It's not Adding Up

ELENA'S POV

I sat in my office, staring at the same documents I had pored over all day. None of it made sense.

I had spent years believing my father was Edward Hart, a man who built an empire from the ground up. But the truth—kept gnawing at me.

"He wasn't your real father, Elena."

"The Blackwoods were involved."

"Lucian is a Blackwood."

It should have been simple. The Blackwoods were the enemy. They had torn apart my life piece by piece. But then there was Lucian.

I gritted my teeth, remembering how he was when I confronted him about his identity. He hadn't denied it, he had looked at me with something like regret, but regret wasn't enough. Not when he had been lying to me all along.

But something still didn't add up.

If he had only wanted to manipulate me, why was he still trying to help me? Why had he looked for information on Blackwoods to bring them down?

Why did he try to help find the real truth about my dad's death?

I sat at my desk, staring at the last message I sent to Lucian.

"We need to talk."

I had typed it impulsively, but now I wasn't sure if I had made a mistake.

The door burst open.

Samantha.

My best friend stormed in, slamming the door behind her.

"Elena please tell me I'm imagining things."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Sam, I know I know, but it's not that bad right?"

Samantha cut me off. "You sent Lucian a message. Why?"

I tensed.

Samantha folded her arms. "Please tell me that was a mistake. Tell me you didn't actually mean it."

I clenched my jaw. "I meant it."

Samantha's eyes burned. "Elena, you cannot keep letting him into your life."

I exhaled sharply. "I needed answers."

"And you thought Lucian Blackwood would give them to you? Samantha snapped. "Have you lost your mind?"

I flinched. I just—I don't know, okay? Something isn't adding up."

Samantha let out a bitter laugh. "You still trust him, don't you?"

I didn't answer.

That was enough of an answer.

Her expression hardened. "Do you want to know what I think?"

"No, but I'm sure you'll tell me anyway," I muttered.

"I think Lucian is playing you for his family," she said. "I think the moment you let your guard down, he's going to burn you. And you'll have no one to blame except yourself."

That hurt. My fingers dug into my palms. "I'm not stupid, Sam."

"Then stop acting like it."

The silence was heavy.

Sam's gaze softened, but only slightly as she walks towards me.

"I'm just trying to protect you," she murmured.

I swallowed hard. "I know."

Sam exhaled. "Look, I have to go meet with the legal team. Just… don't do anything reckless, okay?

I gave a stiff nod.

She hesitated after giving me a hug before turning and walking out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Not even ten minutes had passed before my phone rang.

Unknown Number.

I frowned. I hesitated, then answered.

"Elena," she said.

A pause. Then—

"Elena?"

I froze.

I knew this voice.

Victoria Blackwood.

My fingers tightened around the phone as I remembered the time I met her. She was Lucian's mother and I didn't know.

"I imagine you weren't expecting to hear from me," she said smoothly.

My pulse kicked up as I remembered Samantha and Penelope's warning to avoid the Blackwoods. I couldn't trust anybody again. "No, I wasn't. And I have nothing to say to you."

I clenched my jaw. "I don't trust the Blackwoods. And you're one of them."

Victoria let out a bitter chuckle. "Neither do I."

This made me pause.

I swallowed. "Why are you calling me?"

A beat of silence followed.

Then—

"I wanted to warn you," Victoria said. About what's coming.

My chest tightened. "And why would you do that?"

Another pause. Then, her voice lowered.

"Because I'm not your enemy, Elena."

I gritted my teeth and spat out, "You're a Blackwood."

"I was, Victoria corrected. "Not anymore."

Something about her tone sent a shiver through me.

Before I could ask anything else, she exhaled. "You don't trust me. I understand that. But you need to watch your back. They're coming for you. And Lucian…"

My breath caught.

"What about Lucian?" I demanded.

But the line went dead.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, my heart pounding.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Before I could even begin to process Victoria's cryptic warning, my doors were swung open again.

But this time—it wasn't Samantha.

It wasn't an employee.

It was the police.

Two uniformed officers strode inside.

"Elena Hart?" one of them asked.

My stomach dropped.

I slowly rose from my desk. "Yes?"

The officer's expression didn't change.

"You're under arrest for fraud and embezzlement."

The world tilted.

"What?"

Before I could react, one of them grabbed my wrists.

Cold metal snapped around them.

Handcuffs.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips.

"This is a mistake," I said, my voice coming out shakier than I intended.

"You have the right to remain silent," the officer recited.

I barely heard the rest.

My head was spinning.

This can't be happening.

Not here. Not like this.

The officers began leading me out of my office as I stared emptily into space.

Through the glass walls, employees were staring. Phones were recording. Whispers filled the air. Humiliation burned through me.

Then I saw him.

Gabriel Harper.

Standing at the edge of the hallway with another person I couldn't recognize.

They were both watching.

Smirking.

My breath hitched.

It was a trap.

They had set me up.

I turned sharply, eyes scanning the crowd.

Where was Lucian?

Did he know?

Or worse—was he letting this happen?

The thought sent ice through my veins.

Then—a sharp voice cut through the silence.

"Elena?"

My head snapped to the left.

Samantha.

She pushed past a few employees, her face twisted in fury.

"What the hell is going on?" her voice shook with anger. "Let her go!"

The officers barely spared her a glance.

"She's under arrest. Step aside."

Sam didn't move.

"That's ridiculous! She didn't do anything!"

Her voice echoed through the entire building, but no one stepped forward to help.

I swallowed hard. My chest constricted. I saw the pain in Sam's eyes, they were glassy already as she was screaming. I wasn't just losing my company—I was losing control of my entire life.

A single thought sliced through my panic—Was this how it all ended?