Stolen love: In love with my sister 's fiance-Chapter 68

Adrian’s steps faltered the moment his gaze landed on her.

Elaine.

After all these years, he had finally found her. But instead of relief, a storm brewed inside him. He didn’t want to show her how much she still affected him, how just one look at her could unravel the carefully built walls he had put up around himself.

She looked stunning—more breathtaking than he remembered. The black dress she wore clung to her figure like a second skin, elegance and confidence radiating from her like an unspoken challenge. But it was her eyes that made his chest tighten. Those striking green eyes that once held warmth for him were now frozen, unreadable.

She was staring at him.

No—past him.

Following her gaze, Adrian’s jaw tensed. He knew what she was looking at—the woman beside him, clinging to his arm like she belonged there. A flicker of emotion passed through Elaine’s eyes, something sharp and unfamiliar. He could read people easily; it was part of who he was. And yet, this was a side of Elaine he had never seen before.

Was it disappointment? Jealousy? Or had he lost the ability to decipher her completely?

He forced his expression into an impassive mask, locking away whatever stirred inside him. He wouldn’t let her see. He couldn’t afford to.

So, he did what he had trained himself to do—conceal. And as much as it burned, he acted as if she was just another face in the crowd.

Adrian walked forward, his presence commanding the room without effort. The murmurs followed like whispers carried by the wind, the weight of his name alone enough to stir curiosity.

"Mr. Blackwood," Mr. Song greeted warmly, extending his hand. "It’s a pleasure to finally have you here. And this must be your fiancée?"

Elaine stiffened.

The woman at Adrian’s side, the one clinging to him so possessively, gave a graceful smile before stepping forward. "Yes," she said confidently, slipping her manicured hand into Mr. Song’s for a polite handshake. "Emily Harrison. His wife-to-be."

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

"Mr. Blackwood is already engaged?" Someone whispered in disbelief.

Disappointment flickered across the faces of the women who had been hoping—dreaming—that the elusive heir to the Blackwood fortune was still unattached.

Elaine, standing frozen in place, swallowed against the sudden tightness in her chest.

Engaged.

The word echoed in her mind, leaving a bitter aftertaste she hadn’t expected.

Why did it hurt?

Adrian deserved to move on. It was natural. She had no right to feel anything about it—yet the ache in her chest deepened. Was it because of guilt? Regret? Or something else she had long buried, refusing to name?

Her fingers clenched at her sides as she forced herself to look away.

He was already spoken for.

She had no reason to tell him about Athena now.

He had a fiancée. A new life. A future that didn’t include her.

And maybe... maybe that was how it was meant to be.

_____

Elaine turned away from him. She forced a small, sad smile at Mary, who immediately understood. Without a word, Mary squeezed her hand in silent comfort.

Elaine was about to excuse herself, to create some distance before she lost her composure, but before she could move, Mr. Song was already making his way toward them—right behind Adrian and his fiancée.

"Elaine!" Mr. Song’s voice was warm and full of affection. "I was just telling Mr. Blackwood about you. He should know that you’re my goddaughter."

Elaine’s forced smile barely held as she turned to shake his hand.

Adrian’s gaze never left her. "Hello, Miss Elaine..." He trailed off, expecting her to finish with her last name.

Elaine inhaled deeply before answering, her voice steady. "Just Elaine Anderson."

Adrian’s eyes flickered with surprise.

Anderson.

She was married.

A sharp, unexpected ache struck him, though he forced himself to suppress it. Why would she have waited? he told himself bitterly. She never loved you.

Forcing his voice to remain composed, he said, "Adrian Blackwood."

Elaine didn’t react to the name. He realized then—she had no idea how he had become a Blackwood, how his life had changed. Maybe it was better that way.

Emily, his fiancée, stepped forward with a radiant smile, her warmth a stark contrast to the tension hanging between Elaine and Adrian. Without hesitation, she hugged Elaine.

"You’re beautiful," Emily complimented, pulling back with genuine admiration in her eyes.

Elaine blinked in surprise. The woman seemed... happy to see her. She hadn’t expected that.

Not trusting herself to stay any longer, Elaine quickly excused herself.

Mary started to follow, but Elaine gently stopped her. "I’ll be back. I just need to check on Athena."

Mary nodded.

Adrian, who had been watching silently, felt a sudden frown settle on his face.

Athena?

Who was Athena?

Looking at Adrian’s confused expression, Mr. Song chuckled warmly and said, "Her daughter, Athena. Such a beautiful child."

Adrian froze.

Her daughter?

The words echoed in his mind, each syllable landing like a blow to his chest.

So she had truly moved on. Not only was she married, but she had a child—a family of her own. The finality of it struck him hard, and for the first time in years, he felt suffocated.

He needed air.

Excusing himself quickly, he strode toward the garden, his emotions in turmoil. But as he stepped outside, his breath caught when he saw Elaine in the distance—her face pale, panic written all over her features as she ran toward the road.

Something was wrong.

Without thinking, Adrian followed her.

Elaine’s fingers trembled as she dialed her phone, pressing it to her ear while scanning the road for a cab.

"Mr David,please come quickly," she urged.

"I’m sorry, ma’am," the driver said apologetically. "The tire is punctured. I need time to fix it."

Elaine clenched her jaw in frustration. She didn’t have time. Her heart pounded in her chest as she rushed toward the road, waving at passing cabs. But none stopped.

She turned, about to go back inside and ask Mr. Song for help, when she saw Adrian approaching.

He stopped a few steps away from her, his intense gray eyes locking onto hers.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sounds of the bustling party faded into the background, and it was just them—standing in silence, caught in an invisible pull neither could escape.

Then Elaine’s phone rang, snapping her out of her daze. She quickly answered.

"Sophia, I’m on my way. Just make sure Athena is dressed warmly," she said, her voice tight with worry.

Adrian, who had been quietly observing, caught onto the urgency in her voice.

"What happened?" he asked.

Elaine hesitated, unsure whether to tell him. But every second counted.

"My daughter, Athena," she finally said. "She’s having trouble breathing. I need to go now."

Something in Adrian shifted.

Before he could process his emotions, he moved.

"Wait," he said, striding to his car. "I’ll take you."

He started the engine and pulled up beside her, the headlights illuminating her hesitant face.

Elaine wavered for a moment, but time was slipping away.

Without another word, she opened the car door and got in.

"Where to?" Adrian asked, gripping the steering wheel.

She exhaled shakily. "Rosewood Villa. Please, hurry."

Adrian nodded, setting the location on his GPS. As the car pulled onto the road, silence filled the space between them.

Neither knew what to say, how to start a conversation after so many years.

Adrian stole glances at her from the corner of his eye. The years had changed her, yet she still looked breathtaking. The soft glow of passing streetlights illuminated her face, but the strands of her dark hair kept falling over her features, hiding them from his view. He felt an unexpected urge to reach out and tuck them behind her ear.

Motherhood had only made her more beautiful. There was a certain grace in the way she carried herself now—a quiet strength that hadn’t been there before.

Elaine, unaware of his gaze, kept looking out the window, her fingers twitching with anxiety. Her only thought was Athena. She just wanted to reach her daughter as soon as possible.

Before long, Adrian parked in front of Rosewood Villa. The gates were already open, as if expecting her arrival.

Elaine wasted no time. She rushed inside, where Sophia stood in the doorway, carrying a small, fragile Athena in her arms.

The moment Elaine saw her daughter’s pale face, she took her from the nanny’s hold, pressing her close.

"My baby," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

She was about to turn back and place Athena in the car.

"Let me help," Adrian said, his voice firm yet surprisingly gently

Elaine blinked up at him, startled, her arms tightening protectively around Athena. But the look in Adrian’s eyes was steady, sure. Gently, he reached out. She hesitated, then slowly passed her daughter into his arms.

As soon as Athena was in his hold, something strange pulled at him. A deep, unexplainable sense of déjà vu.

He looked down at her flushed face. Her soft features. Her lashes fluttering against her cheeks.

It was her.

The same girl from that day on the road. The one who had almost been hit by his car. The one who had called him handsome uncle. The one who had clung to him and made him feel—something he hadn’t known he’d been missing.

Adrian blinked, stunned.

"She’s... your daughter?" he asked softly, glancing at Elaine.

Elaine paused for a heartbeat, caught off guard by the question. "Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Athena."

Adrian didn’t say anything more. His arms instinctively held her closer, carefully adjusting his grip so her head rested against his shoulder.

Then, without another word, he carried her to the car and carefully placed her inside.

Adrian started the car without hesitation, his grip firm on the steering wheel as he sped toward the hospital. The urgency in the air was thick, but neither of them spoke. Elaine kept glancing at Athena, her heart clenching at her daughter’s pale face.

When they arrived, Adrian parked in front of the hospital entrance and immediately got out. He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for Elaine.

Before she could react, he had already taken Athena into his arms again.

Elaine hesitated, emotions swirling in her chest. The way he held her daughter so protectively, so naturally—it was as if he had done it a hundred times before.

Inside, they waited for the doctor in tense silence. Adrian’s arms remained wrapped around Athena, his fingers unconsciously rubbing small circles on her back. He tightened his hold slightly, lowering his head, and before he realized it, he pressed a soft, instinctive kiss to her forehead.

Elaine sucked in a breath, her throat tightening.

She had never expected this moment. Never imagined seeing Adrian like this—with their daughter in his arms, looking every bit like a father protecting his child.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.

The doctor finally arrived, taking Athena into the examination room. After what felt like an eternity, he returned and assured them that she had only caught a bad cold, which had triggered her breathing problems. She was stable now but needed rest and observation for the night.

Elaine exhaled in relief, nodding as she and Adrian stepped outside the room.

A heavy silence stretched between them before Adrian finally spoke, his voice hesitant.

"How old is she?"

Elaine hesitated for a moment before softly replying, "Five years old."

Her words hung in the air between them, and for a split second, something flickered in Adrian’s eyes. His gaze drifted back toward the hospital room where Athena lay asleep. His hands clenched at his sides, but he remained silent.

Elaine quickly looked away, swallowing the lump in her throat. "You must go," she added, her voice quiet yet firm.

Adrian’s jaw tightened. "Are you sure?"

Elaine forced a small nod. "Yes. Your fiancée must be alone at the party. She might need you."

A muscle ticked in Adrian’s jaw, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something, but instead, he simply nodded.

Without another word, he turned and walked away.