The air outside the company building was thick with tension. The last traces of sunset painted the sky in orange and violet, fading into the slow darkness of night. The crowd that had gathered earlier had dispersed, yet whispers still lingered in the corridors about the scene between Adrian Wolfe and Lila Harts.
Adrian stepped through the glass doors, adjusting his cuffs, trying to gather himself. His mind was in chaos - Lila's words kept echoing inside him.
> "Maybe you should start telling me about Sofia."
The sound of her voice saying that name-Sofia-cut deeper than he wanted to admit.
He reached the bottom steps, and there, waiting as though he'd been expecting him all along, stood Tristan.
He was leaning casually against a parked car, his expression unreadable, his eyes watching Adrian's every move. The moment their gazes met, the silence became heavier.
Adrian stopped walking. good you are here
Tristan didn't answer immediately. He just stared at him, his jaw tense. "I've been waiting for you," he said finally, his tone calm but cold. "We need to talk."
Adrian exhaled sharply, looking away for a moment. "I think you've said enough already
" Tristan pressed, his voice rising slightly. "You owe me that much."
Adrian turned fully to face him. For a moment, he said nothing. His expression softened, not from weakness but from a kind of tired honesty that had been buried for too long.
"You think I killed her," Adrian said quietly. "You've thought that for years."
Tristan's eyes hardened. "What else am I supposed to think? You were the last one with her, Adrian. And then... she died."
Adrian shook his head slowly. "You've always wanted someone to blame. But it wasn't me. Sofia confess to me Tristan. She loved me, but you also loved her . I didn't know untill she confess her love for me.
Tristan's face darkened. "Don't you dare twist it
"I'm not twisting anything," Adrian interrupted, his tone steady but sharp. "She told me herself. She said she had feelings for me, and I told her no. I told her you already confessed to her, that I could never betray you. I told her if she truly loved me, she had to say it to you - not me. I wanted her to talk to you, clear things, then come back if you agreed for us to be couples That's what happened."
Tristan looked stunned for a moment, disbelief flashing across his face.
Adrian's voice lowered. "You called her that night, didn't you? You asked where she was. She told you she was at my place and that she was coming over. That's the last call she made before the accident."
Silence.
Tristan's expression shifted, the anger faltering as he processed the words. The night breeze tugged at his jacket, but he didn't move.
"I didn't kill her, Tristan," Adrian said again, quieter now. "She left my house alive. I tried to stop her from driving, but she insisted. I didn't even know she'd crashed until the next morning."
For a long time, Tristan just stared at him. His face was pale, his breathing uneven. The certainty he'd carried for years - the hatred, the blame - all started to crumble under Adrian's steady gaze.
Then, behind them, a soft voice broke the silence.
"Are you saying the truth?"
Both men turned sharply.
Lila stood a few steps away, her eyes wide, her face pale as moonlight. She had come outside earlier to clear her head but stopped short when she heard her husband's voice.
Adrian froze, his heart pounding. "Lila..."
"Are you saying the truth, Adrian?" she asked again, her voice trembling.
"Yes," he said firmly, stepping toward her. "Every word I said is true. I never hurt Sofia. Tristan refused to give me the chance to explain all these years."
Tristan looked down, his fists clenching at his sides. He didn't speak.
Lila's eyes darted between them, confusion and pain flickering together. The truth she had been desperate to understand now stood bare before her, but it hurt more than she expected.
Adrian took a step closer, his voice gentler now. "I wanted to protect you from all this, Lila. From the gossip, the lies. But you deserve the truth."
For a long second, no one spoke. The street was quiet except for the distant sound of cars passing and the rustle of night air through the trees.
Tristan finally lifted his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "All these years... I thought you..." He stopped, unable to finish the sentence. His shoulders trembled slightly as he ran a hand through his hair.
Adrian didn't reply. There was nothing left to say.
Lila took a small breath, glancing at Tristan's broken expression, then back at her husband. The look in Adrian's eyes - raw, honest, pained - told her this wasn't a lie.
"Let's go home," she said quietly.
Adrian blinked, surprised by her calm tone. Then, slowly, he nodded. He reached out and held her hand gently. She didn't pull away this time.
Tristan stepped aside, still speechless as Adrian guided Lila toward the car.
When they reached the car door, Lila hesitated for a moment, turning her head slightly to look back at Tristan. For the first time, she saw not a vengeful man, but someone broken by grief and guilt.
Tristan couldn't meet her gaze. He turned away, leaning against the car he came in with, the weight of truth pressing down on him.
Adrian opened the passenger door and helped Lila in before walking around to the driver's side. Neither of them spoke as the car pulled away from the company building. The silence inside was heavy, filled with unspoken questions and emotions they didn't yet know how to express.
Lila looked out the window, the city lights blurring past. Her fingers toyed with the strap of her bag as her thoughts drifted to Sofia - the girl she never met but who somehow stood like a ghost between her and Adrian.
Adrian glanced at her from time to time, wanting to speak, but holding back. He knew she needed time.
When they reached home, the night had deepened. Adrian parked the car quietly, cutting the engine. For a moment, neither of them moved.
"Lila," he began softly, turning to her, "I wanted to tell you before Tristan did. But I was afraid you'd see me differently."
She turned her face toward him, her expression unreadable. "I already did," she said, her tone soft but tired. "But hearing you tonight... I don't know what to feel, Adrian. I just need time."
He nodded, his chest tight. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait."
She got out of the car, walking ahead slowly toward the front door. Adrian followed behind her, the soft sound of their footsteps echoing through the quiet night.
Inside, the warmth of the house greeted them, but it felt colder than usual. Lila paused by the stairs, turned to him once more, and said quietly, "I don't hate you. But I can't pretend everything's fine."
"I'm not asking you to," Adrian replied gently. "I just need you to believe me."
She didn't answer. She only nodded faintly and walked upstairs, leaving him standing in the living room alone.
Adrian watched her disappear into the hallway, his heart heavy but a strange relief washing over him - because finally, the truth was out.
Outside, miles away, Tristan sat in his car, staring blankly at the steering wheel. The truth he had begged for years to hear now left him hollow. Sofia's laughter, her smile, her last words - they all came rushing back, and for the first time, he realized how much pain his misunderstanding had caused.
In that quiet night, three hearts ached in different ways - one for love, one for guilt, and one for truth that had come far too late.