In uneasy solitude, the day went by. Ivy paced the cottage as Adrian's confessions tore at her psyche. It was a revelation that changed the storyline once again when he admitted to breaking into private servers to create the prototype that Victor had stolen. Adrian wasn't innocent, but he wasn't the bad guy Victor said he was.
Nevertheless, she saw a man burdened by decisions he hadn't wanted to make when she looked at him—his reserved manner, his quiet moments of vulnerability.
However, Victor's statement that Adrian isn't who you believe him to be still hung over her like a shadow.
By nightfall, Ivy was at her breaking point. The chilly woodland air pierced her flesh as she went outdoors after grabbing her coat. The trees around the cabin loomed like motionless sentinels, and the silence was deafening. She strolled to the clearing's edge, where the lake mirrored the sun's flaming colors.
As she stood there, arms clenched about herself, her mind swirled. As a journalist, her impulse was to investigate more and get the whole truth before making a choice. However, the boundaries had become so hazy that she was unable to distinguish between manipulation and the truth.
"Ivy."
Adrian was standing a few steps away, his face blank, as she turned around. He remained, almost apprehensive, as if uncertain whether to approach.
After a minute, he inquired, "Are you okay?"
Ivy let out a sigh that was audible in the crisp evening air. "Not really."
Adrian moved in closer, looking into her eyes with his dark ones. "Speak to me."
She turned back to the water and shook her head. "Adrian, I'm not sure whether I can pull this off. I'm not sure if I can continue to balance trying to determine who is speaking the truth and who is lying to me.
Adrian stepped forward, his voice calm yet quiet. "I've told you everything, Ivy. I've told you everything, including the things I'm not proud of. Although I can't speak for Victor, I can assure you that I won't tell lies to you.
Her emotions boiled over as she turned to face him. Adrian, that's exactly what it is. It wasn't until I coerced you into telling me everything that you did. I'm not sure whether what you're saying is the whole story or simply damage control since you allowed Victor to dominate the narrative for so long."
Ivy briefly believed she saw a glimpse of remorse in Adrian's eyes as he winced. "I know I should have been honest from the start," he said. "But you must realize that I have fought for the protection of what I have created my whole life. Letting someone in and having faith that they won't turn what they know against me is difficult.
The rawness of his voice made her wrath waver. She crossed her arms, fighting to contain her annoyance. "Adrian, I'm not requesting perfection. I simply need the truth. I have to be certain that I'm not putting everything on the line for someone who isn't worthy."
He drew closer, his stare focused, his mouth clenched. "You're not only taking a chance for me, Ivy. I'm putting everything on the line for you. Victor intends to ruin me, but he will not stop there. You won't just harm me if you support him and fall for his falsehoods. You'll be his next victim."
The weight of his words caused her breath to catch. Why would he single me out? I just work as a journalist.
A glimmer of tenderness appeared on Adrian's face as his expression softened. "You're more than 'just' anything. You have the ability to oppose his authority and expose him. And even more than that. His words trailed off as he paused. Ivy, you are someone I care about. More than I ought to.
She felt as if she had been punched in the chest by the revelation. Even though she had sensed the tension between them and had guessed it, seeing him speak it out confirmed it. and hazardous.
She started to say, "Adrian..." but he stopped her with a hand gesture.
"You don't have to say anything," he added hastily. "I am aware of how difficult this is. I'm aware of my errors, and I don't expect your forgiveness right away. But I want you to know that everything I've done and am doing right now is done to keep you safe. notwithstanding the possibility of losing you in the process.
As she gazed into his eyes, her resolve faltered, the barriers she had erected around herself beginning to crumble. She wanted to have faith in him, to think that he was acting for reasons other than self-preservation. However, her gut told her to keep searching for the truth, no matter how unpleasant it would be.
The delicate moment was broken by a piercing ringing before she could react. When Adrian's phone buzzed in his pocket, he took it out and scanned the screen, his face becoming serious.
"It's from my security team," he stated in a hurried voice. "They've picked up movement near the property."
Ivy felt a knot in her gut. "What kind of movement?"
Adrian tightened his jaw. "Someone's here."
Without saying another word, he took her hand and steered her back toward the cabin at a controlled but frantic pace. Once inside, he took out the revolver he had hidden in a drawer and shut the door behind them.
He urged, "Stay close to me," in a forceful voice.
Ivy followed him to the front window, her pulse racing. Beyond, the woodland was black, with the shadows scarcely illuminated by the waning light. The glimmer of movement—someone scurrying between the trees—made her breath catch as she looked over the treeline.
Whispering, "Who is it?"
Adrian took a while to respond. His body was stiff, his attention razor-sharp. At last, he faced her with a somber gaze. Victor's folks are there. He is taking action.
A shiver went through her body. "What do we do?"
Adrian gripped the rifle more tightly. "We don't wait for them to come to us."
Her gaze expanded. "You're going out there?"
His look was unwavering as he nodded. "I'm not letting them get any closer."
She grabbed Adrian's arm and screamed, "Adrian, no," "You can't simply go out there and charge. You have no idea what they have planned or how many of them there are. We must give this some thought.
His eyes softened somewhat as he turned to face her. "This is my battle, Ivy. You won't get caught in the crossfire, I promise."
"And I won't let you walk into a trap," she retorted.
They gazed at one another for a minute, their tension igniting like lightning. Adrian finally let out a breath, his shoulders drooping a little. "All right. But we must move quickly. Victor is no longer fooling around if they are present.
Their chat was cut short by a loud boom, the sound of glass breaking reverberating from the rear of the cabin.
Adrian's body sprang into motion as he muttered curses. He said, "Stay behind me," and advanced on the source of the commotion.
With her pulse pounding in her chest, Ivy followed. They saw the smashed window with glass fragments glinting on the floor as they turned the corner. A individual with a ski mask covering their face was climbing through.
Adrian made no hesitation. His voice was harsh as he lifted the rifle. "Don't move!"
With their hands up in a fake surrender, the invader froze. However, a second and then a third person emerged outside the window before Adrian could demand answers.
When Ivy realized they were encircled, her blood froze.
"Adrian," she said in a tremulous murmur. "What do we do now?"
His attention was fixed on the intruder in front of him, so he didn't respond. However, Ivy could see the tenseness in his jaw and the glint of doubt in his gaze.
Adrian Cross didn't seem to be the guy who always had a plan for the first time. He seemed to be on the verge of losing everything.
Ivy didn't know how to stop it, either.
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