Chapter 165 CHAPTER 165: A MAN I ONCE LOVED IS NOW MY BIGGEST THREAT
~ Elara’s pov~
Wayne didn’t leave the house that day.
Not after the brake line.
Not after the police report.
Not after the confirmation that someone his own brother had been willing to risk his life.
But the world didn’t pause just because danger had sharpened its teeth.
By the third day, Wayne had to attend a meeting he couldn’t delay. It would only take an hour. The security detail had doubled. Cameras covered every angle of the house. Police patrols passed more frequently.
“You’ll be fine,” Wayne told Elara softly, cupping her face.
She didn’t look convinced.
“Are you sure you should go?”
“Yes.”
“Calvin is unpredictable.”
“I know.”
“Then—”
He kissed her gently, cutting her off. “I won’t be far.”
She nodded slowly.
He turned to Daniel. “No one enters. No exceptions.”
“Yes, sir.”
And then he left.
It didn’t happen loudly.
There was no car pulling up.
No hooded figure standing across the street.
It was quieter than that.
More intentional.
Elara was sitting in the living room, a soft blanket over her legs, reading through pregnancy articles on her tablet.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Her stomach tightened instantly.
She stared at it.
It buzzed again.
A message.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened it.
“You look tired.”
Her breath caught.
She slowly turned her head toward the window.
The curtains were slightly parted.
Daniel stood outside near the driveway.
No one else visible.
Her pulse began pounding.
Another message.
“Don’t panic. I’m not outside.”
Her throat dried.
Her hands grew cold.
“You shouldn’t stress. It’s bad for the baby.”
She immediately stood up and walked to the door.
“Daniel,” she called softly.
He turned. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Has anyone been near the house?”
“No.”
“No parked cars?”
“None unusual.”
She nodded slowly and closed the door again.
Her phone buzzed.
“See? You’re already telling on me.”
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
He was watching.
Not from the street.
From somewhere else.
She typed quickly.
Who is this?
The reply came instantly.
You know who it is.
Her breathing became uneven.
Calvin?
Three dots appeared.
Then:
I prefer when you say my name gently.
Her hands shook.
She should have blocked the number.
She should have handed the phone to security immediately.
But curiosity mixed with fear held her still.
Why are you doing this? she typed.
There was a pause this time.
Longer.
Then:
Because you deserve honesty.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
Honesty?
Wayne won’t tell you everything.
Her stomach tightened.
That was deliberate.
A wedge.
What are you talking about?
He’s not as calm as you think. He’s angrier than you know.
She swallowed.
You cut his brakes.
A long pause.
Then:
I didn’t mean for it to go that far.
Her eyes widened.
That wasn’t denial.
That was admission wrapped in justification.
You could have killed him.
I knew he could handle it.
Her stomach twisted violently.
That wasn’t concern.
That was arrogance.
You don’t get to test whether someone survives, Calvin.
Three dots.
I was protecting you.
Her breath left her in disbelief.
From what?
From him.
Her fingers froze above the screen.
He’s not who you think he is.
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
Stop.
You think he told you about the business conflict?
She frowned.
Business conflict?
What conflict?
The response came slower this time.
Measured.
He and I haven’t just been “distant.” We’ve been at war.
Her chest tightened.
Over what?
Control. Inheritance. Power.
She stared at the words.
Wayne had mentioned tension.
But not war.
That has nothing to do with me.
Everything has to do with you.
Her heart stuttered.
You were leverage.
Her throat closed.
That’s a lie.
Is it? Ask him why our father rewrote the will after your wedding.
Her breathing grew shallow.
Her mind began filling gaps that maybe didn’t exist.
Or maybe did.
Manipulation didn’t scream.
It whispered.
It planted.
It waited.
Her phone began ringing.
Same unknown number.
She stared at it.
Her body told her to reject it.
Her mind wanted answers.
It rang again.
She answered.
Silence for two seconds.
Then
“Elara.”
His voice was calm.
Soft.
Familiar.
Not unhinged.
Not frantic.
Controlled.
“Don’t hang up,” he said gently.
Her voice trembled. “You need to stop.”
“I just want to talk.”
“You sabotaged Wayne’s car.”
“I miscalculated.”
“You could’ve killed him.”
A pause.
“I wouldn’t have let that happen.”
Her stomach churned.
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“You think he wouldn’t risk someone else to win?”
Her mind flickered.
“What are you implying?”
“I’m implying that he’s not just protecting you.”
Her breathing quickened.
“He’s protecting what you represent.”
“And what is that?”
“His position.”
The word landed heavier than it should have.
“Stop trying to twist things.”
“I’m trying to untwist them.”
She felt dizzy.
“He doesn’t tell you everything, does he?”
“Because not everything concerns me.”
“You’re carrying his heir.”
Her stomach tightened instinctively at the word.
Heir.
Not baby.
Not child.
Heir.
“You’re making this sound transactional.”
“Because for him, it is.”
Her vision blurred slightly.
“You don’t know him like I do.”
A soft laugh on the other end.
“No. I know him better.”
“Why are you doing this?” she whispered.
“Because you chose him without knowing the full story.”
“There is no story.”
“There always is.”
Silence.
“You could’ve had a different life,” Calvin continued. “With someone who sees you as more than a symbol.”
She felt something shift uncomfortably.
Wayne had never treated her like a symbol.
Had he?
No.
No.
He was protective.
But loving.
Intense.
But sincere.
“You’re jealous,” she said firmly.
A pause.
“Yes.”
The honesty startled her.
“I always wondered what you saw in him,” Calvin said quietly.
Her chest tightened.
“This isn’t about wondering. This is obsession.”
“Call it what you want.”
“You need help.”
“I need truth.”
“You need boundaries.”
Silence.
His voice softened.
“I would never let you feel small.”
That line was precise.
Calculated.
Targeted.
Because recently
She had felt small.
With the overprotection.
The bodyguards.
The control.
And Calvin knew it.
Because he watched.
“Does he let you walk alone now?” Calvin asked gently.
Her throat tightened.
“He’s trying to keep me safe.”
“Or contained?”
The word echoed.
Contained.
“No.”
“He doesn’t trust you to exist independently anymore.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?”
Her thoughts felt scrambled.
“You’re twisting moments.”
“I’m highlighting patterns.”
She closed her eyes tightly.
“You tried to kill him.”
“I tried to wake him up.”
“You don’t wake someone up by cutting their brakes!”
His silence this time was heavy.
Not defensive.
Not apologetic.
Just waiting.
“Tell him about this call,” Calvin said softly.
She froze.
“Go ahead.”
Her heart pounded.
“He’ll explode.”
“That’s not my problem.”
“He’ll see red.”
“That’s who he is.”
“And who are you?” she whispered.
Silence.
Then:
“The one who sees you clearly.”
The line was smooth.
Practiced.
Designed to linger.
The door opened suddenly.
She jumped.
Wayne’s footsteps echoed down the hall.
“Elara?”
She hung up instantly.
Her heart raced violently.
He entered the living room.
Saw her face.
Pale.
Shaken.
“What happened?”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Her phone buzzed again.
Wayne’s eyes dropped to it.
Unknown number.
He stepped closer slowly.
“Elara.”
She swallowed.
“It was Calvin.”
His jaw tightened instantly.
“He called?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Her mind replayed everything.
Inheritance.
Leverage.
Control.
Contained.
Heir.
If she told Wayne everything
He would explode.
If she didn’t
She’d be carrying poison alone.
“He tried to twist things,” she whispered.
Wayne’s eyes darkened.
“Twist what?”
“Us.”
His hands curled into fists.
“What exactly did he say?”
She hesitated.
And that hesitation
Was all the damage Calvin needed.
Because manipulation doesn’t destroy love in one blow.
It plants doubt.
And waits.