew that name.
Damien.
My husband.
My dead husband.
The message had been sent from his phone.
Mara whispered:
“That’s impossible.””
Cole looked terrified.
“It shouldn’t be possible.””
I stared at the screen.
A new message appeared.
One sentence.
*Come alone, Elena. The others are the reason I disappeared.*
I looked at Cole.
Then Mara.
Then Marcus.
Three people who had all claimed to protect me.
Three people connected to Damien’s secrets.
And now Damien himself was telling me not to trust them.
The car engine started.
The driver looked back.
“Are you ready?””
I looked at the chapel behind me one last time.
At the coffin.
At the flowers.
At the life I thought I understood.
Then I stepped forward.
Because if Damien was alive…
I needed to know why he let me bury him.
And if he was dead…
I needed to know who was using his name.
The car doors closed.
But before we drove away, my phone buzzed.
A final message.
A photo.
My breath stopped.
Because the picture showed Damien.
Not six months ago.
Not three weeks ago.
Today.
May you like
Standing outside the funeral chapel.
Watching me leave.
