The storm rolling in over Blackwood Estate mirrored the turmoil brewing inside Sienna Grey. Rain lashed against the tall windows of the east wing, and distant thunder rumbled through the mansion's ancient bones. The fire crackled softly in the grand study where she worked, its flickering glow casting long shadows across the walls. The painting in front of her—the very reason she had come to this place—was only half-restored, but her mind wasn't on her work.
It was on Adrian Blackwood.
Since the discovery of the hidden locket and the mysterious letter tucked inside the frame, everything had changed. The Adrian she had first met—cold, distant, unreadable—had begun to unravel before her. She had glimpsed something raw beneath his armor: grief, guilt, vulnerability. It was a fragile connection, one she had started to cherish. And yet, every time she thought she was getting close to him, he pulled away again.
One moment, he was open, his eyes heavy with unspoken pain. The next, he was retreating behind his walls, warning her to stay out of things that did not concern her.
It frustrated her.
It confused her.
And more than anything—it made her want him even more.
She let out a slow breath, setting down her brush. Maybe she was in over her head. Maybe—
"Sleepless nights already?"
The smooth, teasing voice made her startle. She turned to see Marcus Blackwood leaning casually in the doorway, his signature smirk playing at his lips.
Dressed in an open-collared shirt and a tailored jacket, he looked effortlessly charming. But beneath that charm was something else—something unsettling.
She folded her arms. "You have a habit of appearing out of nowhere."
Marcus chuckled. "It's a talent." He strolled into the room, his gaze sweeping over the painting before settling on her. "So… I hear you and my dear brother found something interesting."
Sienna's stomach twisted. "If you mean the locket, yes. It was hidden inside the frame. I wasn't expecting to find it."
Marcus hummed, stepping closer. "And Adrian? Did he take it well?"
She hesitated. "It meant a lot to him."
Marcus gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "Oh, I'm sure it did. He carries quite a bit of guilt where our mother is concerned."
A shiver crept down Sienna's spine. "Guilt?"
Marcus tilted his head, studying her reaction. "He didn't tell you?"
Sienna frowned. "Tell me what?"
Marcus sighed dramatically, as if he were speaking to a child. "Adrian was the last person to see our mother alive. He was with her the night she drowned."
Her breath hitched.
"But here's the thing," Marcus continued, his voice dropping lower. "My mother never went near that lake. She was terrified of water." He leaned in slightly. "So what do you think happened?"
Sienna swallowed hard. "Are you saying—"
"I'm saying," Marcus cut in smoothly, "that my brother is not always what he seems."
Silence thickened between them, the storm outside rattling the windows.
Sienna didn't know what to believe. She had seen the pain in Adrian's eyes when he spoke about his mother. But was it grief… or guilt?
Marcus gave her a knowing smile and stepped back. "I like you, Sienna. You seem sharp. So take my advice—don't get too close."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, leaving Sienna alone with her swirling thoughts.
Could it be true?
Could Adrian have killed his own mother?
---
Confrontation in the Library
Later that night, unable to shake the unease gnawing at her, Sienna found herself drawn to the dimly lit library. She hesitated in the doorway.
Adrian was there.
He stood near the grand fireplace, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand, staring into the flames as if they held answers he couldn't find elsewhere. Shadows flickered across his sharp features, and for the first time, he looked truly alone.
She took a breath and stepped inside. "Adrian."
His shoulders stiffened at her voice, but he didn't turn. "You shouldn't be here."
She ignored the warning. "I spoke to Marcus."
That got his attention. He turned slowly, his expression immediately guarded. "And what lies did he tell you?"
Sienna folded her arms. "He told me you were the last person to see your mother alive."
His grip on the glass tightened. "So he's poisoning your thoughts now, too."
She took another step closer. "Is it true? Were you with her that night?"
Adrian exhaled sharply, setting his drink down. "Yes."
Her pulse pounded. "Then what happened, Adrian? Did she fall? Was she pushed?"
His jaw clenched. "You think I killed her?"
"I don't know what to think!" she burst out. "You refuse to talk about it, you warn me to stay away, but you keep pulling me in. How am I supposed to trust you when you won't let me in?"
Adrian stepped forward, closing the space between them. "You shouldn't trust me, Sienna."
Her breath caught. "But I do."
The air between them shifted—heavy, charged.
And then—
His lips crashed against hers.
The kiss was desperate, raw, filled with frustration and longing, a battle neither of them could win. Sienna's hands gripped his shirt, pulling him closer, as if she could drown in the heat of him. Adrian groaned against her mouth, his hands tangling in her hair, as if he had fought this moment for far too long.
But just as quickly as it started, he pulled away, breathing hard.
"This is a mistake," he muttered.
Her lips tingled. "Why?"
Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "Because you don't understand what you're getting into."
She met his gaze, determination burning in her chest. "Then make me understand."
For a long moment, he just stared at her. Then, finally, his shoulders slumped in surrender.
"I was with my mother that night," he admitted. "She wanted to tell me something—something about my father. But before she could, she told me she was leaving. That she couldn't stay here anymore." His voice wavered. "I told her I'd go with her."
Sienna's heart clenched.
"She made me promise to meet her at the lake," he continued. "But when I got there… she was already gone."
The pain in his eyes was unbearable.
"You think someone killed her," she whispered.
Adrian clenched his fists. "I don't know. But I know she didn't drown herself."
Sienna reached for him, her fingers brushing against his hand. "Adrian…"
His eyes softened, just for a moment. "I don't want you involved in this, Sienna."
"But I already am."
He exhaled, his thumb tracing her wrist. "Then promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Don't trust Marcus."
Sienna's pulse hammered. "And should I trust you?"
A bitter smile ghosted his lips.
"I don't even trust myself."