Adrian spent the next few days trying to piece together the puzzle of the ominous letter. He combed through his memory, revisiting faces and situations from his past that might have held lingering resentment. But nothing seemed to fit.
Mia, meanwhile, tried to push the letter out of her mind, focusing instead on her work and the boys. But the unease never quite left her, a constant whisper in the back of her thoughts.
One evening, as Adrian arrived for dinner, he brought with him a seriousness that Mia couldn't ignore.
"I think I might know who sent the letter," he said as they stood in the kitchen.
Mia's hand froze mid-stir. "Who?"
Adrian leaned against the counter, his brow furrowed. "Do you remember Elena?"
Mia's stomach twisted at the name. Of course, she remembered. Elena was the woman Adrian had briefly dated after he left. She had heard about her through mutual friends, and though she'd never met Elena, the thought of her still stung.
"What does she have to do with this?" Mia asked, her voice guarded.
Adrian sighed. "After we broke up, she tried to reach out a few times. I never responded, but she didn't take it well. I didn't think much of it back then, but now... I don't know. Maybe this is her way of stirring up trouble."
Mia stared at him, her emotions warring between anger and disbelief. "And you're just telling me this now?"
"I didn't want to upset you unless I was sure," Adrian said, his tone apologetic. "But Mia, if it is her, this isn't about you or us. It's about her inability to let go."
Mia turned back to the stove, stirring the pot with more force than necessary. "That doesn't make it any less unsettling."
"I know," Adrian said softly. "That's why I want to talk to her."
Mia froze again. "Talk to her? Are you serious?"
"I need to find out if she's behind this," Adrian explained. "And if she is, I'll make it clear that it needs to stop."
Mia's lips pressed into a thin line. "Do whatever you think is best, but don't make this worse, Adrian."
---
The next day, Adrian made a call to Elena. She sounded surprised to hear from him but agreed to meet. They chose a public café, a neutral ground that felt safer for what could be an uncomfortable conversation.
Elena arrived wearing a bright smile, her polished appearance a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Adrian's chest.
"This is unexpected," she said as she sat across from him.
Adrian got straight to the point. "Elena, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me."
Her smile faltered slightly. "Okay..."
"Did you send a letter to Mia?"
Elena blinked, clearly caught off guard. "A letter? What are you talking about?"
Adrian pulled out a copy of the letter Mia had received and slid it across the table. Elena's eyes widened as she read it.
"Adrian, I didn't send this," she said firmly, meeting his gaze. "I have no reason to."
"Are you sure?" Adrian pressed. "Because this is serious, Elena. If you're upset about the past—"
"Stop," she interrupted, her voice tinged with anger. "I moved on a long time ago. Whatever issues we had are in the past. I wouldn't do something like this."
Adrian studied her, looking for any sign of deception, but she seemed genuine.
"If it wasn't you, then who?" he murmured.
Elena leaned back, crossing her arms. "I don't know, but you might want to think about someone else you've upset. Your past isn't exactly squeaky clean."
Her words hit harder than Adrian cared to admit.
---
When Adrian returned to Mia's house that evening, she was waiting for him, her expression expectant.
"Well?" she asked.
"She denied it," Adrian said, his frustration evident. "And I believe her."
Mia frowned. "So we're back to square one."
Adrian nodded, running a hand through his hair. "But I'm not giving up. Whoever sent that letter, I'll find them. And I'll make sure they leave you alone."
Mia softened slightly at his determination. "I hope you're right, Adrian. For the boys' sake, if nothing else."
"For all of us," Adrian corrected gently.
Mia hesitated, then nodded. "For all of us."
---
Later that night, as Mia checked on the boys before heading to bed, she found a note slipped under the door. Her heart stopped as she unfolded it.
This is your last warning. Some things are better left broken.
Her breath hitched, and she clutched the paper tightly.
Adrian heard her gasp and rushed into the room. "Mia, what's wrong?"
Wordlessly, she handed him the note. His jaw tightened as he read it, and when he looked up, his eyes burned with fury.
"They're not getting away with this," Adrian said, his voice a low growl.
Mia stared at him, her fear mingling with a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could face this together.